Imagine a David vs. Goliath story on ice! Italy, with not a single player from the prestigious NHL, almost pulled off a massive upset against Sweden in the opening game of the 2026 Winter Olympics. But here's where it gets controversial...
Team Sweden, the medal favorites, barely escaped with a 5-2 victory over the host nation, Italy. It was a close call, and Sweden needed a game-winning goal from Toronto Maple Leafs' winger William Nylander to avoid an embarrassing start to their Olympic journey.
The Italians, with a roster devoid of any NHL experience, shocked Sweden by taking an early 1-0 lead. Luca Frigo, an Italian-born forward playing for Bolzano HC in Austria, scored the opening goal just over four minutes into the first period. This was a historic moment, as Frigo became the first Italian player since Tony Iob in 2006 to find the back of the net at the Olympics.
Sweden fought back, with goals from Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche and Gustav Forsling of the Florida Panthers, to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. However, Italy wasn't done yet. Just 37 seconds into the second period, they tied the game at 2-2, sending a clear message that they were not going down without a fight.
Former Hershey Bears winger Dustin Gazley assisted Matt Bradley to level the scores, and then Nylander put Sweden ahead for good, thanks to a brilliant play by Buffalo Sabres defender Rasmus Dahlin.
Italy's goaltender, the promising Anaheim Ducks prospect Damian Clara, put up an incredible performance, making a total of 46 saves. Unfortunately, he was forced to leave the game in the third period due to an injury sustained while stopping Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson on a breakaway.
With Clara out, Davide Fadani stepped in, but he couldn't prevent Sweden from sealing the deal. Mika Zibanejad scored with just over four minutes left in regulation, and Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning added an empty-net goal to secure the win for Sweden.
According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Sweden's 60 shots set an Olympic record in the NHL era, surpassing the previous record of 57 shots jointly held by Finland and Canada.
And this is the part most people miss: despite the loss, Italy's performance was a testament to their determination and skill. They pushed the medal favorites to the brink and showed that hockey is a game where anything can happen.
With Sweden atop Group B, they now face Finland, while Italy takes on Slovakia. Both games are set to ignite the ice on Friday.
So, what do you think? Is Italy's performance a sign of things to come, or was it a mere fluke? Let's discuss in the comments!
