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It was a classic mismatch on paper. Carlos Lee Jersey . The 11th-ranked Latvians pitted against the powerhouse Swedes. The 2006 Turin gold medallists versus the last-place finishers from the 2010 Vancouver Games. But Team Sweden had its hands full in booking its spot in the quarter-finals of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics Saturday, earning a hard-fought 5-3 win over the pesky Latvian side. Erik Karlsson, Daniel Alfredsson and Alex Edler each had a goal and assist for Team Sweden at Shayba Arena. Sweden (3-0), which finished its round-robin atop Group C, was also fuelled by goals from Patrik Berglund and Jimmie Ericsson. The Swedes were spectacular with the man advantage, going 4-for-5 on the power play. Karlsson now has five points (three goals, two assists) in three games in Sochi. Janis Sprukts had a goal and assist, while Lauris Darzins and Zemgus Girgensons – the only current NHLer on the team – also scored for Latvia (0-3), which went 2-for-4 on the power play. Sweden came into the game as heavy favourites, boasting much more NHL and international experience. But Latvia, coached by Buffalo Sabres bench boss Ted Nolan, found a way to level things out on the ice, never quitting with some energetic and feisty play. Latvian netminder Kristers Gudlevskis didnt look like a goalie making his first Olympic appearance, either. He was poised, calm and collected in making 25 stops on 30 shots. Perhaps his best came off the stick of Loui Eriksson in the third period. Gudlevskis was seemingly at the mercy of Daniel Sedin, who sent a cross-crease pass to a wide-open Eriksson. But the Latvian goalie was up to the task and stretched out to steal what looked like a sure goal from the Bruins winger. Latvia kept the Swedes on their toes throughout the game, trading scoring chances and forcing Lundqvist to make several tough stops throughout the game. The New York Rangers netminder finished with 20 saves and helped keep the Latvian attack at bay. The Swedes broke through and opened the scoring on a power play at 15:50 of the first period while Krisjanis Redlihs was in the penalty box, with Berglund redirecting a Karlsson point shot into the back of the net. Latvia tied it 1-1 on a spectacular passing play fuelled by Janis Sprukts. From his own blue-line, he did his best Chris Pronger impression and sent a tape-to-tape long pass to Kristaps Sotnieks, who found a streaking Lauris Darzins. The 29-year-old showed excellent patience in outwaiting his world-class counterpart Lundqvist, beating him with a sneaky backhand move. The short-handed Swedes were already without the services of one of their top snipers in Henrik Zetterberg, who was forced to pull out of the Winter Games with a herniated disc in his back. The Swedish Ice Hockey Federation announced the injury after Swedens 4-2 victory over the Czech Republic Thursday. But it was just another in a list of star forwards to drop out of the Games with health issues. Vancouver Canucks captain Henrik Sedin pulled out of Sochi on the eve of the Olympics with a rib injury. The normally durable 33-year-old had his National Hockey League ironman streak snapped at 679 games last month, a franchise best in Vancouver. Detroit Red Wings workhorse Johan Franzen, a key presence in front of the net unafraid to get physical, is also on the injury list for Sweden with a concussion. Blake Taylor Jersey . — Nick Bjugstad snapped out of his scoring slump and spoiled Drew MacIntyres first NHL start. Luis Gonzalez Jersey . Costa Rica followed up its wins over Uruguay and Italy by holding England to a dour 0-0 draw on Tuesday, enough to finish first in Group D.PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Mike Tomlin doesnt have the patience or the roster depth to make sweeping changes. Besides, the Pittsburgh Steelers coach isnt sure theyre necessary. Last Tomlin checked, his team was 3-3 not 0-6, even if it felt that way after Cleveland crushed the Steelers by three touchdowns last Sunday, Pittsburghs worst loss to its nearest rival in a quarter-century. We are a .500 football team, Tomlin said. Thats not something we desire to be. Yet, it beats a bleaker alternative. Pittsburgh has been a maddening mixed bag during the first six weeks, flipping between exciting and erratic, often from possession to possession. The same team that trailed 31-3 in the fourth quarter Sunday dominated the first quarter and had a chance to take a two-score lead before fizzling. We got to put a more positive, consistent performance on the grass than were putting right now, Tomlin said. That means there may be some new faces in the huddle when the Steelers begin a pivotal three-game homestand Monday against Houston (3-3). Rookie nose tackle Daniel McCullers will likely be active for the first time with starter Steve McLendon out with a shoulder injury. And 6-foot-4 rookie wide receiver Martavis Bryant may finally get a chance to provide quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with the big red-zone target the Steelers have lacked for the better part of a decade. Its not the way Tomlin would like to get his first-year players into the mix, but borne out of necessity because the veterans are not producing regularly. Offensive co-ordinator Todd Haley defended his play-calling in the red zone in a loss to Tampa Bay and a win over Jacksonville, a stretch in which the Steelers passed the ball on 18 of 19 snaps taken inside the opponents 20. He leaned heavily on the run against the Browns, including three straight from the Cleveland 7 in the first quarter. The drive ended the same way many others have: with Shaun Suisham trotting on for a field goal attempt. At least Suisham had a chance to salvage some pooints. Cesar Cedeno Jersey. He wasnt so fortunate the next time the Steelers took a snap deep in Browns territory, when a third-and-3 from the Cleveland 17 quickly turned into disaster. Markus Wheaton couldnt hold on to a Ben Roethlisberger pass that would have given Pittsburgh a first-and-goal. Holder Brad Wing botched the snap on Suishams ensuing field goal attempt, and Wing was driven into the ground. Five plays later, the Browns were in front and the Steelers were left wondering how a team that is sixth in total offence is 23rd in scoring — and sinking fast. What Im looking for is touchdowns, Tomlin said. Ill be up here every week analyzing why we ran or why we passed or why we didnt run or why we didnt pass if we continue to kick field goals or attempt to kick field goals. The bottom line is we have to get the ball in the end zone in a more consistent manner when were on the short field. Enter Bryant — maybe. Pittsburgh took the raw but talented receiver in the fourth round, hoping he would provide the Steelers with a matchup advantage near the goal line theyve missed since Plaxico Burress bolted for the New York Giants in 2005. Bryant, however, has turned into a bit of a project. Unlike Justin Brown and Darrius Heyward-Bey — both of whom rose above Bryant on the depth chart — he is not a factor on special teams. Tomlin appears willing to trade a blocker in the kick-return game for a receiver capable of boxing out a defender in tight space, saying well explore the possibility of utilizing (Bryant) this week. While the Steelers are hardly out of it in the suddenly wide-open AFC North, where all four teams are separated by a game, theyre the only team with a negative point differential. When theyre on, theyre good enough to win, if not exactly dominate. When theyre off, theyre barely competitive. I think every week (has) urgency now, guard David DeCastro said. They all count as the same but at this point were tired of winning one (and) losing one. We have to start stacking them. ‚ ‚ ‚