Tre Kronor's Rocky Olympic Opener: Sweden Edged by Italy 7-6 Amid Controversy and Goalkeeping Miss

In a tense and dramatic opener at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, the Swedish men's ice hockey team, Tre Kronor, suffered a narrow 7-6 defeat to host nation Italy. Despite a spirited comeback that once tied the game at 5-5, Sweden fell short, plagued by early mistakes and late-game frustration over officiating.

The match began disastrously for Sweden, as goaltender Filip Gustavsson made a costly error early on. While attempting to pass from behind his goal, Gustavsson's stick broke and the puck fell to Italian forward Luco Frigo, who scored the game's first goal. This "jättetavla" or huge blunder was widely criticized. Expert commentator Johan Garpenlöv stressed Gustavsson should have retained control rather than mishandling the puck, and hockey legend Henrik Lundqvist echoed the sentiment, noting Gustavsson's focus on the stick caused the mistake. Nonetheless, Gabriel Landeskog quickly leveled the score for Sweden.

Throughout the game, Sweden battled challenging ice conditions and faced a formidable Italy, led by captain Joel Retornaz. Sweden's lineup, including NHL stars, struggled early but showed resilience, at one point clawing back to a 5-5 tie. Unfortunately, a key missed shot by Edin late in the match prevented a potential victory.

Swedish frustration extended beyond the rink to the game clock. Team Edin vocally criticized referees for prematurely subtracting seconds during critical moments, which they felt added unnecessary pressure. Christoffer Sundgren remarked it "should not happen" while teammate Oscar Eriksson highlighted timing errors such as the clock running while a player was off the ice. Coach Alexander Lindström admitted Sweden sometimes takes too long on decisions but promised to raise the timing issues with the organizers.

Despite the loss, Sweden retains hopes in the tournament with eight group-stage games remaining. The team is focused on regrouping and improving performance ahead of upcoming matches, aiming to advance despite the rocky start. Rasmus Wranå, quickly transitioning from a brief post-gold celebration to rigorous Olympic training, underscored their readiness for a marathon tournament culminating potentially on February 21.

As the Olympics progress, Tre Kronor will look to fix early miscues and capitalize on their offensive strengths. The opening loss, marked by a mix of resilience and regret, sets the stage for a challenging but promising Olympic campaign for the Swedish national team.