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Tag: Hockey

  • Heated Rivalry Season 2 Set for Spring 2027 Return

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    Crave’s breakout sports romance gears up for a bigger, more public second season.

    Fans of Heated Rivalry will not be off the ice for much longer. Season 2 is officially set to premiere in spring 2027, with production scheduled to begin this summer. After months of online speculation and fan anticipation, the confirmation makes clear that the slow-burning hockey romance is not only renewed but actively charging into its next chapter.

    The series streams on Canada’s Crave (and HBO Max in the U.S.), which renewed the show before the first season had even finished airing. That early renewal reflected the network’s confidence in the adaptation and the audience response it generated almost immediately.

    According to Crave, the series ranked among the platform’s top-streamed scripted originals during its debut window. Episodes consistently trended on X and TikTok on premiere nights, while fan edits drew millions of combined views across platforms. The show additionally earned strong critical marks, holding a high audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and emerging as one of the most discussed queer romance series of the year.

    By confirming a firm premiere timeline, the network signals that Season 2 is positioned as a flagship return. As a result, the sustained online engagement and steady international viewership have solidified the show as more than a niche adaptation. Instead, it has become a crossover streaming success.

    Meanwhile, showrunner Jacob Tierney said the writers’ room is already shaping the next chapter. The extended production window allows the team to carefully develop both the emotional arcs and the high-intensity hockey sequences that define the show’s identity. Because the series hinges on a balance between sports authenticity and intimate character drama, that additional time reflects the scale of the ambition behind the 2027 premiere.

    The Long Game Takes Center Ice

    For Season 2, the focus shifts to The Long Game, Rachel Reid’s sequel novel that continues the story of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov beyond the secrecy that defined their early relationship. While the first installment centered on stolen moments and the constant threat of exposure, the sequel pivots toward what happens after the initial tension gives way to something more permanent. Consequently, the emotional stakes evolve from desire and concealment to stability and commitment.

    This time, the narrative moves into public scrutiny, contract negotiations, career transitions and the strain of sustaining a relationship under pressure. After all, professional sports culture does not pause for personal growth. Media attention intensifies. Team leadership roles add responsibility. Identity and performance intersect in ways that complicate intimacy.

    Tierney has hinted that the adaptation will remain faithful to the novel’s emotional depth while broadening its scope on television. Rather than recreating the first season’s secrecy, the new episodes will examine endurance and visibility. In other words, the rivalry evolves into a partnership, and the question becomes whether that partnership can withstand the spotlight.

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    Draft Day: Returning Stars and Fresh Picks

    At the same time, the cast lineup remains central to the show’s momentum. Connor Storrie’s portrayal of Ilya thrives on contradiction. He carries himself with swagger, sharp humor and visible confidence, yet there is always an undercurrent of restraint beneath it. On the surface, Ilya puts on a brave face for the locker room and the media. However, in private moments, Storrie allows flashes of insecurity and longing to surface. That tension between outward dominance and inward vulnerability gives the character depth.

    Opposite him, Hudson Williams plays Shane with a steadier energy. By contrast, Shane is disciplined, methodical and emotionally guarded. Where Ilya leads with impulse, Shane leads with control. As a result, his quiet resolve becomes a grounding force. Williams communicates much of Shane’s inner conflict through subtle shifts in posture and expression rather than overt dialogue, which makes the performance feel internal, deliberate and tightly held.

    Together, they function as a kind of emotional yin and yang. While Ilya operates on fire and instinct, Shane is structured and restrained. Ilya pushes boundaries, tests limits and thrives on friction. Meanwhile, Shane absorbs pressure, calculates risk and values stability. One challenges. The other steadies. Ultimately, that push and pull creates the propulsion that drives the series forward.

    Season 2 will also introduce new cast members, including additional teammates, coaching staff and league rivals who will deepen the professional stakes. In addition, producers have indicated that several supporting characters from the book series will take on expanded roles, creating more storylines within the broader hockey world. The expanded ensemble reflects the series’ ambition to depict not only a romance but a functioning professional league.

    As both characters’ careers advance, locker room politics, media narratives and team hierarchies will play a larger role. Even so, the romance remains central, unfolding within a competitive structure that does not easily bend.

    No More Time in the Penalty Box

    Ultimately, the spring 2027 return arrives with heightened expectations. Season 1 delivered tension, payoff and emotional clarity, turning its leads into fan favorites and its rivalry into appointment viewing. Now, Season 2 faces the challenge of expanding that foundation without repeating it.

    With scripts in development and cameras preparing to roll, the creative team appears focused on evolution rather than repetition. The secrecy that once defined Shane and Ilya’s connection will give way to visibility and consequence. In the end, the next chapter is not about rekindling a spark. Instead, it is about sustaining it under brighter lights and heavier pressure.

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    Sofia Youngs

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  • Third victim dies from wounds suffered in Rhode Island ice rink attack, police say

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    PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A deadly shooting during a youth hockey game in Rhode Island last week has claimed a third victim, a grandfather whose daughter and grandson were also killed in the attack, authorities said Wednesday.

    Gerald Dorgan, who had been in critical condition, has died from his injuries, according to Pawtucket police.

    Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien said he was heartbroken that another person has died because of the shooting.

    “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victim’s family, friends, and all those impacted by this tragic act of violence,” he said in a statement.

    Dorgan’s daughter, Rhonda Dorgan, and grandson, Aidan Dorgan, were also killed in the shooting.

    Police identified the shooter as Robert Dorgan, 56, who died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Dorgan also went by the names Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano, authorities said. Robert Dorgan’s ex-wife was Rhonda Dorgan and adult son was Aidan Dorgan.

    Officials have said the shooter was specifically targeting family members.

    Rhonda Dorgan’s mom, Linda Dorgan, and a family friend, Thomas Geruso, were wounded.

    Law enforcement have credited several people who intervened and quickly stopped the attack. At least three bystanders were able to contain the shooter in the middle of the stands as the crowd fled and ran around them.

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  • Macklin Celebrini welcomes pressure as spotlight on Sharks starts to grow

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    SAN JOSE – Macklin Celebrini had just finished his first practice back with the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday – after an unforgettable Olympic experience — when he entered a room filled with cameras and reporters.

    “Most media we’ve had. Ever,” Celebrini said. “Starting to feel like a Canadian market.”

    And a reflection of his growing popularity, as Celebrini’s record-setting performance at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics – capped by a gold medal game watched by tens of millions of fans — raised his profile here at home and across the NHL.

    Roughly a dozen news outlets, several more than usual, attended the Sharks’ practice on Wednesday as Celebrini skated with his teammates for the first time since he returned from Italy late Monday night.

    Some of those local media outlets were at a Sharks practice for the first time this season, underscoring the team’s growing relevance and Celebrini’s reach as one of the Bay Area’s most recognizable sports figures.

    “I know Mack is certainly proud to be Canadian, and he should be,” but we were also proud to represent, you know, San Jose Sharks, the Bay Area, the community around here, the fans, obviously, he’s become, you know, the face of the franchise, in a sense,

    Thursday’s game against the Calgary Flames, which begins a six-game homestand, is trending toward a sellout crowd of 17,435.

    Tickets are also scarce and pricey for San Jose’s weekend games against McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday and goalie Connor Hellebuyck – who made 41 saves for Team USA in the gold medal game — and the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.

    The Sharks have already sold out 12 of 26 home games this season, after having capacity crowds in 15 of 41 games at SAP Center last season.

    “This was the goal,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “Not to talk to this many media people, but the goal was to get the energy back in the building and get people talking about the Sharks again, and I think the players did a great job of doing that.”

    San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini speaks about his experience representing Canada at the Olympics during a press conference at Tech CU Arena in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 

    “This homestead is going to be pretty much sold out,” Warsofsky added. “Crowds and people are going to be excited to see our team play again.”

    As excited as Celebrini was to be back in San Jose, there was still some bitterness as to how the Olympic tournament ended.

