Overcoming a poor start against a hungry and determined opponent, Sweden squeaked out a 1-0 victory against Switzerland in preliminary round hockey competition at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Tre Kronor rode a brilliant 26-save performance by Henrik Lundqvist and a mid-third period rebound goal by Daniel Alfredsson to victory.

This was a dangerous game for the Swedes coming off an uneven 4-2 win over the Czech Republic in the preliminary round opener. In that game, the Swedes dominated for the first 25 minutes and then got sloppy. There was a risk of that carrying over to the next game against a Swiss are a team that no opponent can afford to take lightly anymore.

The Swiss play solid team defense, usually get fine goaltending and can skate with any team in any tournament. What the Swiss still lack in comparison to the medal favorites is depth of forwards who can finish scoring chances.

Over the last eight years, Team Switzerland has emerged as a national team that can beat any nation on any given day. In 2006 in Turin, the Swiss beat the Czech Republic and Canada in back-to-back games. In 2010 in Vancouver, the Swiss team took eventual gold medalist Canada to a shootout and battled the U.S. hard in the quarterfinals in a 2-0 loss.

Last April at the IIHF World Championships, the Swiss team went undefeated in the preliminary round, including a 3-2 regulation win over Sweden, a 3-2 shootout win over an NHL-player laden Canada squad, and a 5-2 romp over the Czech Republic.

In the medal round, the Swiss beat the Czechs by a 2-1 score and then shut out Team USA, 3-0, to earn a trip to the gold medal game. With the gold medal on the line, the Swedes got their revenge for the preliminary round loss, skating to a 5-1 win.

In the first period of today's game, the Swiss were the aggressors. They forechecked with intensity, denied the Swedes time and space in the neutral zone, blocked a host of shots, kept bodies and sticks in the passing lanes and generated numerous quality scoring chances. The Swiss also exhibited a higher degree of physical play than previous Swiss teams (which were often badly out-sized and out-muscled by most opponents).

Lundqvist had to be sharp in making several tough saves and preventing second-chance opportunities. Switzerland outshot Sweden by a 13-5 margin in the opening stanza.

Swedish coach Pär Mårts made some adjustments in between periods. The gaps were narrowed and the Swedish players exhibited more patience with the puck. Correspondingly, Tre Kronor had the better of play in the middle period and the Swiss got into some penalty trouble that contributed in a wear-down effect even though the Swedes were not able to pot a goal on the man advantage.

In the middle frame, Sweden outshot Switzerland by a 17-7 margin to take a 22-20 lead in shots through 40 periods. It was goaltender Reto Berra's turn to author numerous excellent saves to keep the game scoreless.

The third period was a little more cautiously played, as the Swedes continued to wear down their opponents. Finally, at the 12:39 mark, the Swedes got a break on a counterattack after a Swiss scoring chance.

Berra let out a bad rebound in a dangerous area on a shot by Erik Karlsson, and the ageless Alfredssson immediately pounced to stash the puck in the net. Patrik Berglund earned the secondary assist.

The Swedes nearly scored again right off the center ice faceoff but Berra made the stop. The Swiss generated one more flurry around Lundqvist's net but the Swedes got the benefit of a quick whistle with the puck loose (actually never covered).

Swiss head coach Sean Simpson pulled Berra for an extra attacker in the final 53 seconds. There was only one further scoring chance for the Swiss in the final 53 seconds. For much of the time, the Swiss were unable to gain the blueline and had to twice pull their troops back to defend their empty net. Time expired with the Swiss finally getting the puck deep in the offensive zone.

Tre Kronor outshot the Swiss, 9-6, in the final period and 31-26 for the game. Ultimately, the game hinged on Lundqvist playing a perfect game and Berra making a single bobble on a rebound that crawled up and off his pad and went to Alfredsson.

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Earlier today, the Swedish team received devastating news. Team captain Henrik Zetterberg had to withdraw from the remainder of the tournament due to severe discomfort from a herniated disc in his back. The Detroit Red Wings superstar is not yet physically able to travel but will return to North America when he can.

Tre Kronor team doctor Björn Waldebäck told the Swedish media that, unless Zetterberg's condition improves, the back injury could be severe enough to cause him to miss the remainder of the NHL season. However, the player will undergo further examination and treatment.

Defenseman Niklas Kronwall, Zetterberg's teammate in Detroit, has been named the replacement captain. Kronwall wore the C in today's game against Switzerland.

Yesterday, Zetterberg remained at the Olympic village during practice. He was said to be day-to-day with the back injury. However, alarm bells were sounded when Zetterberg was unable to even take part in the team photograph after practice.

According to Mårts, Zetterberg felt OK during Sweden's game against the Czech Republic. He was one of the team's best two-way players in the game and scored a goal in the second period. His condition worsened rapidly after the game.

Zetterberg missed 11 games in December and two in January for the Red Wings due to the herniated disc. He was said to be feeling much better until the latest setback.

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