Swedish crash makes way for Norway to win 1st women’s cross-country gold in relay at Milan Cortina

TESERO, Italy (AP) — A broken ski and a slushy course upended the women’s cross‑country relay Saturday, sending Norway to victory as powerhouse Sweden suffered a Valentine’s Day heartbreak at the Milan Cortina Games. Ebba Andersson tumbled and snapped the ski binding in the second leg, giving Norway the advantage on a day where warm weather caused slushy corners that created havoc in the early stages.

Andersson slipped twice before the bad fall that cost the Swedes more than a minute in the race. The 28-year-old pushed forward on one ski before being handed a replacement, and her teammates fought back to finish with the silver.

In the stands, Norway fans celebrated by holding up red Valentine's hearts.

Norway anchor Heidi Weng crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 15 minutes and 44.8 seconds to win the 4 x 7.5 kilometer relay, 50.9 seconds ahead of Sweden. Finland took bronze 1 minute, 14.7 seconds behind the winners.

“This is not the way I had imagined the race,” Weng said. “I told myself not to go all out from the start, to just find a good rhythm and enjoy being out there. Most importantly, it was to stay on my feet on the downhills.”

Jessie Diggins, anchoring the United States, finished fifth 1 minute, 52.2 behind Norway.

Rainfall and tough course conditions forced many athletes to race cautiously at Tesero, northern Italy. A group of chasing athletes tumbled on the first bend.

Weng was wrapped in a Norwegian flag by teammates as she crossed the finish line and the team later consoled Andersson with a hug before the medal ceremony.

Despite the fightback, the Swedes, who had one all three previous races, were crestfallen.

“My body is OK but my heart is not,” Andersson said. “I can’t blame anyone but myself. I didn’t act well enough in that moment. Then we had the worst possible bad luck with the broken ski. It was mostly panic and chaos through that entire leg.”

Sweden had started the race as strong favorites, having won seven out of nine medals in the women's cross country competition.

Their winning caliber was on display in the freestyle half of the relay: Frida Karlsson and anchor Jonna Sundling pushed past six other teams in medal contention, overtaking Finland in the final ascent.

“Before the race, I reminded myself that you never really know what you’re heading out into,” Sundling said. “After what happened during the race, not every team would have been able to handle that.”

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Frida Karlsson, of Sweden, walks off the course after completing her leg of the cross country skiing women's 4 x 7.5km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Jessie Diggins, of the United States, competes in the cross country skiing women's 4 x 7.5km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Jonna Sundling, Frida Karlsson, Ebba Andersson, and Linn Svahn, of Sweden, stands on the podium after winning the silver medal in the cross country skiing women's 4 x 7.5km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Jonna Sundling, of Sweden, approaches the finish line in the cross country skiing women's 4 x 7.5km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Heidi Weng, of Norway, celebrates after winning the gold medal in the cross country skiing women's 4 x 7.5km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Astrid Oeyre Slind, of Norway, competes in the cross country skiing women's 4 x 7.5km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Ebba Andersson, of Sweden, tags teammate Frida Karlsson, right, during the cross country skiing women's 4 x 7.5km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Astrid Oeyre Slind, of Norway, tags teammate Karoline Simpson-Larsen, right, during the cross country skiing women's 4 x 7.5km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Ebba Andersson, of Sweden, competes in the cross country skiing women's 4 x 7.5km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

NEW YORK (AP) — Matvei Michkov had a goal and two assists and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the New York Islanders 3-1 on Friday night to move within one point of the Islanders for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Travis Sanheim and Alex Bump had a goal and an assist each and Owen Tippett also scored for Philadelphia. Dan Vladar finished with 20 saves. The Columbus Blue Jackets are also tied with the Flyers with 88 points.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored for New York and Ilya Sorokin made 17 saves in his 10th straight appearance, but the Islanders lost their third straight in a tightly contested Eastern Conference playoff race.

Michkov fired a shot from behind the goal line off Sorokin’s pad early in the second period to give the Flyers a 3-0 lead.

Tippett opened the scoring, completing a forehand-backhand move off a pass from Sanheim with less than seven minutes remaining in the first period.

Bump extended the Flyers’ lead to two goals when he caught Sorokin out of position and sent a wrist shot just inside the post.

Pageau scored off a feed from Mathew Barzal with less than five minutes remaining in the second period to pull New York within 3-1.

Sanheim scored midway through the third period to restore Philadelphia’s three-goal lead and put the game out of reach.

Simon Holmstrom returned to the Islanders’ lineup after missing the previous game against the Buffalo Sabres with an upper-body injury. Anthony Duclair was a healthy scratch.

Flyers: Host the Boston Bruins on Sunday.

Islanders: Visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Philadelphia Flyers' Tyson Foerster (71) deke pastNew York Islanders' Adam Pelech (3) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Philadelphia Flyers' Sean Couturier (14) defends New York Islanders' Mathew Barzal (13) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Islanders' Jean-Gabriel Pageau, left, celebrates after scoring a goal as Philadelphia Flyers' Noah Juulsen (47) reacts during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) protects the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders Friday, April 3, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Philadelphia Flyers' Matvei Michkov (39) skates past New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)