Tre Kronor Advance to Olympic Quarterfinals, Face USA in High-Stakes Matchup

Milan, Italy – Sweden’s men’s ice hockey team, Tre Kronor, secured their place in the Olympic quarterfinals with a decisive 5-1 victory over Latvia on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The win sets up a challenging quarterfinal clash against the undefeated United States team on Wednesday night.

Sweden Dominates Latvia in Round of 16

The game, played at the Santagiulia Arena in Milan, saw Sweden take control early with goals from Adrian Kempe and captain Gabriel Landeskog in the first period. Filip Forsberg extended the lead in the second period before Latvia’s Eduards Tralmaks responded with a goal. But, Sweden quickly regained momentum with goals from Mika Zibanejad and William Nylander, sealing the 5-1 victory. Jacob Markstrom earned his second win of the Winter Games as Sweden’s goaltender.

Path to the Quarterfinals

Despite a strong showing in round-robin play with a 2-1 record, Sweden was forced into the play-in round due to goal differential, finishing behind Finland and Slovakia in Group B. Their victory over Latvia propelled them into the quarterfinals.

USA Awaits in Quarterfinal Showdown

The undefeated U.S. Team presents a significant challenge for Tre Kronor. This early test in the win-or-go-home portion of the tournament will be a key indicator of both teams’ medal potential. The Sweden-USA quarterfinal is the final matchup to be decided on Tuesday, following earlier wins by Germany, Switzerland and Czechia.

Quarterfinal Schedule – Wednesday’s Games

• Germany vs. Slovakia
• Czechia vs. Canada
• Switzerland vs. Finland
• Sweden vs. USA

Key Players Shine for Sweden

Adrian Kempe opened the scoring for Sweden, whereas Gabriel Landeskog and Mika Zibanejad each contributed a goal and an assist. William Nylander also added a goal, showcasing Sweden’s offensive depth.

Latvia finished the 2026 Olympics with a 1-3 record, having previously defeated Germany in round-robin play.