    Playing alongside the game’s greatest player in Connor McDavid, Celebrini had a tournament-leading five goals in six games, and his 10 points made him the highest-scoring teenager in an Olympics involving NHL players.

    While Celebrini on Wednesday expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent his native country of Canada on hockey’s biggest international stage, where he played with several of the game’s greatest stars, there remained – reasonable or otherwise — a feeling of failure.

    Celebrini and the Canadians did enough to beat the United States in Sunday’s gold medal game at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Italy. But the heart-stopping final came down to 3-on-3 overtime, where New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes scored the winning goal, handing the Americans a 2-1 win and their first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980.

    For anyone who thought Celebrini would now be past the disappointment of losing the men’s hockey gold medal game, think again.

    “A lot of those guys I looked up to my whole childhood, and it was an honor play with them and be around them every single day,” Celebrini said at Sharks Ice. “But it sucks. It’s a little sour that you look back at it and just didn’t get the job done.”

    How long does he think that sour feeling will last?

    “Forever,” Celebrini said.

    San Jose Sharks' Macklin Celebrini (71) and San Jose Sharks' Vincent Desharnais (5) talk during the first practice after the Olympics at Tech CU Arena in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
    San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini (71) and San Jose Sharks’ Vincent Desharnais (5) talk during the first practice after the Olympics at Tech CU Arena in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 

    Now the Sharks are hoping other Olympians, Sweden’s Alex Wennberg, Switzerland’s Philipp Kurashev, and Slovakia’s Pavol Regenda, can use the pressure of an Olympic tournament – and the disappointment that came with it — to their benefit as their playoff chase resumes.

    Celebrini said playing with McDavid, the NHL’s leading scorer before Wednesday and a three-time Hart Trophy winner, and Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon, the league’s second-leading scorer, showed him “where the bar is at.”

    “Those guys play with such pace, and they think the game so fast, and the level that they play at, the practice that they play at, probably the fastest practices I’ve ever been a part of.

    “Just being around them, practicing with them, playing with them, it’s a different level.”

    The Sharks’ homestand is going to be vitally important to any postseason hopes, as they entered Wednesday five points out of a playoff spot with 27 games left to play.

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    Curtis Pashelka

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  • Flavor Flav Invites U.S. Women’s Hockey Team to Vegas

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    As the U.S. Men’s hockey team heads to the White House following their Olympic win, the gold-winning women’s team are offered a trip to Vegas with Flavor Flav

    The women’s and men’s U.S. hockey teams jointly made history at this year’s Milan-Cortina Games, both receiving gold in an Olympic sweep. Despite both teams achieving wins, only the men’s team received a phone call from the White House. 

    The men’s U.S. hockey team faced controversy over the weekend when a video of the phone call with President Donald Trump went viral. In the video, the president jokes that he would “have to bring the women’s team” to the State of the Union Address or likely face impeachment. The team then laughed in response. 

    Following the remark, a spokesperson for the women’s U.S. hockey team declined the invitation on behalf of the Olympic gold winners. 

    “We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” the USA Hockey spokesperson said. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.”

    Rapper and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Flavor Flav, in turn, invited the group to join him in Vegas for “good times.”

    “If the USA Women’s Hockey team wants a real celebration and invite, I’ll host them in Las Vegas,” Flav wrote on social media on Monday.

    The rapper, who is an Olympic enthusiast and sponsor for the U.S. women’s water polo team, later posted a formal invitation on social media, to which he said the team has officially accepted. 

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    In an Instagram post shared by the U.S. women’s hockey team, many brands showed up in the comments to offer partnerships, including StubHub, Liquid I.V., TOMS and BÉIS Travel.

    The women’s Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime on Thursday. In similar fashion, the men’s team defeated Canada 2-1 on Sunday, also in overtime. 

    Tuesday morning, members from the men’s team flew from Miami to Washington D.C., in what appeared to be a U.S. government plane, shown in images posted by forward Matthew Tkachuk. The team met with Trump for a photo-op in the Oval Office. 

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    Taylor Parise

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  • Team U.S.A. Won More Than Gold in Men’s Hockey

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    Less than two minutes into overtime of the men’s gold-medal hockey game at the Milano Cortina Olympics, between the U.S.A. and Canada, the American Jack Hughes—a fresh gap in his teeth, his mouth still bloody from a high stick in the third period—lunged and poked the puck around a Canadian defender. The ice, which had seemed crowded with players colliding at incredible speeds during regulation, suddenly opened up—Olympic hockey uses a three-on-three format during overtime instead of the ordinary five-on-five. The Canadian Nathan MacKinnon had an angle on the puck, but there was an air of caution about him as he skated toward it. Perhaps fatigue was setting in. MacKinnon had been all over the rink all game, which was as fast, and as physical, and as highly skilled, surely, as any hockey competition in history. He’d had his own chances to score; halfway through the third period, he’d even missed an open net. So it had gone for Canada all day. Perhaps MacKinnon was haunted, seeing ghosts. Or perhaps it was the sight of three real, live Americans streaking into the attacking zone.

    MacKinnon glided toward the puck—and toward Zach Werenski, who’d beaten him there. Then the Canadian hesitated, ever so slightly. That was all it took. Werenski was able to fight him off, turn back, and get off a sharp pass across the ice to Hughes, who was flying up the left side. Hughes was ready for it. He shot and scored, a goal that gave the U.S. its first gold in men’s hockey since 1980, when a bunch of college kids beat the mighty Soviets on their way to the final.

    There is now, as there was then, a political context that seemed to inform every hard hit, every ringing chant for Canada or for the U.S.A. Donald Trump, after all, has made no secret of his contempt for Canadians or his disregard of their sovereignty. And the Canadians have made hockey, the country’s national sport, a kind of referendum on their strong identity. “You can’t take our country—and you can’t take our game,” wrote the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after the Canadians’ overtime win over the U.S. for the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy last year—one of the wildest, most highly charged sporting events I’ve ever seen. But the thrilling reality is that these U.S. and Canada teams were well matched in most measures, and together put on a display of unbelievable speed and skill. The competitive intensity between them had less to do with some narrative of freedom versus tyranny based on the two nations’ differences and more to do with their familiarity. The U.S. and Canadian players face each other all year long, crisscrossing the border. Some of them are teammates, and might even refer to one another as family. They know each other’s weaknesses and tendencies. They respect each other, sometimes grudgingly. But it was obvious from the determination on both sides that they understood friendships don’t define rivalries. “There’s hatred there,” the quick-to-brawl American forward Brady Tkachuk said before the game. “I mean, they’ve been the top dog. They’ve been the best for the last bunch of years, and, for us, we want to be in that position, be the best. So it’s going to be a game where I think a lot of guys could say, This is the biggest game that they’ve ever played in.”

    And after Hughes’s golden goal, that’s the way it seemed. Blue gloves and helmets flew into the air, and the players poured onto the ice in jubilation. “It was just euphoria,” Charlie McAvoy said. “I can’t even explain what I was feeling, just pure joy.” The Canadians, meanwhile, are left with silver medals and regrets over missed opportunities. Because for most of the game, right up until the moment that Hughes kicked the puck out of the corner to begin Team U.S.A.’s winning attack, Canada had the clear edge in every respect—except goaltending. The Canadians outshot the Americans 42–28. Hughes’s goal will be the single moment from this game that is long remembered, but it was Connor Hellebuyck’s performance that made it possible. Hellebuyck stood up in traffic, stuffed Connor McDavid (the best player in the world) on a breakaway, and somehow managed to reach back and use his paddle to deflect what should have been a tap-in by Devon Toews near the start of the third. Hellebuyck, with forty-one saves, is the game’s true hero.

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    Louisa Thomas

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  • For Macklin Celebrini, things are about to change after historic Olympic effort

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    San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini stood stone-faced as an Olympic silver medal was placed around his neck on Sunday at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

    This wasn’t what Team Canada’s youngest player wanted. Or expected.

