Canada Rolls Past Switzerland, But Injuries Cast a Shadow Ahead of Olympic Quarterfinals
Team Canada took care of business on the ice yesterday, cruising to a 5-1 win over Switzerland in their latest preliminary round matchup at the Winter Olympics. The Canadians looked sharp and in control, but the game wasn’t without its concerning moments-especially for Switzerland, who not only took the loss on the scoreboard but also suffered a trio of key injuries that could reshape their tournament outlook.
The most alarming moment came when Swiss forward Kevin Fiala went down with what appeared to be a serious leg injury. The scene was tough to watch-Fiala had to be stretchered off the ice, and while there’s no official diagnosis yet, the nature of the incident suggests he could be out for a while. That’s a massive blow for Switzerland, who rely on Fiala’s high-end skill and experience to drive their offense.
Unfortunately, the injury report didn’t stop there. Defenseman Andrea Glauser is suspected to have suffered a concussion, according to head coach Patrick Fischer, and forward Denis Malgin is dealing with a shoulder issue.
Malgin, in particular, has been one of Switzerland’s most effective skaters in this tournament-arguably the top performer among their non-NHL players. Losing him at this stage would be a major setback for a team trying to keep pace in a highly competitive group.
Canada, meanwhile, has one more preliminary game on the schedule, taking on France tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m. local time. A win there would wrap up their group stage on a strong note and set them up nicely for the knockout rounds.
Elsewhere in the men’s tournament, things are getting interesting. Sweden stumbled badly against Finland, dropping a 4-1 decision in a game where they never quite found their rhythm.
That result has blown Group B wide open. Sweden now faces Slovakia early this morning, and given how tight the standings are, they’ll need a bounce-back performance to avoid slipping further down the seeding chart.
Team USA is also back in action today, facing off against Denmark at 3 p.m. The Americans have looked solid so far, but with the quarterfinals looming, there’s little room for error. Every point matters now, not just for standings but for momentum heading into the elimination rounds.
Tomorrow marks the final day of preliminary play on the men’s side. By tomorrow evening, we’ll know how the 12 teams stack up and who’s facing who in the quarterfinals. That’s when the real drama begins.
On the women’s side, the quarterfinals are already underway, and the first two matchups delivered plenty of storylines. Sweden pulled off a surprise upset over Czechia to punch their ticket to the semifinals, while Team USA handled Italy with ease to advance as well.
Canada faces Germany today at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Finland-Switzerland clash at 3 p.m. The winners will join Sweden and the U.S. in the semifinal round, set for Monday.
It’s been a whirlwind few days in Milan, and the action is only ramping up from here. Between injuries, upsets, and playoff positioning, the Olympic hockey tournaments-both men’s and women’s-are delivering everything fans could ask for.
Buckle up. The knockout rounds are almost here.