#us-mens-hockey-vs-sweden

#us-mens-hockey-vs-sweden

"It's more positive, but, of course, it's been a few months since then. We've tried to put it behind us and focus on this match we have here, and hopefully another one in Stockholm in a few days."

When you have guys like Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby, and Cale Makar all combining on a line of their own it is hard to imagine having anything better, and with a lot of fans already talking about this Canadian team being the best of all time, it is almost impossible to believe it could get any better, but it can.

Since that year's Winter Olympics, the team has seen a slow yet pronounced decline in its overall performance. In the four editions of Olympic hockey following that 2006 tournament, Sweden lost the bronze medal game twice (2010, 2014), finished seventh in 2018 and finished eighth in 2022. That 2022 finish marked the Swedes' worst performance yet in an Olympic women's hockey tournament.

Entering Saturday's action, Sweden needed to win by three goals or greater to secure the top place in Group B. Slovakia won its previous two games, and held a commanding divisional lead. Dalibor Dvorsky scored for Slovakia with 39 seconds left, to preserve its entry into the quarterfinal. If Finland defeats Italy in regulation, Slovakia will capture Group B. Any other result, and Sweden will win the group.

The last time Sweden won gold at the Winter Olympics was in 2006. That men's hockey entry, captained by Mats Sundin, rallied from a third-place group stage finish and to eventually secure the gold medal. Since that point, the men's national hockey program won just one silver medal while making it to the bronze medal game once. They also haven't won gold at the IIHF World Championship since 2018.

The contest was not without some drama, as the first period included two successful coach's challenges from Latvia that wiped U.S. goals off the board. After that, however, the ice seemed to tilt the Americans' way, and goals from Tage Thompson, Auston Matthews and a pair from Brock Nelson were the difference. Here's what we learned in the opener, along with an overall team grade and big questions to ponder prior to Team USA's matchup against Denmark on Saturday.