Ducks at the Winter Olympics: Dostal Solid, Gudas Battles, LaCombe Scratched Again as Preliminary Round Closes
The preliminary round of the 2026 men’s Olympic ice hockey tournament came to a close on Sunday, and with it, a busy day for Anaheim Ducks players representing their countries on the international stage. Two Ducks-Radko Gudas and Lukas Dostal-suited up for Czechia in a tight, back-and-forth game against Switzerland. Meanwhile, Jackson LaCombe remained on the sidelines for Team USA, a healthy scratch for the third straight game.
Let’s break down how the Ducks’ Olympic representatives fared on the final day of group play.
Gudas Brings the Grit, but Switzerland’s Speed Proves Tough to Handle
From the jump, Switzerland dictated the pace. In a tournament where dump-and-chase has become the norm due to a shrunken neutral zone, the Swiss bucked the trend.
They moved the puck with purpose-stringing together slick slip passes, activating their defensemen in transition, and building plays from deep in their own zone. It was a style that demanded quick reads and fast feet from opposing defenders.
That’s where Radko Gudas ran into trouble.
The veteran blueliner brought his trademark physical edge, trying to slow the Swiss attack with body checks in the neutral zone and by stepping up to cut off passing lanes. But Switzerland’s structure and puck support were excellent-they consistently had options, and Gudas often found himself a half-step behind the developing play.
Still, Gudas was far from ineffective. In his own zone, he did what he’s built his NHL career on: winning board battles, clearing the crease, and making smart, low-risk decisions with the puck.
But one key sequence in transition proved costly. On Switzerland’s opening goal, Gudas misjudged his gap up ice, then crossed over awkwardly on the retreat.
That gave Roman Josi time and space to drive wide and send a pass to the front of the net. The puck deflected off Gudas’ skate and slipped through Dostal’s five-hole.
It was a tough break in a game where every inch mattered.
Gudas finished the game scoreless with one shot on goal in 16:20 of ice time.
Dostal Holds the Fort, But Czechia Falls in OT
Lukas Dostal got his second start of the tournament after opening against Canada earlier in the week. And once again, the young netminder gave Czechia a chance to win.
Dostal’s calm demeanor in the crease was on full display. He tracked pucks well in traffic, stayed composed on scrambles, and used his positioning to make himself big without overcommitting. He also handled the puck confidently, helping his defense relieve pressure with some smart plays behind the net.
But Switzerland found ways to capitalize.
Their first goal came off the deflection of a slot pass that redirected off a Czech defender’s skate. The second was a rebound goal on the power play after a point shot snuck through traffic.
The third? A broken play in the slot that landed perfectly for Pius Suter.
And the game-winner? A clean 2-on-1 finish from Dean Kukan in overtime.
You could argue Dostal might want the third and fourth goals back-maybe a tighter rebound on the power play, maybe a more aggressive read on the odd-man rush-but overall, he did his job. He made 25 saves on 29 shots and gave Czechia a real shot at two points.
In a tournament this tight, sometimes “good” just isn’t quite enough. But Dostal’s poise and consistency remain a bright spot for Czechia moving forward.
LaCombe Still Waiting for His Shot
For the third straight game, Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe was a healthy scratch for Team USA. The Americans took on Germany to close out group play, and once again, LaCombe watched from the press box.
It’s a tough spot for the young blueliner, especially with the U.S. defense corps continuing to perform well. Depth is a strength for this American team, and LaCombe may have to wait for an injury or a shake-up to get his chance.
As the Olympic tournament shifts to the knockout rounds, the pressure ramps up. For the Ducks’ international contingent, the stakes are rising-and so is the spotlight. Whether it’s Gudas trying to anchor Czechia’s blue line, Dostal looking to steal a game, or LaCombe hoping for his Olympic debut, there’s still plenty of story left to write.