Red Wings Raymond Held Off Scoresheet as Swedes Win Olympic Opener

Detroit's Lucas Raymond fails to record a point as Sweden defeats Italy 5-2 in preliminary round action.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond was held off the scoresheet as Sweden defeated Italy 5-2 in their opening game of the 2026 Winter Olympics men's hockey tournament. Five different Swedish players scored in the victory, with Raymond's Olympic roommate, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, recording three assists. Despite putting three shots on goal, Raymond was unable to find the back of the net in his Olympic debut.

Why it matters

As one of Sweden's top offensive talents, Raymond's performance will be closely watched throughout the tournament. The Red Wings star is expected to play a key role in Sweden's quest for a gold medal, so his inability to get on the scoresheet in the opener raises some early questions about his production.

The details

Sweden outshot Italy 60-24, setting an Olympic record for most shots in a game. However, the Italians kept the game close, trailing just 1-0 midway through the contest before Sweden pulled away late. Raymond skated 15:25 and had three of Sweden's shots on goal.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.
  • Sweden and Italy met in preliminary round action.

The players

Lucas Raymond

A 24-year-old forward for the Detroit Red Wings who is making his Olympic debut for Sweden.

Rasmus Dahlin

A 26-year-old defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres who is Raymond's Olympic roommate and recorded three assists in the win over Italy.

Mika Zibanejad

A 33-year-old forward for the New York Rangers who scored a late goal to make it 4-2 Sweden.

Victor Hedman

A 35-year-old defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning who scored an empty-net goal to seal Sweden's victory.

Damian Clara

The first-ever Italian player drafted to the NHL, who made 55 saves in goal for Italy despite the loss.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

Sweden will face off against rival Finland on Friday, February 14th at 6:00 AM local time. Finland was stunned 4-1 by Slovakia in their opening game.

The takeaway

While Raymond was held off the scoresheet, Sweden's dominant performance and record-setting shot total suggest the team has the firepower to make a deep run at the gold medal. Raymond's ability to contribute offensively will be crucial as the tournament progresses.