OLYMPICS: Ice hockey-Defiant Sweden ready for blockbuster men's quarterfinal with US

MILAN – Sweden remains undaunted ahead of a blockbuster quarterfinal clash with the United States on Wednesday, as the team wearing the three crowns eyes Olympic men’s ice hockey gold earlier than expected.

Sweden had been widely favored to win their group and earn a direct spot in the quarterfinals, alongside Canada and the United States. But a slip to the seventh seed in the preliminary stage forced them into the qualification play-off round.

It was a rare shock in a men’s tournament that has mostly followed expectations in Milan. Sweden quickly shook off the setback, defeating Latvia 5-1 on Tuesday to secure their place in the final eight.

“It doesn’t matter how you get here, we’re here now,” said forward Adrian Kempe.

Their only group-stage loss came against Finland, and Slovakia pushed them into the qualification play-off on goal differential in a tightly contested group that had reporters double-checking the tiebreak math.

Sweden, however, found another level at the right time against Latvia, scoring quickly in the first period and cruising from there.

Fans of the National Hockey League have long anticipated a gold-medal showdown between Canada and the United States since the league returned to the Olympics after a 12-year absence.

But Sweden is ready to play spoiler, stepping up in Milan to chase gold for the first time since the Games were last held in Italy, in Turin 20 years ago.

“It’s going to be a tough challenge but one we’re prepared for,” said Mika Zibanejad, who will face his New York Rangers teammates J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck on the U.S. side, with his NHL coach behind the U.S. bench.

“Little by little it’s been getting better, so that’s a good sign.”

-Reporting by Amy Tennery, Giulio Piovaccari, and Janina Nuno Rios in Milan; Editing by Bill Berkrot/Reuters