In a hard-fought contest at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, Elias Pettersson scored twice, including the eventual third-period winner, as Sweden beat Slovakia 5-3. It's Slovakia's first loss in Milan.

However, thanks to a last-minute power play goal by Dalibor Dvorsky, the Slovaks put themselves in an excellent position to win Group B based on goal difference in head-to-head play with Sweden and Finland. As long as Finland defeats host Italy in regulation on Saturday, that's what'll happen.

"Whether we go [straight through] to the quarters or not, it doesn't really matter," said Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman. "We've got to win out here. So now the fun starts."

Shots were 51-32 for Sweden.

The Swedes have won Olympic gold twice (1994, 2006) and are in the conversation to do it again. Slovakia captured its first Olympic medal (bronze) in 2022 and is playing like a legitimate medal contender again this year. Fans got their money's worth in this showdown.

Lucas Raymond and Adrian Kempe each had a goal and an assist, and Joel Eriksson Ek also scored for Sweden. Erik Karlsson added two helpers.

Juraj Slafkovsky had a goal and an assist, and Martin Gernat also scored for Slovakia.

"We knew what we what we had to do, and we scored that last goal," said Slovak assistant captain Martin Fehervary of Dvorsky's late tally. "So that's why we're really, really excited. That extra day off, I think everyone's gonna take it."

Veteran Swedish goalie Jacob Markstrom recorded 29 saves in his Olympic debut. Slovak goalie Samuel Hlavaj, who shone in the 4-1 opening win over Finland, was strong again with 46 saves in his second Olympic start.

Tre Kronor came out with good jump after falling 4-1 to archrival Finland the day before. Karlsson, the only European NHL defenceman ever to top 100 points (2022-23 with San Jose), rang one off the post. Nearing the three-minute mark, Hlavaj denied Alexander Wennberg with his right pad on a partial break.

Coach Sam Hallam’s team had a mental lapse with a minor for too many players on the ice, but they made a savvy play to open the scoring shorthanded at 7:17 On the rush, Eriksson Ek slipped a backhanded pass to Kempe, who couldn’t fool Hlavaj, but the relentless Minnesota Wild centre barged to the net to jam the loose puck in.

The Slovaks persevered. Seconds later, Markstrom’s left goal post was his friend as Oliver Okuliar rattled the iron. But just after the expiry of that first Swedish minor, Slafkovsky powered a one-timer from the right faceoff circle inside Markstrom’s right post to tie it up at 8:59, celebrating with a triumphant air-punch.

It was the third goal of these Winter Games for the 2022 Olympic MVP. Slafkovsky has earned at least a point in every game here in Milan so far.

Slovakia thought it had taken the lead with 0:06 left in the period when Adam Ruzicka’s shot squeezed through Markstrom. The puck almost trickled over the goal line, but the veteran goaltender desperately reached back to grab it. After a video review, it was determined that the puck did not cross the line.

In the second period, Sweden kept coming. It took just five seconds for Tre Kronor to capitalize on the power play when Pavol Regenda went off for kneeing. Lucas Raymond won the faceoff and sent the puck to Rasmus Dahlin, who fed Kempe for a power-play one-timer at 7:06.

Gernat sent the vocal Slovak fans into another frenzy when, in the aftermath of a good forecheck, he converted the fat rebound from Peter Ceresnak's drive high over Markstrom for a 2-2 tie at 9:48.

Kempe acknowledged Slovakia's resilience: "They're a good team. They're physical, they play hard, they play fast. So obviously every game is going to be really tough, but I think overall, we did a way better job today."

At 14:29, Pettersson made it 3-2 Sweden. On the rush, Filip Forsbereg, who moved up the lineup here after serving as Sweden's 13th forward previously, found the Vancouver Canucks star in the left faceoff circle. Pettersson fired the puck through Hlavaj's five-hole and roared with joy.

In the third period, Raymond stepped up with true artistry. First, the Detroit Red Wings ace, who leads all Swedish NHLers with 60 points this year, found Pettersson with a beautiful cross-crease pass for the 4-2 marker at 7:57. Then, Raymond turned defender Simon Nemec inside out before scoring Sweden's fifth goal in tight on Hlavaj at 11:58.

"We have to get up to another level if we want to go all the way," Karlsson opined.

Tempers flared and chippy play abounded in the last 10 minutes, leading to packed penalty boxes. Assisted by Slafkovsky, Dvorsky added his key power play goal with 39 seconds left. In an unusual sight, the Swedes pulled their goalie in the dying moments in order to increase their chances of winning the group, but were not able to cash in.

"Tough pill to swallow, but we'll regroup, and whatever happens, happens," said Hedman.