Two teams with differing expectations meet in the first round of the knockout stage, as Lucas Raymond and Sweden take on Latvia in the men’s playoff qualifiers at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Defending champion Sweden was eliminated from semifinal contention in the men's curling competition at the Winter Olympics with two matches to spare Tuesday after what skip Niklas Edin described as a “horrible week.

In an elimination game with a berth to the quarterfinals on the line, Adrian Kempe helped lead Sweden past Latvia, scoring a goal and building his case as one of the tournament’s most reliable two-way wingers.

While Norway rules the 2026 medal table, its hockey teams are at home — a stark difference from its Nordic neighbors Sweden and Finland.

Latvia’s Teddy Blueger tried to make a pass out of his defensive zone, but the puck hit the skates of Nylander and went to the stick of Sweden teammate Joel Eriksson Ek, whose shot on goal hit Kempe’s right skate and went in for a 1-0 lead at 10:55.

The Americans hope to make it back to another gold medal game at the Winter Olympics, as the dominant force faces Sweden in the first semifinal of the women’s hockey tournament on Monday.

Team USA women’s hockey returns to action on Monday, February 16, with a high-stakes game in the tournament semifinal of the 2026 Winter Olympics. The United States will be facing off against Sweden in the semifinal,

The U.S. will face a familiar foe in the final: Canada, a 2-1 winner against Switzerland in Monday’s other semifinal at the Milano Ice Hockey Arena. Of the seven women’s Olympic finals between the U.S. and Canada, Canada has four gold medals.

Recapping Day 11 of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Get the latest news, results, medal count, TV schedules and highlights from Italy.