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Win or Go Home: Sweden's Olympic Hockey Fate Rests on physicality
17 Feb
Summary
- Sweden faces elimination in a must-win Olympic hockey game.
- Veteran Victor Hedman stresses the need for increased physicality.
- The team aims to avoid their worst Olympic run since 2002.

The Swedish Olympic hockey team faces a critical do-or-die elimination game, with their quest for a gold medal hanging in the balance. Coach Sam Hallam's squad, featuring numerous NHL players, has struggled through recent matches, potentially leading to their worst Olympic outcome since 2002. To secure a spot in the quarterfinals, veteran forward Victor Hedman highlighted the urgent need for increased physicality against Latvia. He stressed that while individual skill is present, the team must become more robust to overcome their opponents.
Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin echoed Hedman's sentiments, recognizing Latvia's grinding style and inherent skill, which will necessitate Sweden's top performance. The team recalls a dominant 6-0 victory over Latvia in the 2025 World Championships preliminary rounds, understanding the challenge ahead will be significantly different. The stakes are high for Coach Hallam, Hedman, and Dahlin as they prepare to confront Latvia's physicality in this pivotal elimination match at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.




