Sweden take down Latvia in final test ahead of big quarter-finals matchup against USA

[p]Forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kempe-adrian/2gevhK8k/"]Adrian Kempe[/a] and captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/landeskog-gabriel/6ikuwFTl/"]‌Gabriel Landeskog[/a] scored in rapid succession in the ‌first period, while forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/forsberg-filip/rHO2BcBm/"]Filip Forsberg[/a] notched a goal in ‌the second, and forwards [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zibanejad-mika/x0uEtgQN/"]Mika Zibanejad[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nylander-william/AJbnjbw2/"]William ‌Nylander[/a] added two more in the third.[/p][embed guid="628ff761-7ee4-44e0-a765-c6d4a656b379" url="https://x.com/NHL/status/2023889066970722676?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-red-wings/dnJdmCF0/"]Detroit Red Wings[/a] winger [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raymond-lucas/rHtqARGj/"]Lucas Raymond[/a] recorded three assists, helping on Landeskog's goal and ‌in both of the third-period tallies.[/p][p]The perennial ⁠medal contenders were a ‌surprise entry in the qualification playoffs, after they finished a shocking ​third in their Group B, missing one of four automatic qualifying spots in the quarter-finals and ​the day off that goes with it.[/p][p]It may have taken them another game to reach the final eight, ⁠but they wasted ​no time at Santagiulia Area on Tuesday, as a shot from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/eriksson-joel-ek/MqJsKiZS/"]Joel Eriksson Ek[/a] bounced in off Kempe's skate and Landeskog swiped the puck in again just 41 seconds ‌later to set the tone.[/p][p][b]"This is when the fun begins," [/b]said Landeskog.[b] "It's important for us to regroup after this one, obviously recognise what we did well ⁠but understanding how our ​opponent's going to go up another level tomorrow and recognise what a great opportunity it is to see what we're made of."[/b][/p][embed guid="64756dfd-44a4-4bab-a360-c3dfff577321" url="https://x.com/NHLPR/status/2023888501385650652?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]They added to the lead midway through the second period, when alternate captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/karlsson-erik/QPyAsZAH/"]Erik Karlsson[/a] sent a superb pass to Forsberg, who tapped it in.[/p][p]Latvian forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tralmaks-eduards/hxgWps5t/"]Eduards Tralmaks[/a] clawed one back with his third goal of the Games, pushing a rebound over the leg of Swedish goalie [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/markstrom-jacob/hlLAehBG/"]Jacob Markstrom[/a], but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sweden/vBLjQRXp/"]Sweden[/a] put their foot on the gas from there.[/p][p]Longtime [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-rangers/O4zxeyWN/"]New ‌York Rangers[/a] centre Mika Zibanejad swatted one into an ​open net six minutes into the final period, and ‌Nylander guided the puck beautifully around Latvian goalie [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/merzlikins-elvis/IHFC7ihQ/"]Elvis Merzlikins[/a] to finish the scoring.[/p][p] [/p][embed guid="9262a2d9-ac5d-443a-8452-23a08bc6cd55" url="https://x.com/NHLPR/status/2023881370066665610?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Sweden will play the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/GYgp4SO3/"]United States[/a] on Wednesday for a spot in the last four, in a quarter-final meeting that has ⁠the feel of a ⁠heavyweight bout between two ‌of the pre-tournament favourites.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.com/news/olympics-hockey-tournament-schedule-quarter-finals-semi-finals-finals/KrWnB2Gq/" target="_blank"][b]Check out the remaining tournament schedule here.[/b][/a][/p]