The first round of the Olympic playoffs began on Tuesday morning with four games for the men’s hockey. Two games involved players from the Colorado Avalanche. Martin Necas played in game three of the day between Czechia and Denmark, and game four, which was Sweden against Latvia, featured Gabriel Landeskog. These games are single-elimination games. So if you lose, you go home.

Team Czechia vs. Team Denmark

The initial period saw little progress for either side, despite each receiving a penalty. Shots on goal would end at the of the period at 8–6, with Czechia having the advantage.

Czechia came out strong in the second period thanks to a penalty by former Avalanche Lars Eller. For over sixty seconds, the Czech worked around the tired Danish defense, sending Necas along the left flank. It would set Necas up for a beautiful one-timer shot and his third goal of the tournament. Four minutes later, Alexander True tied the game at one apiece. It took only one minute and 15 seconds for Czechia to retake the lead. David Kampf netted the second goal for them with Necas on the secondary assist.

Just over halfway through the middle frame, Roman Cervenka put the Czechs up by two goals with the help of David Pastrnak. Late in the second, Nick Olesen of Team Denmark attempted to get his team back into the game. No goals were scored in the third period, eliminating Denmark with the 3–2 win from the Olympic tournament. Team Czechia will move on to play Team Canada on Wednesday.

Team Sweden vs. Team Latvia

Game two of the day that featured an Avalanche player was Team Sweden vs. Team Latvia. Gabriel Landeskog, already with a goal in the first game for Sweden, would help on Tuesday.

The Swedes understood the game’s importance and started intense play immediately. Joel Eriksson Ek, midway through the opening period, skated down the left flank, sending the puck toward the net. It bounced off Adrian Kempe and right into the net for the opening goal of the game. Forty-one seconds later, Mika Zibanejad dumped the puck into the zone for Landeskog on the far side. Landeskog rushed the net as the shot came, and he gathered the rebound for the 2–0 lead.

Sweden continued the pressure going into the second period. Filip Forsberg of the Nashville Predators gained a three-goal with 12 and a half minutes left in the frame. Almost exactly three minutes later, Eduards Tralmaks scored the only Latvian goal of the game. Sweden refused to let it defeat them.

Going into the third period, Zibanejad set himself up for a give-and-go with Lucas Raymond on the one-timer goal. Landeskog received the secondary assist. Late in the game, with under seven minutes left, Nylander powerfully backhanded the puck home, effectively ending the Latvians’ chances. Sweden ended the Latvian hopes of a medal with the 6–1 victory and will battle the Americans tomorrow.

Germany defeated France 5–1 and Switzerland defeated Italy 3–0. Both Italy and France have been eliminated from the tournament.

Up Next

There will be four games on the schedule on Wednesday. Three of them will feature Avalanche players:

  • Canada vs. Czechia 8:30 a.m.
  • Finland vs. Switzerland 10 a.m.
  • USA vs. Sweden 1p.m.