    Celebrini and the Canadians lost 2-1 to the United States in a heart-stopping final as New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes scored 1:41 into 3-on-3 overtime to give Team USA its first gold medal in men’s hockey since the Miracle on Ice team stood atop the podium in Lake Placid in 1980.

    During the 12-day tournament, the first to include NHL players since 2014, Celebrini finished second in scoring with 10 points, becoming the highest-scoring teenager in Olympic men’s hockey history. Still just 19, he was named to the Olympic all-tournament team, as his five goals led all skaters.

    All of that did little to ease the sting of Sunday’s loss for the ultra-competitive Celebrini.

    “The whole time, we believed in ourselves,” Celebrini said. “We had lots of chances, I had lots of chances I missed. You get put in those situations, you have to capitalize on your opportunities, and I didn’t.”

    Still, during the Games, Celebrini grew from being one of the NHL’s coolest stories this season and a burgeoning Bay Area star to having a much bigger international profile while cementing his status as one of the game’s greatest players.

    From the start, Celebrini fit in seamlessly alongside the NHL’s leading scorer, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, and regularly played during Canada’s most high-leverage moments.

    Just before Hughes’ goal Sunday, Celebrini was on the ice with Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner. Those two combined on an overtime goal that lifted Canada past Czechia in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.

    Canadian forward Nathan MacKinnon was moved onto a line with McDavid and Celebrini early in round-robin play. The longtime center played right wing on that line and said, “I understand the position and obviously playing with the best player in the world (in McDavid), and maybe the second-best player in the world, in Macklin, it was a lot of fun.”

    MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: USA’s #74 Jaccob Slavin (2L) and Canada’s #17 Macklin Celebrini vie for the puck during the men’s gold medal ice hockey match between Canada and USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Julien de Rosa – Pool/Getty Images) 

    Now, it seems, nothing will be the same for Celebrini, who is still more than three months away from his 20th birthday.

    Thanks to the massive viewership numbers that were expected for Sunday’s game, Celebrini will no doubt become more visible wherever he goes. As time goes on, the expectations for him and the Sharks will also increase, and by playing so well this season and on the world stage, Celebrini will likely help San Jose become a more attractive place for free agents.

    Heck, since Celebrini and McDavid played so well together and found instant chemistry, there’s already been speculation that McDavid will leave the Oilers in 2028 when he becomes a free agent and joins the Sharks. We’ll see what happens.

    “If you want to see a special talent, come watch the Sharks,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said Saturday. “If you’re a hockey fan, if you’re not a hockey fan, you can just feel there’s a little bit of buzz around the area.

    “I’m getting texts from people back home (in Massachusetts), because we’re on late, and now they’re going to stay up and watch the Sharks. And credit to Mack, he’s been a big part of that.”

    Celebrini and the Canadians thought they let Sunday’s game slip away after badly outshooting the Americans 42-28, including 33-18 over the final two periods.

    Celebrini had two glorious chances to score when the Canadians were on the power play late in the third period, and MacKinnon missed a wide-open net from short range.

    MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: Brady Tkachuk #7 of Team United States shakes hands with Macklin Celebrini #17 of Team Canada after the team's 2-1 overtime victory in the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
    MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Brady Tkachuk #7 of Team United States shakes hands with Macklin Celebrini #17 of Team Canada after the team’s 2-1 overtime victory in the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) 

    Of American goalie Connor Hellebuyck’s 41 saves, perhaps the most memorable was the one early in the third period on Devon Toews, where Hellebuyck used the knob of his stick to stop what could have been the game-winning goal from going in.

    “(Hellebuyck) was our best player by a mile,” said winger Matt Boldy, who scored a first-period goal to give the Americans a 1-0 lead. “He’s an absolute stud. He wants to be in those moments. He wants to make the saves. And he did just that, so he was definitely our MVP.”

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    Curtis Pashelka

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  • Renck: This was no miracle — only prideful Americans who ‘are best in the world’

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    The face of American hockey has a bloody lip, missing teeth and disheveled hair.

    Jack Hughes represents the best of us. Grit, toughness, pride, the willingness to sacrifice for others, no matter how messy or irrational.

    Forty-six years to the day of The Miracle on Ice, the Americans transformed hockey into a three-hour anthem in Italy.

    No politics, no posturing, no whining, just winning.

    U-S-A! 2, Canada 1.

    Former captain Mike Mike Eruzione was right. This was their team. This was their time. We will never forget 1980. But we no longer have to live in the past. Or have a Netflix account.

    The golden glow is back, returned by a spirited group of muckers, grinders and a breathtaking goalie.

    “It’s all about our country. I love the USA. I love my teammates. I am so proud of the Americans today. Unbelievable game by (Connor) Hellebuyck. He was our best player by a mile,” Hughes said on the NBC broadcast. “The USA Hockey brotherhood means so much. We are such a team. The brotherhood is so strong.”

    The Americans followed a script that creates goosebumps.

    They were underdogs, facing a Canadian team that boasted a battery of future Hall of Famers, including the Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.

    Their roster was questioned, built in the image of Ford rather than Ferrari. Team USA general manager Bill Guerin wanted brawn and size, preferring players capable of preventing Canadian goals more than scoring them.

    They were inspired, hanging the No 13 jersey of Johnny Gaudreau in their locker room. Johnny and his brother Matthew were killed by a drunk driver in 2024. The Gaudreau family traveled to Milan on Friday and watched from the stands at Santagiulia Arena, eyes watering as former NHL teammates honored his memory.

    United States players pose for pictures with the jersey of the late Johnny Gaudreau (13) with his daughter Noa and son Johnny after their win over Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

    We all agree the Canadians probably beat the Americans in a best-of-seven series. But in one game, with all the pressure on the opponent, the U.S. relied on togetherness, leaned on chemistry built in the 4 Nations Face-Off.

    It is the beauty of the sport. The numbers can be lopsided. But it only takes one shift, one shot to change the outcome.

    It came at the 1:41 mark of overtime. In the required 3-on-3 format — a game like this deserved an even strength ending — Hughes took a pass from Zach Werenski and delivered the golden goal, sneaking it past Jordan Binnington.

    I screamed at the TV as many did across the country at breakfast watch parties. It was a primal outburst of appreciation and admiration.

    Canada had won every Olympics featuring NHL players. Their best was always better than everyone else. In 2010 in Vancouver, in 2014 in Sochi and at the 4 Nations last year.

    And they were the best team on the ice for two periods, even without injured captain Sidney Crosby.

    But they were playing with no elasticity, with the weight of a country that views hockey gold like the United States views Olympic basketball championships — as a birthright.

    The Americans’ plan was simple, if not unrealistic. Get ahead early, and survive the onslaught.

    Matt Boldy scored six minutes in. In a frenetic pace that even hardened commentators had never seen, Boldy chased down a bouncing puck and knifed between the Avs’ Makar and Devon Toews to score. It was the type of goal you see to win games, not start them, a testament to the magnitude of the matchup.

    United States' Matt Boldy (12) scores against Canada goalkeeper Jordan Binnington (50) during the first period of the men's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
    United States’ Matt Boldy (12) scores against Canada goalkeeper Jordan Binnington (50) during the first period of the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

    How did he keep it on his stick and find the back of the net?

    “I don’t know,” Boldy admitted.

    The final two periods also defied explanation.

    The Canadians tilted the ice, and took aim at Hellebuyck. They outshot the Americans 33-18 over the last 40 minutes in regulation. Only one squirted through, Makar’s laser from top of the right faceoff circle.

    MacKinnon had chances, his rockets stoned or too wide. Connor McDavid raced free midway through the second period, failed to shift down and managed only a nudge into Hellebuyck’s pads. Macklin Celebrini, the future of the NHL, was left wanting on a breakaway.

    But the one everyone will be talking about forever was Hellebuyck’s denial of Toews.All alone just outside the crease, Toews had the puck with an open net. He swatted it and somehow a falling, bending, twitching Hellebuyck raised his stick for the deflection.

