In an exciting game, Nylander pushed Sweden ahead with a goal at 16:46 of the second period. He found a loose puck at the side of the net and lifted it into the open goal. This was a big moment as it marked his first Olympic goal. There was some uncertainty about his participation in the game, since he had missed practice earlier in the week.
“He played great, no doubt about it,” Landeskog said about Nylander. “It’s amazing how he escapes pressure and creates scoring chances. That’s what elite players do.”
Goalie Clara made a stunning save against Elias Pettersson during a breakaway, keeping the score tight at 4:28 in the third period. However, he had to leave the game shortly after and was replaced by Fadani.
Zibanejad extended Sweden’s lead to 4-2 at 15:42, cleverly using Pettersson as a screen for a long-distance wrist shot that beat Fadani. Hedman secured the win with an empty-net goal at 17:11, resulting in a final score of 5-2.
Next up, Sweden faces Finland on Friday at Santagiulia Arena. Finland started their tournament with a loss, falling 4-1 to Slovakia.
“We have things to improve, which is normal,” Landeskog noted. “It was a hard-fought game against the host nation. We expected them to come out strong. It was a fun match.”
Fun fact: Sweden’s 60 shots on goal set a record for the most by a team in Olympic history with NHL players. Dahlin had three assists too, tying a record held by Daniel Alfredsson since 2006. Nylander’s goal also matched his father’s Olympic totals from his two appearances. Plus, Frigo made history as the first Italian player to score at the Olympics since 2006.
These moments reflect a growing trend in international hockey, where younger players are stepping up on bigger stages. According to recent statistics, countries are investing more in youth development, which may explain the rise of prominent young stars in these major tournaments. This focus on international competition can create thrilling, unpredictable games as emerging talents take on seasoned players.
