In the opening match of the Olympic tournament, Sweden, a strong contender for the medal, faced a challenging game against the host nation Italy. The match remained tense and closely contested, with Sweden managing to score twice in the final five minutes to secure a 5-2 victory. Throughout the game, only two two-minute penalties were called, indicating a physical contest, and Sweden capitalized on their sole power play opportunity in the first period while Italy failed to convert their power play chance in the final frame.

Coach Hallam of Sweden expressed frustration over the officiating, suggesting that the referees favored maintaining suspense in the game, which he believed prevented the team from killing off the game early. He pointed out that several clear hooking and holding incidents by Italy were overlooked by the officials, indicating a lack of enforcement that could have changed the dynamics of the match.

Responding to the criticisms, Jukka Jalonen, Italy's head coach and a former star player, acknowledged Hallam's right to his opinion while also pointing out that Italy could have been afforded some penalties as well, reflecting the competitive nature of the game. This exchange highlights the tensions often present in closely matched international contests, especially in critical tournaments like the Olympics, where every decision can lead to significant implications for the teams involved.