    United States goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck (37) uses his stick to block a shot by Canada's Devon Toews (7) during the third period of the men's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
    United States goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck (37) uses his stick to block a shot by Canada’s Devon Toews (7) during the third period of the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

    This is when momentum became a movement. The Americans understood it. Hellebuyck was holding onto the rope. He needed someone, anyone, to tug with him.

    Hughes, 24, arrived straight out of central casting.

    He was a former No. 1 overall pick, who spent the early part of his career burdened by expectations. He has only reached the playoffs once with the New Jersey Devils.

    But he was from a family of patriots.

    His brother Quinn scored the overtime winner when USA defeated Sweden in the quarterfinals. Their mother Ellen Weinberg-Hughes worked as a consultant for the women’s gold medal team.

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    Troy Renck

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  • FBI Director Kash Patel, ice hockey superfan, takes agency jet to Olympic hockey finals in Italy, sources say

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    FBI Director Kash Patel, whose use of a government jet has frequently come under scrutiny, took the same plane on Thursday to fly to Italy with plans to attend the Olympic hockey medal rounds, according to public data and sources familiar with the matter.

    Public flight data reviewed by CBS News showed the FBI Gulfstream jet that is customarily used by the FBI director took off on Thursday morning for an Air Force base in Italy, after a brief flight from Manassas, Virginia, to Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland Wednesday.

    Sources also confirmed to CBS News that Patel was en route to Milan, where he is planning to watch the Men’s USA Olympic hockey team compete in the medal rounds. Patel separately sent several posts on social media on Thursday morning in support of the American hockey teams. Patel’s plane landed in Italy Thursday evening, local time, according to a source at Flight Radar 24.

    As part of the trip, Patel is also scheduled to take part in meetings with law enforcement counterparts in Italy, one of the sources added.

    An FBI spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

    Congressional Democrats late last year launched a probe into Patel’s use of the government plane, after media reports revealed that he had used it for personal excursions ranging from a sporting event in Pennsylvania where his girlfriend was performing and a date night in Tennessee, to a Texas resort known as “Boondoggle Ranch.”

    FBI directors are required to use government aircraft for air travel, whether official or personal, in order to ensure they maintain access to secure communications. 

    However, congressional Democrats have questioned whether Patel’s seemingly extensive use of the plane for personal trips crosses the line.

    Patel was a fierce critic of his predecessor Chris Wray’s use of the plane, including when Wray would use it to fly to his vacation home in upstate New York.

    Patel, who plays in a local hockey league in Virginia and previously coached youth hockey, has previously used the FBI plane to attend hockey games.

    On April 5, the FBI jet took a 57-minute flight to Stewart International Airport, in New York, where Patel made an appearance at a charity hockey event hosted by the FBI. 

    The next day, the jet was back in the air to JFK Airport, landing just hours before Patel resurfaced in box seats next to hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and watched Capitals star Alex Ovechkin break the NHL scoring record.

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  • Blake girls hockey team going back to state tournament after 9-year absence

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    In overtime, in the section final against Holy Angels, Blake sophomore Ella Anderson delivered the game-winning goal.

    “It felt unreal,” Anderson said. “It was crazy. I didn’t even think it went in at first and then I saw the crowd go wild. I just remember getting dogpiled and it was all really exciting.”

    It was Blake’s first section championship in nine years.

    “Everyone’s ecstatic that we made it and I’m really happy I get to experience this,” said senior forward Makenzie Williams.

    The Bears program went to five straight state title games from 2013 to 2017, but had not been back to the tournament since. A lot happened in that time. A move up to AA, then the low point back in single-A two seasons ago, finishing with a 5-20 record.

    “Yeah, we had a little bit of a drought, but we had people that wanted to be here, that wanted to stay and believed in what we were doing,” said head coach Kristi King. “I’m super proud of them because they’ve proven it doesn’t matter if we won five games two years ago, we’re back at the state tournament.”

    The squad is taking aim at an eighth state title. It’s unfamiliar territory for team members.

    “Reminding them this is game 28,” said King. “The lights are a little brighter. But you’re putting on the skates the same way.”

    “Hundreds of girls teams here that want to make it to this place and we’re lucky to be one of them,” said Williams. “When we step on the rink, it’ll feel like a dream.”

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  • Sweden has arguably the toughest path to men’s hockey gold at the Olympics

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    MILAN — After realizing his team would have to play in the qualification round at the Milan Cortina Olympics, Sweden coach Sam Hallam was quick to reference what Canada did 16 years ago after a rough start on home ice in Vancouver.

    Canada also had to play the extra game and went on to win it all on Sidney Crosby’s golden goal in overtime in the final against the United States. If the Swedes do the same this time, they will have earned every carat of their gold medals.

    Sweden as the seventh seed has an incredibly difficult path through the men’s hockey tournament, starting in the qualification playoffs on Tuesday against 10th-seeded Latvia. The winner of that game faces the unbeaten U.S. in the quarterfinals Wednesday night.

    “We’re going to have to play … one more game than some other teams, but that’s an opportunity for us to come together even more as a team, work on our details, work on our game as a unit out there,” forward Adrian Kempe said. “That’s just the way I’m seeing it.”

    Sweden dropped out of the No. 3 spot only because it allowed a last-minute goal to Slovakia that changed who won the group based on a tiebreaker. That 5-3 victory Saturday was arguably the best Sweden has played thus far in Milan, from goaltender Jacob Markstrom out.

    “Everyone contributed,” alternate captain Victor Hedman said. “Marky played great. A lot to build on and look forward to the next one.”

    Hallam has a decision to make in net given the back-to-back scheduling. Markstrom may have played well enough to become Sweden’s starter, but Filip Gustavsson could get the nod against Latvia.

    “Let us see,” Hallam said. “(Markstrom) showed good presence. I like the way he plays with the puck. He started a couple of breakouts for us. He felt big, felt solid, so he did a good impression on me, yeah.”

    Switzerland beating Czechia in overtime Sunday on Dean Kukan’s goal was a big one to play winless host Italy, which was outscored 19-4 in round-robin play. The Swiss should be able to get into the quarterfinals and face Finland, even after losing one of their top forwards, Kevin Fiala, to a leg injury that required surgery and ended his Olympics and probably his NHL season.

    “We care about each other very much, and we care about winning,” winger Timo Meier said. “This group we have here, we love playing with each other. We’re a really tight group.”

    Much like Hallam, Switzerland coach Patrick Fischer has to decide whether to play 38-year-old national team goalie Leonardo Genoni back to back or go with backup Akira Schmid in what should be an easily winnable game.

    The other team with what should be a safe path into the quarterfinals is Germany against France, which lost 10-2 to Canada on Sunday. France made things interesting against Czechia but like Italy went 0-3-0 and was outscored by 15 goals.

    “We know what to expect, and we have to give our A-game,” France winger Sacha Treille said. “It’s just one hockey game, so everything can happen.”

    Led by 2020 NHL MVP Leon Draisaitl, Germany lost to the U.S. on Sunday but still finds itself with a plausible path through to the semifinals. If Germany beats France, it would play third-seeded Slovakia on Wednesday.

    Martin Necas was not happy after he and the Czechs lost to Switzerland, knowing what it would mean for their seeding. Denmark defeating Latvia thanks to a 33-save performance by Frederik Andersen moved it up in what’s a positive bounce for Czechia.

    “If we want to win, we have to get through everybody,” defenseman Radko Gudas said. “(We have) a lot of guys who have been around these type of games. For us that means playing smart, putting pucks in the right places and make the other team go 200 feet and make go through all of us at all times.”

    Czechia has three NHL goaltenders, so Dan Vladar could start Tuesday to get Lukas Dostal ready for the biggest challenge of his life. The winner of the game faces the machine that is Canada — unquestionably the team to beat.

    ___

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

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  • Groundbreaking TV series creating a boon for hockey

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    Groundbreaking TV series creating a boon for hockey – CBS News









































    Watch CBS News



    As hockey takes center stage at the Winter Olympics, a Canadian series about the sport called “Heated Rivalry” has become a worldwide phenomenon and melted barriers on the ice and beyond. Itay Hod explains.

