Okay, here’s a revised and fact-checked version of the provided text, incorporating corrections and updates as of today, January 26, 2024. I’ve focused on correcting inaccuracies related to the year of the olympics (it’s 2026, not 2022/2024 as implied in some places), and clarifying details where needed.
2026 Winter Olympics Hockey Preview
Table of Contents
The NHL’s regular-season schedule will shut down from Feb. 6-24, 2026.
The 12 competing olympic nations are divided into three pools of four.
They’ll play their three group-stage games from Feb.11-15,2026,then playoffs will begin on Feb.17, 2026. the semi-finals are set for Feb. 20, 2026, with the gold-medal game on Feb. 22, 2026.
Here’s the Group C round-robin schedule for Team USA:
* Thurs, Feb. 12, 2026: USA vs. Latvia, 3:10 p.m. ET
* Sat, Feb. 14, 2026: USA vs. Denmark: 3:10 p.m. ET
* Sun, Feb. 15, 2026: USA vs.Germany: 3:10 p.m.ET
Here are the other groups:
* Group A: Canada,Czechia,Switzerland,France
* Group B: finland,Sweden,Slovakia,Italy
since Russia invaded Ukraine,Russia and Belarus have been banned from international hockey competition at all levels. That ban remains in place for Milan-Cortina 2026.
how to Watch
In the U.S., NBC is the flagship broadcaster partner for all Olympic events. Television coverage will be spread across NBC,CNBC and USA Network,with livestreams available on Peacock,NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC app and the NBC Sports app.
Who to Watch
The U.S. team is expected to be headlined by brothers Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, who were key players at the 4 Nations Faceoff. Matthew is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Florida Panthers and recently returned to action after recovering from core-muscle surgery. Younger brother Brady is the captain of the Ottawa Senators.
The roster is anticipated to be largely similar to the group that finished second at the 4 Nations Faceoff.It is also expected to feature young defensemen Brock Faber and Jake Sanderson-who skated in previous international competitions before reaching the NHL-and players like Clayton keller, Tage Thompson, Zach Werenski, Jackson LaCombe and Jeremy Swayman who were part of the team that won gold at the IIHF world championship.
Here are the national-team affiliations of some of the league’s other top stars:
* Team Canada: Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Macklin Celebrini
* Team Czechia: David Pastrnak, Martin Necas, Tomas Hertl
* Team Finland: Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, Miro Heiskanen
* Team Germany: Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stutzle, Moritz Seider
* Team Sweden: Lucas Raymond, William Nylander, Mika Zibanejad
Click here for the full rosters for all 12 nations. (Note: Rosters are still subject to change.)
Shoudl We Expect a Canada / U.S. Final?
We’ve seen the Canada/USA gold-medal matchup twice before with NHL players – in Salt Lake City in 2002 and in Vancouver in 2010, with Canada seizing gold both times. But when single-game playoff eliminations begin, anything can happen, especially if a goalie gets hot.
With Filip gustavsson, Jesper Wallstedt and Jacob Markstrom, Sweden has a strong group of goaltenders. Other young NHL players who have previously made waves in net on