Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman suits up for Sweden's do-or-die quarterfinal against Team USA, only to suffer a lower-body injury in warmups that sidelines the Lightning stud for the entire tilt. Sweden battles valiantly but falls 2-1 in OT, leaving teammates like Gabriel Landeskog gutted over their Norris Trophy anchor watching from the bench. Hedman fought back from surgery just to make these Olympics - his last shot at gold - and now his absence looms as the what-if that doomed Tre Kronor.

Gabriel Landeskog, the Avalanche captain who clawed his way back from knee surgeries to lead Sweden at these Olympics, stares down another tough exit after a gut-wrenching overtime loss to the USA in the quarters. He set up the late tying goal that forced the 3-on-3 drama, only to watch Quinn Hughes dash their medal hopes.

Jared Bednar finally cracks open the door on Gabriel Landeskog and Devon Toews, giving Avalanche fans the updates they've craved amid a season of silence from the training room. Landeskog's knee saga has tested Colorado's depth like few other injuries, while Toews' absence leaves gaps in that shutdown pairing everyone fears. Bednar's words carry weight in a tight playoff race where every blue-liner and captain counts, and the Avs need these two back to chase another Cup run.

Team USA rolls into the quarterfinals unbeaten, but Sweden's NHL-heavy lineup just steamrolled Latvia 5-1 with Zibanejad, Nylander and Landeskog each notching a goal and assist to punch their ticket. Erik Karlsson's been preaching this showdown since puck drop in Milan, calling it the challenge they came for after Sweden dodged an early flight home.

Gabe Landeskog carries that 2014 silver medal like a quiet grudge, stashed away because it wasn't the color he craved after Sweden's heartbreaking gold-medal loss to Canada. Now healthy and named captain for Milano Cortina 2026, the Avalanche skipper speaks with the fire of a guy who's clawed back from a career-threatening knee injury that sidelined him for two full seasons.

Team USA braces for a heavyweight clash with Sweden in the men's ice hockey quarterfinals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where previews and odds point to a battle of NHL stars. Sweden punched their ticket with a convincing 5-1 rout of Latvia, featuring goals from Zibanejad, Nylander, Landeskog, Forsberg and Kempe, while the unbeaten Americans coasted through the group stage.