Sweden’s Goaltending Decision Looms Large Ahead of Elimination Clash with Latvia
As the men’s hockey tournament at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics heats up, Team Sweden finds itself at a pivotal crossroads. With a single-elimination showdown against Latvia on deck, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Win, and they punch their ticket to the quarterfinals. Lose, and a team with serious medal aspirations heads home far earlier than expected.
At the center of it all? The crease.
Sweden’s goaltending situation has been a hot topic since the roster was finalized, and now, with everything on the line, it’s come into sharper focus. The trio of Jacob Markstrom (New Jersey Devils), Filip Gustavsson (Minnesota Wild), and Jesper Wallstedt (also with the Wild) gives Head Coach Sam Hallam a wealth of talent - but also a tough decision.
And according to Hallam, that decision has already been made.
Hallam’s Call: A Gut Decision
While fans and analysts continue to speculate, Hallam and his staff have already informed their chosen starter for the Latvia matchup. The rest of us, however, will have to wait until puck drop to find out who gets the nod.
“It’s a gut feeling from my side,” Hallam said. “It’s a discussion with our goalie coach and the rest of the staff.
I think we’re good. I like that we have two goalies in the tournament, they’ve both been out there.
Hopefully we made the right decision."
That “gut feeling” will carry serious weight. Sweden’s Olympic hopes may hinge on it.
The Case for Gustavsson and Markstrom
Through the group stage, Hallam leaned on two of his three netminders. Filip Gustavsson started twice, including a solid 20-save performance in a 5-2 win over Italy. But things didn’t go nearly as smoothly in his second outing - a 4-1 loss to Finland where Sweden struggled defensively and Gustavsson couldn’t come up with the big stops.
Jacob Markstrom, meanwhile, made his lone start against Slovakia and turned aside 29 shots in a 5-3 win. It wasn’t a perfect outing, but it was enough to get the job done, and Markstrom’s experience - both in the NHL and on international ice - gives him a steadying presence that could be invaluable in a pressure-packed elimination game.
The Wallstedt Question
Then there’s Jesper Wallstedt. The 23-year-old phenom has yet to see any ice time in this tournament, a surprising development considering he’s been one of the breakout goaltending stars in the NHL this season. Wallstedt’s calm under pressure and ability to steal games has turned heads across the league, and many expected him to at least get a look during the group stage.
Instead, he’s been watching from the bench - a move that’s raised eyebrows among fans, especially those who’ve seen what he’s capable of with the Wild. Wallstedt’s omission from the rotation so far doesn’t necessarily mean he’s out of the mix, but with just one game to decide Sweden’s fate, it would be bold to throw him into the fire now.
What’s at Stake
This isn’t just another game. For Sweden, a proud hockey nation with Olympic gold in its DNA, falling short of the quarterfinals would be a major disappointment. The team has the talent to go deep, but in a tournament like this, one mistake - or one misstep in net - can end a run in a heartbeat.
Coach Hallam has made his choice. Now it’s about execution.
Whoever’s between the pipes will need to be locked in from the opening faceoff, because Latvia won’t be a pushover. They’ve shown they can scrap, defend, and take advantage of mistakes - exactly the kind of team that can pull off an upset if given the chance.
Sweden’s goaltending depth is a strength. But in a win-or-go-home game, it all comes down to one man.
One night. One shot at keeping Olympic gold within reach.