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  • Fans Who Raised Greenland’s Flag at US-Denmark Olympic Hockey Game Say It Was a Pro-European Gesture

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    MILAN (AP) — Two fans who raised a flag of Greenland as the United States played Denmark in men’s hockey at the Winter Olympics say they did so as a gesture of European support for the island and for Denmark.

    Vita Kalniņa and her husband Alexander Kalniņš, fans of the Latvian hockey team who live in Germany, held up a large Greenland flag during warmups and again when the Danish team scored the opening goal of the preliminary round game against the U.S.

    “We are Europeans and I think as Europeans we must hold together,” Kalniņš told The Associated Press.

    “The Greenlandic people decide what will happen with Greenland, but as it is now, Greenland is a part of the Danish kingdom and, as Greenland is a part of Denmark as in this case, we support both countries against the U.S.”

    Other American and Danish fans who watched their teams face off Saturday at an Olympic hockey game in Milan said they believe sports transcends politics amid recent tensions between their governments over Greenland.

    Trump’s rhetoric in recent weeks about taking control of Greenland has stirred up national pride in Denmark, which oversees the semiautonomous island. That the teams just happen to face off at the Milan Cortina Olympics is no extra motivation to the players, but it is a chance for them to ride a wave of patriotism as significant underdogs.

    Kostya Manenkov, James Ellingworth and Stephen Whyno in Milan contributed to this report.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Feb. 2026

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  • Video highlights: Ilia Malinin, U.S. hockey and more Friday at 2026 Winter Olympics

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    It’s another action-packed Friday at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, headlined by two-time world champion Ilia Malinin.The American “Quad God” is a gold medal favorite in the men’s free skate. Malinin finished first in the short program on Tuesday with a score of 108.16.It’s one of seven medal events Friday in Italy. Others include the men’s cross-country 10km; women’s snowboard cross; men’s biathlon 10km sprint; men’s speed skating 10,000m; men’s snowboard halfpipe; and men’s skeleton.Additionally, Captain Hilary Knight leads a surging U.S. women’s hockey team, which has outscored its opponents 20-1 across four preliminary games, into a quarterfinal matchup against Italy. Knight has a chance to break the all-time Team USA points record, as she is currently tied with four-time Olympic medalist and former Team USA teammate Jenny Potter (32).Watch all of the highlights from Friday in Milan Cortina below. This story will be updated throughout the day. Can’t view the below videos? Click here.Team USA surges past Italy, advances to Olympic semifinalsU.S. women’s hockey advances to Olympic semifinals after win over Italy in the quarterfinals. Five different players scored for Team USA in the 6-0 victory at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. Can’t view the below video? Click here.Ilia Malinin: ‘Maybe I was too confident’Ilia Malinin discusses his emotions after not making the podium following the men’s free skate, explaining the mental aspect of his showing and how he has “no words.” Can’t view the below video? Click here.Donovan Carrillo kisses Olympic ice after men’s free skateAfter a fun and energetic free skate, Mexican champion Donovan Carrillo kissed Olympic ice after men’s free skate before earning 22nd place at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Can’t view the below video? Click here.Yuto Totsuka tops Scotty James in heavy halfpipe finalIn a historic men’s snowboard halfpipe final at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, Japan’s Yuto Totsuka prevailed over Australia’s Scotty James for gold. Another Japanese rider, Ryusei Yamada, grabbed bronze. Can’t view the below video? Click here.USA’s Team Casper trading day jobs for curling stonesA lawyer, an ecologist, a car salesman, a software analyst and an engineer walk into an Olympic arena — it’s the U.S. men’s curling team. Gadi Schwartz sat down with the team to learn about their journey to Cortina. Can’t view the below video? Click here.USA women’s curling team defeats Canada for first timeIn a 10th end comeback, the U.S. women’s curling team defeated Canada on Friday in the third session of play in the Milan Cortina Olympics. It’s the first time the Americans have defeated Canada in eight Olympic games. Can’t view the below video? Click here.Metodej Jilek skates to decisive 10,000m win in MilanIn the second race of his Olympic debut, 19-year-old Metodej Jilek sailed to a win in the 10,000m, becoming the first Czechian man and the second-ever teenage boy to win Olympic speed skating gold. Can’t view the below video? Click here.Maillet shoots clean, skis strong to 10km sprint goldThe French fans cheered on Quentin Fillon Maillet as he raced to the fourth gold medal of his career in the biathlon 10km sprint race. Can’t view the below video? Click here.Josie Baff strikes gold: Australia’s first women’s SBX medalJosie Baff streaked down the slope to claim gold, marking Australia’s first Olympic medal in women’s snowboard cross. Czech Eva Adamczykova and Italian Michela Moioli were hot on her heels to take silver and bronze. Can’t view the below video? Click here.Klaebo skis towards history with eighth Olympic goldWith a gold medal in the men’s 10km free, Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo tied the record for most gold medals at a Winter Olympic Games. Can’t view the below video? Click here.How Gaon Choi shocked Chloe Kim for amazing halfpipe goldGaon Choi spoiled Chloe Kim’s bid for a halfpipe three-peat, upsetting the American in dramatic fashion to win gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Can’t view the below video? Click here.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

    It’s another action-packed Friday at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, headlined by two-time world champion Ilia Malinin.

    The American “Quad God” is a gold medal favorite in the men’s free skate. Malinin finished first in the short program on Tuesday with a score of 108.16.

    It’s one of seven medal events Friday in Italy. Others include the men’s cross-country 10km; women’s snowboard cross; men’s biathlon 10km sprint; men’s speed skating 10,000m; men’s snowboard halfpipe; and men’s skeleton.

    Additionally, Captain Hilary Knight leads a surging U.S. women’s hockey team, which has outscored its opponents 20-1 across four preliminary games, into a quarterfinal matchup against Italy. Knight has a chance to break the all-time Team USA points record, as she is currently tied with four-time Olympic medalist and former Team USA teammate Jenny Potter (32).

    Watch all of the highlights from Friday in Milan Cortina below. This story will be updated throughout the day. Can’t view the below videos? Click here.

    Team USA surges past Italy, advances to Olympic semifinals
    U.S. women’s hockey advances to Olympic semifinals after win over Italy in the quarterfinals. Five different players scored for Team USA in the 6-0 victory at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. Can’t view the below video? Click here.

    Ilia Malinin: ‘Maybe I was too confident’
    Ilia Malinin discusses his emotions after not making the podium following the men’s free skate, explaining the mental aspect of his showing and how he has “no words.” Can’t view the below video? Click here.

    Donovan Carrillo kisses Olympic ice after men’s free skate
    After a fun and energetic free skate, Mexican champion Donovan Carrillo kissed Olympic ice after men’s free skate before earning 22nd place at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Can’t view the below video? Click here.

    Yuto Totsuka tops Scotty James in heavy halfpipe final
    In a historic men’s snowboard halfpipe final at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, Japan’s Yuto Totsuka prevailed over Australia’s Scotty James for gold. Another Japanese rider, Ryusei Yamada, grabbed bronze. Can’t view the below video? Click here.

    USA’s Team Casper trading day jobs for curling stones
    A lawyer, an ecologist, a car salesman, a software analyst and an engineer walk into an Olympic arena — it’s the U.S. men’s curling team. Gadi Schwartz sat down with the team to learn about their journey to Cortina. Can’t view the below video? Click here.

    USA women’s curling team defeats Canada for first time
    In a 10th end comeback, the U.S. women’s curling team defeated Canada on Friday in the third session of play in the Milan Cortina Olympics. It’s the first time the Americans have defeated Canada in eight Olympic games. Can’t view the below video? Click here.

    Metodej Jilek skates to decisive 10,000m win in Milan
    In the second race of his Olympic debut, 19-year-old Metodej Jilek sailed to a win in the 10,000m, becoming the first Czechian man and the second-ever teenage boy to win Olympic speed skating gold. Can’t view the below video? Click here.

