Wednesday was a thrilling day for Olympic hockey enthusiasts. The quarterfinals delivered edge-of-your-seat action, with three of the four games stretching into overtime. For Boston Bruins fans, the day was a rollercoaster of emotions.
Bruins' stars Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman helped Team USA secure a spot in the semifinals, while teammates Henri Jokiharju and Joonas Korpisalo did the same for Finland. On the flip side, Elias and Hampus Lindholm's journey with Sweden came to a heart-wrenching halt as they fell 2-1 to the U.S. in overtime. Similarly, David Pastrnak and Czechia pushed Canada to the brink before succumbing 4-3 in another overtime thriller.
The action continues with Team USA facing Slovakia in one semifinal on Friday at 3:10 p.m. EST, while Canada and Finland clash at 10:40 a.m.
The Bronze Medal game is set for Saturday at 2:40 p.m. EST, with the Gold Medal showdown on Sunday at 8:10 a.m.
EST.
Bruins head coach Marco Sturm is thoroughly enjoying the Olympic spectacle. Despite his top players being overseas, Sturm has been glued to every game. While he's undoubtedly monitoring their performances and health, his genuine love for the sport shines through.
Sturm expressed empathy for Pavel Zacha, who missed out on representing Czechia due to an untimely injury. “Timing is everything,” Sturm remarked. “Pavel was really looking forward to it, but he’s recovering well and will be ready for the stretch.”
With both Swayman and Korpisalo competing in the Olympics, the Bruins found themselves in a unique situation. To ensure they’re covered, they called up prospect goalie Michael DiPietro from the Providence Bruins for practice, ensuring the team remains sharp as they await their Olympians' return.