Wednesday’s action in Sochi
Henrik Lundqvist improved his lifetime record in the Olympics to 8-2 in making 27 saves in Sweden’s 4-2 victory over the Czech Republic.
Sweden scored three goals on 10 shots against starting goaltender Jakub Kovar, who was pulled at 0:51 of the second period for Alexander Salak. Winnipeg netminder Ondrej Pavelec did not dress.
Lundqvist, who yielded a pair of goals — to the Devils’ Marek Zidlicky and Jaromir Jagr — within a span of 1:49 midway through the second after Sweden had taken a 4-0 lead, stopped all 15 shots he faced in the third. He made his most important save on a Tomas Kaberle breakaway with 6:45 remaining.
“You want to start building something, and this is a good start for us,” Lundqvist told reporters.
In the other game on opening day of the men’s hockey tournament, Simon Moser was credited with a goal that caromed off Latvian defenseman Georgijs Pujacs in front of the net with 7.9 seconds left in the game, lifting Switzerland to a 1-0 win over lightly regarded Latvia.
Anaheim’s Jonas Hiller recorded 21 saves in the victory over Latvia, coached by Buffalo’s Ted Nolan and captained by 41-year-old Sandis Ozolinsh. The short-term Rangers’ defenseman is in his fifth season in the KHL. Goaltender Edgars Masalskis made 38 saves for Latvia, which is represented by only one NHL player: the Sabres’ Zemgas Girgensons.
Due up Thursday
Jonathan Quick gets the call from U.S. coach Dan Bylsma to start in nets for the USA against Slovakia (NBCSN, 7:30 a.m.). The 2010 silver medal winner and tournament MVP Ryan Miller will be Quick’s back-up. Quick, who won the Conn Smythe for the 2012 Cup champion Kings, has never played in an international event.
The Rangers’ Derek Stepan has been skating as a spare forward in practice and could be scratched.
Canada and goaltender Carey Price open against Norway and Mats Zuccarello (USA, noon), while Russia faces Slovenia.