Sweden won big against Latvia in the Olympic playoff qualifiers, and Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond was front and center in the Swedish success story, delivering a helping hand.
With Sweden defeating Latvia on Tuesday, the United States’ quarterfinal opponent is set 🔒
What a matchup 🍿 pic.twitter.com/FCzhn1v776
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 17, 2026
Raymond contributed three assists as Sweden toppled Latvia and Grand Rapids Griffins forward Eduards Tralmaks 5-1 on Tuesday. It was a big rebound game for Raymond. His late penalty in Sweden’s final group stage game led to a Slovakian power-play goal. That tally dropped the Swedes from group winners and an automatic quarterfinal berth into Tuesday’s qualifiers.
Time On Ice
Raymond played 16:54, the third-highest total among Swedish forwards. He skated 26 shifts, averaging 48 seconds per shift. Although he didn’t have a single shot on goal, Raymond finished the game with a plus-three rating.
Production
Raymond assisted on the game-winning goal by Swedish captain Gabriel Landeskog.
Lucas Raymond is right there in the race for MVP at the Olympics. Just set up Mika Zibanejad’s goal to give Sweden a 4-1 lead on Latvia.
My story on Raymond’s dominant time in Milan, minus a bad penalty or two: https://t.co/2quXmCIoch
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) February 17, 2026
He also dished out helpers on goals by Mika Zibanejad and William Nylander.
Game Notes
Jakob Markstrom of the New Jersey Devils made his second consecutive start of the tournament in goal for Sweden. He turned aside 20 shots for the victory, improving to 2-0 . . . Landeskog and Zibanejad each had a goal and an assist for the Swedes.
Analysis
Putting the puck in the net hasn’t been a problem for Sweden. The Swedes have scored five goals in three of their four games.
Next Game
Sweden will face the USA and Raymond’s Red Wings teammate Dylan Larkin in an epic quarterfinal game on Wednesday. The puck will drop at 3:10 p.m. ET.