David Kampf and Roman Cervenka delivered a thrilling performance for Czechia on Tuesday, scoring just 69 seconds apart in the second period to secure a 3-2 victory over Denmark. This win propels Czechia into a quarterfinal match against tournament favorites Canada at the Milano-Cortina Olympics.
Czechia will look for redemption against Canada, having suffered a 5-0 defeat in their opening matchup last week. Their next showdown is set for Wednesday at 10:40 AM ET.
The game was set into motion when Martin Necas, the talented Colorado Avalanche forward, blasted a one-timer past Danish goalie Frederik Andersen during a power play. Denmark quickly equalized through Alexander True at 29:02, but Kampf swiftly tilted the scales back in favor of the Czechs. Just over a minute later, Cervenka extended the lead to 3-1. Although Nick Olesen managed to close the gap with another power-play goal for Denmark before the second period ended, Czechia held firm to advance.
Meanwhile, Sweden demonstrated their dominance with a decisive 5-1 victory over Latvia, ensuring a future clash with the United States in the quarterfinals. After a shaky start to the tournament, the Swedish team came alive, with forward Adrian Kemper and captain Gabriel Landeskog lighting the lamp early in the first period. Fillip Nordberg netted another goal in the second, while forwards Mika Zibanejad and William Colander capped off the scoring in the third.
Lucas Raymond, the Detroit Red Wings winger, provided three assists, showing his pivotal role in Sweden’s offensive strategy. Unexpectedly finishing third in Group B, Sweden had to fight through the qualification playoffs, but they showed no signs of slowing down against Latvia.
“This is when the fun begins,” Landeskog remarked post-game. “It’s crucial for us to regroup and recognize what we did well while preparing for a tough challenge ahead.”
Sweden wasted little time taking control during the match, with a shot by Joel Eriksson Ek deflecting off Kemper’s skate into the net, followed swiftly by Landeskog’s second goal just 41 seconds later. Latvia did see a moment of hope with Eduardo Traumas scoring, yet Sweden dominated the rest of the game, securing a heavyweight matchup against the United States.
In another noteworthy contest, Germany crushed France 5-1, establishing a quarterfinal encounter with Slovakia. Leon Draisaitl and JJ Peterka put Germany ahead with a flurry of goals in the first period, while Frederik Tiffels added another during a commanding start. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare gave France a momentary spark with a second-period goal, but it wasn’t enough to alter the course of the game, as Joshua Samanski and Nico Sturm completed Germany’s scoring.
Germany’s impressive performance makes them a team to watch as they prepare for Slovakia, with Draisaitl already on the minds of their opponents. “He’s one of the best players in the league, and they have a few other talented guys as well,” said Slovakia defenseman Martin Fehervary, emphasizing the need for focus.
In a final showdown, Switzerland bested Italy 3-0, marching into the quarterfinals against defending champions Finland. Goals from Philipp Kurashev and Roman Josi set the tone early, with Nico Hischier adding the final touch. Italian goalie Damian Clara put up an admirable fight with 48 saves, but his efforts fell short against a Swiss team flush with NHL talent.
As the tournament narrows down, the excitement intensifies. With epic encounters on the horizon, fans can look forward to electric matchups as the quest for Olympic gold continues.