    Maillet shoots clean, skis strong to 10km sprint gold
    The French fans cheered on Quentin Fillon Maillet as he raced to the fourth gold medal of his career in the biathlon 10km sprint race. Can’t view the below video? Click here.

    Josie Baff strikes gold: Australia’s first women’s SBX medal
    Josie Baff streaked down the slope to claim gold, marking Australia’s first Olympic medal in women’s snowboard cross. Czech Eva Adamczykova and Italian Michela Moioli were hot on her heels to take silver and bronze. Can’t view the below video? Click here.

    Klaebo skis towards history with eighth Olympic gold
    With a gold medal in the men’s 10km free, Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo tied the record for most gold medals at a Winter Olympic Games. Can’t view the below video? Click here.

    How Gaon Choi shocked Chloe Kim for amazing halfpipe gold
    Gaon Choi spoiled Chloe Kim’s bid for a halfpipe three-peat, upsetting the American in dramatic fashion to win gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Can’t view the below video? Click here.

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  • U.S. men’s hockey team cruises to 5-1 win over Latvia in their first game of 2026 Winter Olympics

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    The U.S. goal song — “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd — blared seven times over arena speakers on Thursday night. Twice, the celebration was only short-lived. 

    Bouncing back from having a pair of goals wiped out by coach’s challenges, the U.S. opened the Olympics by rolling past Latvia 5-1 in a dominant showcase of some of the country’s best NHL players. Brock Nelson scored twice, four players had two assists apiece, and there was production up and down the lineup.

    “We believe in the depth we have,” winger Jake Guentzel said. “There’s good players on every line. That’s just where American hockey is right now.”

    Brock Nelson of the United States celebrates his goal with teammates during the men’s Group A match against Latvia in the Winter Olympics at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 12, 2026, in Milan, Italy.

    Maryam Majd / Getty Images


    After a weird first period with a couple of video reviews and a tying goal by Latvia, the Americans found their groove and for long stretches barely let their opponents have the puck. The U.S. outshot Latvia 38-18 and needed starter Connor Hellebuyck to make only 17 saves. 

    “I felt like we controlled the play,” center Jack Eichel said. “We’re going to continue to get better every game in this tournament, every period in this tournament. That’s our goal, and it’s a good start for us.”

    Elvis Merzlikins was under siege at the other end, and after Nelson’s second goal he sat in the crease with his head bowed in his lap. An odd-man rush became a version of the Harlem Globetrotters on ice with pass after pass: Jack Hughes to brother Quinn to Matthew Tkachuk, back to Jack and then to Nelson to tap into a half-open net with 11.1 seconds left in the second period.

    “I don’t think there’s much to do,” Merzlikins said. “If that guy wouldn’t score, probably the other guy would score because I felt completely two open guys, and it’s hard to save something like that.”

    Ice Hockey - Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Day 6

    Arturs Silovs of Team Latvia reacts after conceding a goal to the U.S. in the third period of their Group A match in the Winter Olympics at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 12, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

    Bruce Bennett / Getty Images


    Brady Tkachuk scored the first U.S. goal of the tournament less than six minutes in, and Tage Thompson roofed a nifty backhander on the power play, making coach Mike Sullivan look smart for putting the 6-foot-6 winger on the loaded top unit. Four goals on 32 shots was enough to chase Merzlikins, who was pulled to start the third for Arturs Silovs.

    Captain Auston Matthews welcomed Silovs to the Olympics with a power-play goal, assisted on by Eichel and Quinn Hughes. Each of them had two assists, along with Matthew Tkachuk and Jack Hughes.

    “I just think the depth that we have, it showed,” Brady Tkachuk said. “I thought everybody played a great game tonight. You just see the buy-in. You see the buy-in of every line playing the right way.”

    Speaking to CBS News after the game, Jack Hughes noted that the smaller ice rink used in the Winter Olympics has not been a major issue.

    “Talking about it beforehand, you think it would be a much bigger deal,” Jack Hughes said. “You know, so, the rink’s pretty nice. I’m sure as the tournament gets along, the ice will get better. When you’re out there, the size isn’t too big of a difference.”  

    And asked by CBS News about the NHL’s in-season pause during the Olympics, and whether he believes Olympic hockey is better, Thompson responded: “I just think it’s best on best, you know, I think any time you’re taking all the best hockey players and having them represent their country, there comes another level of pride when you wear your colors. And obviously, the intensity gets heightened.”  

    The U.S. plays Denmark on Saturday night before wrapping up the preliminary round 24 hours later against Germany. 

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  • Fans cheer on Team USA at bar where hockey player’s mother works

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    As Team USA routed Latvia 5-1 in men’s hockey at the Olympics Thursday, local fans cheered on at a watch party at a bar in Mansfield, Massachusetts.

    The region is well-represented on the ice at Milan Cortina, with 10 men and 10 women on the hockey team having New England ties.

    Among those players is forward Matt Boldy, a native of Millis who plays for the Minnesota Wild. He had plenty of local love among the fans watching at the Catman Cafe in Mansfield, where his mother, Jen, is a bartender.

    “I’ve been coming here for a long time, and I’ve been listening to her stories about her son, Matty Boldy, since he’s been knee-high to a minnow,” said Timothy Reagan.

    Ashlyn Sullivan and Jordan Hall break down the U.S. men’s hockey team’s 5-1 win over Latvia.

    “It’s so exciting for Jen and her son, Matty, and the whole community,” said Wendy Kirley. “Jen’s worked here for so long, and it’s just really exciting.”

    “They were known as the house with the skating rink in their front yard,” said Don Lavalle. “I’ve watched him skate for years, you know, 9, 10, 11 years old, and I said a to Jen one time, ‘Jen, there’s our meal ticket. That’s our meal ticket right there.’ And he was as a little kid, but as it all turned out, that’s what happened.”

    Boldy played at Boston College before reaching the NHL.

    The Milan Cortina Olympics are the first to feature NHL players in 12 years.

    Two of those players — Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk, who played for Boston University, and Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson, who played for the University of Connecticut — scored in Thursday’s game.

    Brady Tkachuck got a pass from his brother Matthew and scored the first goal for Team USA in their game against Latvia.

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  • NHL Players Arrive in Milan, Returning to the Winter Olympics After a 12-Year Absence

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    MILAN (AP) — Lukas Dostal was in a rush to get to the Olympics. Earlier this week, the Czech goaltender became the first NHL player to take the ice for practice with his national team.

    “What would I do in Anaheim, shoot the puck to the boards and try to stop it myself? It probably wouldn’t really work,” Dostal said.

    The rest of the players from the best hockey league in the world arrived in Milan on Sunday. Sweden was the first of the teams made up of almost exclusively NHL talent to take the ice for practice at Milano Santagiulia Arena, with the U.S., Czech Republic, Canada and Finland to follow.

    Along with Dostal, about a dozen others arranged transportation to get to Italy before the five charter planes from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport that arrived Sunday morning. That group included Canada’s Connor McDavid, Germany’s Leon Draisaitl, Czechia’s David Pastrnak and a quartet of Americans.

    “Really cool just to be around all the athletes,” McDavid told TSN in a brief interview after meeting up with the rest of his Canada teammates. “Special to be here.”

    Charlie McAvoy, Zach Werenski, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman marched in the opening ceremony with the rest of the U.S. delegation at San Siro stadium, as did Switzerland’s Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and Jonas Siegenthaler. Draisaitl and Pastrnak were among the seven men’s hockey players who served as their nation’s flag bearer.

    This is the first Olympics with NHL players in a dozen years, dating to Sochi in 2014. The league opted not to participate in 2018, and pandemic-related scheduling issues caused an eleventh-hour change of plans in 2022.

    That gap means an entire generation of stars, including McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel, have never represented their country on this international stage. This is the first so-called best-on-best tournament since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, but even that had a couple of made-up teams — North Americans 23-and-under and then Europeans from various countries not included — to keep McDavid and MacKinnon from playing with two-time gold medalists Sidney Crosby, Drew Doughty and others.

