The men’s hockey tournament at the Winter Games in Milan saw four teams advance to the quarterfinals following an action-packed qualification round on Tuesday. Sweden, Czechia, Switzerland, and Germany emerged victorious, while four teams were eliminated from the competition.
Canadian fans had their eyes on the closely contested match between Czechia and Denmark, which ended in a dramatic 3-2 win for the Czechs, ensuring they would face Team Canada in the quarterfinals. The game began slowly, with no scores in the first period, but exploded to life in the second. Martin Necas, the standout winger for Colorado Avalanche, opened the scoring with a powerful shot on a Czech power play, demonstrating his exceptional form in the tournament.
Denmark quickly retaliated when Alexander True capitalized on a mistake from Czech defender Michal Kempny, leveling the score. The game saw a flurry of goals as David Kampf restored Czechia’s lead shortly after, followed by 40-year-old captain Roman Cervenka, who showcased his enduring skill with a pinpoint shot. Despite a late push from Denmark, including Nick Olesen’s goal, Czechia managed to hold on for the win thanks to strong goaltending from Lukas Dostal.
In other matches, Germany dispatched France 5-1, starting with a quick power-play goal from Leon Draisaitl. The Germans maintained their momentum, with contributions from Frederik Tiffels and JJ Peterka, while France kept the game competitive through strong goaltending from Antoine Keller. Germany now stands one win away from reaching the semifinals.
Switzerland also had a commanding performance, securing a 3-0 victory over Italy. Goaltender Leonardo Genoni played exceptionally well, delivering a 20-save shutout. The Swiss offense was kickstarted by Philipp Kurashev’s early goal, and captain Roman Josi added to the lead. Nico Hischier scored the final goal, providing a boost as Switzerland prepares to face Finland in the quarterfinals.
Lastly, Sweden eliminated Latvia with a convincing 5-1 win, led by Lucas Raymond’s three assists. The team displayed improved chemistry and resilience, bouncing back from earlier tournament struggles. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom earned his second consecutive win and will likely take the net against Team USA in what promises to be a highly anticipated matchup.
With these victories, the stage is set for thrilling quarterfinals as teams vie for a place in the final four of this best-on-best tournament. Fans can look forward to exciting matchups as the competition intensifies.