Jack Eichel and the United States learned who their next opponent would be on Tuesday. The quarterfinal round is going to be much harder since this is a team that America hasn't faced yet in the Olympics. Therefore, Latvia and its millions of offside challenges are off the board.
That's right, dear reader. The Americans are facing Sweden in the next round. After blowing out Latvia in the qualification round, 5-1, the Swedes will advance to the quarterfinal round.
Of course, there was a notable absence for Golden Knights fans with Team Sweden. In fact, it's the new guy named Rasmus Andersson, who was healthy-scratched for another game. He rode the pine alongside Jesper Bratt and Filip Gustavsson on Tuesday, suggesting trouble in paradise for the latest Golden Knights acquisition.
But let's focus on the impeding quarterfinal matchup for the United States for a second. Life gets much harder for the Americans, even if the Swedes are having a rough time in the Olympics. Fans might see that on Wednesday, where Sweden might put a stop to "Free Bird" being blasted throughout Milan.
Why the Swedes are a problem for the Americans, even if they're vastly underperforming at the Olympics
It's no secret that Sweden has a team that can win a medal, especially a gold medal. With talent at every position, they can take on teams like the United States and Canada and give them a game. Take your pick among the many stars that play for Sweden, whether it's Adrian Kempe, William Nylander, or Rasmus Dahlin.
That alone should give more credence to eventually breaking through. The Swedes have been slow starters during this tournament, even getting blown out by Finland, 4-1. However, they handled Slovakia in the next game, 5-3. Goals by Lucas Raymond, Elias Pettersson (twice), Kempe, and Joel Eriksson Ek indicated that this team can explode at any given time.
That's especially true with the United States, who have gotten off to slow starts in all three games so far. The Americans needed strong second and third periods to pull away from their opponents, leaving plenty of fans concerned.
A strong start is needed from Jack Eichel and the United States to win
That reason is why the United States can't have a terrible first period. Sweden is a dynamic offensive team that can move the puck effortlessly. Many puck movers roam the Swedish side, whether they're entering the offensive zone or in transition. That makes them dangerous to defend against, especially if you turn the puck over.
For Eichel, he must carry the load and lead the attack. Use your two-way game to jump on the forecheck and put the pressure on the Swedes. Also, have guys like Auston Matthews step and carry the load. If the United States can do this, it won't have a problem with the Nordic country.
Let's be honest. The Americans are in for a bloodbath on Wednesday. They're going up against a tough Swedish team that haven't reached its full potential yet. If they struggle out of the gate, the Americans won't have any medals to bring home. That's not the standard that the United States holds themselves to.