    A few hours before practice, Hockey Canada announced the obvious that Crosby would again wear the “C” as captain. McDavid and Cale Makar are the alternates.

    “Connor and Cale, along with our entire group, provide incredible leadership, and I am happy to represent Canada together on the same team,” Crosby said.

    Sweden named Gabriel Landeskog captain, as expected, with Victor Hedman and Erik Karlsson the alternates. Landeskog and Karlsson are among the four Swedes who also played in the 2014 Olympics, along with Oliver Ekman-Larsson and injury replacement Marcus Johansson.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Feb. 2026

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  • Hilary Knight shows the world why she’s one of the greatest at 2026 Olympics

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    Ice hockey forward Hilary Knight showed the world why she’s one of the greatest players ever. With her 14th goal, the captain of Team USA moved into a tie for the most goals scored by a U.S. Women’s hockey player at the Winter Olympics. Andres Gutierrez reports on her career and her last Olympic run.

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  • Finland women’s Olympic hockey game vs. Canada postponed after stomach virus depletes roster

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    MILAN — Finland women’s hockey team’s preliminary round-opening game against Canada on Thursday has been postponed due to a stomach virus depleting Finland’s roster.

    The game was rescheduled to Feb. 12.

    The decision to postpone the game was announced shortly after Finland completed its early afternoon practice with just eight skaters and two goalies. The remaining 13 players are either in quarantine or isolation due to a norovirus that began affecting the team on Tuesday night.

    The postponement provides Finland two extra days to rest before playing the U.S. on Saturday. Had their game against Canada not been postponed, Finnish officials were considering the possibility of a forfeiture.

    “While all stakeholders recognize the disappointment of not playing the game as originally scheduled, this was a responsible and necessary decision that reflects the spirit of the Olympic Games and the integrity of the competition,” Olympic officials announced.

    “All stakeholders thank teams, partners and fans for their cooperation and understanding, and look forward to the rescheduled game being played under safe and appropriate conditions.”

    ___

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

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  • How to watch Olympics Thursday: Snowboarding, hockey, curling underway in Milan Cortina

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    The Milan Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony hasn’t even started, but competition is already heating up in Italy.Snowboarding, hockey and curling are all in action Thursday—one day before the Opening Ceremony.Above video: U.S. Skiers talk about Lindsey Vonn competing in Italy Olympics despite torn ACLTHURSDAY HIGHLIGHTSSNOWBOARDING: Snowboarders take their first runs of the 2026 Winter Games in the men’s big air qualifying round at Livigno Snow Park.HOCKEY: Women’s hockey is underway, including USA vs. Czechia. Captain Hilary Knight leads Team USA as it begins its quest for Olympic gold in a Group A matchup against Czechia.CURLING: Mixed doubles curling also begins with round-robin matchups. Team USA will play both Norway and Switzerland on Thursday morning.HOW TO WATCH BROADCAST COVERAGEStarting Friday, NBC will have a minimum of five hours of live event coverage each morning and continuing on through the afternoon.If that isn’t enough Olympic coverage, return to NBC at night for Primetime in Milan, where all of the best moments of the day will be presented. Primetime in Milan will combine competition highlights with behind-the-scenes access to athletes, their families and the iconic Olympic host cities.HOW TO WATCH THURSDAY: DIGITAL COVERAGEMILAN CORTINA 2026 ONGOING COVERAGE: Live coverage on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com and USA Network.Curling | Czechia vs. Sweden (MD Round-Robin) | 1:05 a.m. until 3:05 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with Czechia vs. Sweden in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.Curling | Great Britain vs. Estonia (MD Round-Robin) | 1:05 a.m. until 3:05 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with Great Britain vs. Estonia in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.Curling | Norway vs. USA (MD Round-Robin) | 1:05 a.m. until 3:05 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with Norway vs. United States in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.Curling | South Korea vs. Italy (MD Round-Robin) | 1:05 a.m. until 3:05 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with South Korea vs. Italy in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.Alpine Skiing | Men’s Downhill: Training | 2:30 a.m. until 4:30 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Athletes hit the slopes in Bormio for training ahead of the men’s downhill competition at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.Alpine Skiing | Women’s Downhill: Training | 2:30 a.m. until 4:30 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Athletes hit the slopes at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre for training ahead of the women’s downhill competition at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.Olympic Sports | Best of Milan Cortina | 3 a.m. until 3 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Sit back and stream the top moments of the 2026 Milan Cortina Games including highlights, interviews and more.Hockey | Sweden vs. Germany (Women’s Group B) | 3:10 a.m. until 5:40 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Sweden and Germany kick off the women’s hockey tournament with a Group B game at the 2026 Winter Olympics. World feed.Olympic Sports | Milan Cortina 2026 Coverage | 5 a.m. until 10 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics kicks off on USA Network, featuring curling and the U.S. women’s hockey team facing Czechia in Group A.Figure Skating | Figure Skating: Training | 5:10 a.m. until 10:40 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Athletes take the ice at the Forum di Milano ahead of Olympic Figure Skating events.Curling | Norway vs. Canada (MD Round-Robin) | 5:35 a.m. until 7:35 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with Norway vs. Canada in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.Curling | USA vs. Switzerland (MD Round-Robin) | 5:35 a.m. until 7:40 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with United States vs. Switzerland in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.Hockey | Italy vs. France (Women’s Group B) | 5:40 a.m. until 8:10 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Host nation Italy takes on France in a Group B game of the women’s hockey tournament at the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. World feed.Hockey | USA vs. Czechia (Women’s Group A) | 7:40 a.m. until 10 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Captain Hilary Knight leads Team USA as it begins the quest for Olympic gold against Czechia in a women’s hockey Group A match-up.Olympic Sports | Milan Cortina 2026 Coverage | 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Ongoing Olympic coverage on USA Network, featuring curling, snowboard big air qualifying, Canada’s opening game in women’s hockey and more.Curling | Canada vs. Italy (MD Round-Robin) | 10:05 a.m. until 12:05 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with Canada vs. Italy in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.Curling | Czechia vs. Great Britain (MD Round-Robin) | 10:05 a.m. until 12:05 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with Czechia vs. Great Britain in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.Curling | Estonia vs. Sweden (MD Round-Robin) | 10:05 a.m. until 12:05 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with Estonia vs. Sweden in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.Curling | Switzerland vs. South Korea (MD Round-Robin) | 10:05 a.m. until 12:05 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with Switzerland vs. South Korea in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.Snowboarding | Men’s Snowboard Big Air: Qualifying | 10:30 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Snowboarders take their first runs of the 2026 Winter Games with the qualifying round of the men’s big air contest at Livigno Snow Park. World feed.Hockey | Finland vs. Canada (Women’s Group A) | 12:10 p.m. until 2:40 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Finland takes on 2022 Olympic champion Canada and Marie-Philip Poulin in a women’s hockey Group A game at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. World feed.Curling | Best of Curling (Feb. 5) | 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Olympic curling continues on CNBC with the day’s best action in mixed doubles, including the U.S. facing Norway and Switzerland.Olympic Sports | Best of Milan Cortina | 3 p.m. until 3 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Sit back and stream the top moments of the 2026 Milan Cortina Games including highlights, interviews and more.Olympic Sports | Ice, Snow & Glory: The Winter Olympics | 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Previewing the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will stretch from the metropolitan city of Milan to Cortina in an Alpine valley.Olympic Sports | Ice, Snow & Glory: The Winter Olympics | 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Previewing the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will stretch from the metropolitan city of Milan to Cortina in an Alpine valley.Olympic Sports | Ice, Snow & Glory: The Winter Olympics | 8 p.m. until 9 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Previewing the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will stretch from the metropolitan city of Milan to Cortina in an Alpine valley.Follow Fitz at the Winter Olympics KCRA 3’s Deirdre is serving as an Olympic correspondent for Hearst Television stations during the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. You can check out her latest reports here.

    The Milan Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony hasn’t even started, but competition is already heating up in Italy.

    Snowboarding, hockey and curling are all in action Thursday—one day before the Opening Ceremony.

    Above video: U.S. Skiers talk about Lindsey Vonn competing in Italy Olympics despite torn ACL

    THURSDAY HIGHLIGHTS

    SNOWBOARDING: Snowboarders take their first runs of the 2026 Winter Games in the men’s big air qualifying round at Livigno Snow Park.

    HOCKEY: Women’s hockey is underway, including USA vs. Czechia. Captain Hilary Knight leads Team USA as it begins its quest for Olympic gold in a Group A matchup against Czechia.

    CURLING: Mixed doubles curling also begins with round-robin matchups. Team USA will play both Norway and Switzerland on Thursday morning.

    HOW TO WATCH BROADCAST COVERAGE

    Starting Friday, NBC will have a minimum of five hours of live event coverage each morning and continuing on through the afternoon.

    If that isn’t enough Olympic coverage, return to NBC at night for Primetime in Milan, where all of the best moments of the day will be presented. Primetime in Milan will combine competition highlights with behind-the-scenes access to athletes, their families and the iconic Olympic host cities.

    HOW TO WATCH THURSDAY: DIGITAL COVERAGE

    MILAN CORTINA 2026 ONGOING COVERAGE: Live coverage on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com and USA Network.

    Curling | Czechia vs. Sweden (MD Round-Robin) | 1:05 a.m. until 3:05 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with Czechia vs. Sweden in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.

    Curling | Great Britain vs. Estonia (MD Round-Robin) | 1:05 a.m. until 3:05 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with Great Britain vs. Estonia in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.

    Curling | Norway vs. USA (MD Round-Robin) | 1:05 a.m. until 3:05 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with Norway vs. United States in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.

    Curling | South Korea vs. Italy (MD Round-Robin) | 1:05 a.m. until 3:05 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with South Korea vs. Italy in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.

    Alpine Skiing | Men’s Downhill: Training | 2:30 a.m. until 4:30 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Athletes hit the slopes in Bormio for training ahead of the men’s downhill competition at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

    Alpine Skiing | Women’s Downhill: Training | 2:30 a.m. until 4:30 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Athletes hit the slopes at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre for training ahead of the women’s downhill competition at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

    Olympic Sports | Best of Milan Cortina | 3 a.m. until 3 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Sit back and stream the top moments of the 2026 Milan Cortina Games including highlights, interviews and more.

    Hockey | Sweden vs. Germany (Women’s Group B) | 3:10 a.m. until 5:40 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Sweden and Germany kick off the women’s hockey tournament with a Group B game at the 2026 Winter Olympics. World feed.

    Olympic Sports | Milan Cortina 2026 Coverage | 5 a.m. until 10 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics kicks off on USA Network, featuring curling and the U.S. women’s hockey team facing Czechia in Group A.

    Figure Skating | Figure Skating: Training | 5:10 a.m. until 10:40 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Athletes take the ice at the Forum di Milano ahead of Olympic Figure Skating events.

    Curling | Norway vs. Canada (MD Round-Robin) | 5:35 a.m. until 7:35 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with Norway vs. Canada in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.

    Curling | USA vs. Switzerland (MD Round-Robin) | 5:35 a.m. until 7:40 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with United States vs. Switzerland in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.

    Hockey | Italy vs. France (Women’s Group B) | 5:40 a.m. until 8:10 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Host nation Italy takes on France in a Group B game of the women’s hockey tournament at the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. World feed.

    Hockey | USA vs. Czechia (Women’s Group A) | 7:40 a.m. until 10 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Captain Hilary Knight leads Team USA as it begins the quest for Olympic gold against Czechia in a women’s hockey Group A match-up.

    Olympic Sports | Milan Cortina 2026 Coverage | 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Ongoing Olympic coverage on USA Network, featuring curling, snowboard big air qualifying, Canada’s opening game in women’s hockey and more.

    Curling | Canada vs. Italy (MD Round-Robin) | 10:05 a.m. until 12:05 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with Canada vs. Italy in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.

    Curling | Czechia vs. Great Britain (MD Round-Robin) | 10:05 a.m. until 12:05 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with Czechia vs. Great Britain in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.

    Curling | Estonia vs. Sweden (MD Round-Robin) | 10:05 a.m. until 12:05 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with Estonia vs. Sweden in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.

    Curling | Switzerland vs. South Korea (MD Round-Robin) | 10:05 a.m. until 12:05 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Mixed doubles curling continues with Switzerland vs. South Korea in round-robin play at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. World feed.

    Snowboarding | Men’s Snowboard Big Air: Qualifying | 10:30 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Snowboarders take their first runs of the 2026 Winter Games with the qualifying round of the men’s big air contest at Livigno Snow Park. World feed.

    Hockey | Finland vs. Canada (Women’s Group A) | 12:10 p.m. until 2:40 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Finland takes on 2022 Olympic champion Canada and Marie-Philip Poulin in a women’s hockey Group A game at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. World feed.

    Curling | Best of Curling (Feb. 5) | 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Olympic curling continues on CNBC with the day’s best action in mixed doubles, including the U.S. facing Norway and Switzerland.

    Olympic Sports | Best of Milan Cortina | 3 p.m. until 3 a.m. PT | Click here to watch | Sit back and stream the top moments of the 2026 Milan Cortina Games including highlights, interviews and more.

    Olympic Sports | Ice, Snow & Glory: The Winter Olympics | 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Previewing the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will stretch from the metropolitan city of Milan to Cortina in an Alpine valley.

    Olympic Sports | Ice, Snow & Glory: The Winter Olympics | 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Previewing the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will stretch from the metropolitan city of Milan to Cortina in an Alpine valley.

    Olympic Sports | Ice, Snow & Glory: The Winter Olympics | 8 p.m. until 9 p.m. PT | Click here to watch | Previewing the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will stretch from the metropolitan city of Milan to Cortina in an Alpine valley.

    Follow Fitz at the Winter Olympics

    KCRA 3’s Deirdre is serving as an Olympic correspondent for Hearst Television stations during the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. You can check out her latest reports here.

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  • How to Watch Sabres vs Lightning: Live Stream NHL, TV Channel

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    The Buffalo Sabres (32-18-5) head into Tuesday night’s Atlantic Division showdown aiming to stay hot on the road when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning (35-14-4) at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa.

    How to Watch Buffalo Sabres vs Tampa Bay Lightning

    • When: Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026
    • Time: 7:30 PM ET
    • TV Channel: ESPN
    • Live Stream: ESPN (Watch on ESPN)

    Buffalo has been playing some of its best hockey through late January and early February. A 4-1 victory over the Kings highlighted the Sabres’ offensive balance, with Alex Tuch scoring a hat trick and goalie Alex Lyon setting a new franchise mark with his tenth straight win in net. The Sabres followed that up with a 5-3 road win against the Panthers, showing they can score in bunches and respond in tight spots. Buffalo enters tonight with a 6-1 run in its last seven games overall, giving the team confidence heading into a tough divisional road test.

    Tampa Bay enters Tuesday’s matchup as the Atlantic Division leader, boasting one of the NHL’s most efficient offenses and a stout defensive structure. Leading the team is Nikita Kucherov, who tops the team in scoring and remains among the league’s elite playmakers. The Lightning also came off a thrilling 6-5 comeback win against the Boston Bruins in the Stadium Series, where Tampa erased a multi-goal deficit and eventually prevailed in a shootout. That kind of resilience embodies the Lightning’s identity and makes them a dangerous opponent at home.

    This season, the NHL has widely distributed out-of-market coverage on streaming platforms, and tonight’s Sabres vs Lightning contest is no exception. You can stream the game live via ESPN beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.

    Subscribers who access ESPN through the Hulu or Disney+ bundles can also reach the live stream through those platforms under the ESPN section.

    Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

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