Olympic Hockey Heats Up: Quarterfinals Set, U.S. and Canada Cruise, Finland Finds Its Groove
Group play is in the books at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and the picture is starting to take shape in Milan. The top four seeds have locked in their byes to the Quarterfinals, while eight other teams will battle it out in Tuesday’s Qualification Playoff for a shot to keep their gold medal dreams alive.
No surprises at the top-Team USA and Team Canada both rolled through their respective groups, showing the kind of dominance you'd expect from two of the tournament’s perennial powerhouses. But the real eyebrow-raiser came out of Group B, where Slovakia pulled off a strong showing to claim the top spot. Meanwhile, Finland bounced back from an early stumble to secure their Quarterfinal ticket in emphatic fashion.
Let’s break it down.
Finland Finds Its Footing
After opening the tournament with a loss to Slovakia, Finland looked like a team in trouble. But they responded with authority, closing out group play with an 11-0 thrashing of Italy. That win not only gave them six points in the standings but also boosted their goal differential enough to clinch a top-four spot and a direct path to the Quarterfinals.
Teuvo Teravainen, who had been quiet through the early stages, finally got on the board with his first point of the Games in that blowout win. It’s the kind of momentum swing that could be dangerous for opponents moving forward. The Finns may have stumbled out of the gate, but they’ve found their stride just in time.
Rockford IceHogs: All-Star Moments and a Missed Opportunity
Back in Illinois, the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs had a busy stretch coming out of the All-Star break. The team was riding a two-game win streak and had a chance to make it three on Sunday-and with it, pull into a tie for fifth place in the Central Division.
Instead, they ran into a buzzsaw in the Milwaukee Admirals, falling 4-1 in a game that could carry playoff implications down the line. The lone bright spot?
Jake Furlong, who was acquired in the trade that sent Nolan Allan to San Jose, notched his first goal as an IceHog. It’s a small silver lining in an otherwise frustrating loss, but Furlong’s early impact is a positive sign for Rockford as they continue their playoff push.
And the IceHogs weren’t done making headlines this week. The AHL All-Star Classic, held at Rockford’s own BMO Center, featured three hometown representatives.
Nick Lardis dazzled with a highlight-reel shootout goal, while Kevin Korchinski and captain Brett Seney helped lead the Central Division to the Championship round of the All-Star Challenge. It was a proud moment for the franchise and a reminder of the talent developing in Rockford.
Mason West Keeps Producing in the USHL
Over in the USHL, Mason West continues to build his case as a rising star. The Fargo Force forward scored his second goal of the weekend in a 4-2 win over the Sioux Falls Stampede, bringing his season totals to six goals and eight assists in 21 games. West has shown a knack for finding the net and making plays in tight spaces-skills that could serve him well as he climbs the hockey ladder.
Around the Hockey World: Olympic Highlights, Trade Rumors, and Injury News
Olympic hockey continues to deliver drama, and Sunday brought a bit of spice courtesy of Matthew Tkachuk. The fiery forward was caught on a hot mic chirping Leon Draisaitl during the U.S.-Germany matchup, reminding everyone that the Olympic stage doesn’t dull the edge of NHL rivalries. Tkachuk and Draisaitl have squared off in the last two Stanley Cup Finals, and their history clearly hasn’t cooled.
Meanwhile, Team Canada is rolling. They wrapped up group play with a 10-2 rout of France, securing the top spot in Group A.
Sidney Crosby led the way with a goal and two assists, and in doing so, passed Jarome Iginla to become Canada’s all-time leading scorer at the Olympics. Crosby now has 16 points in his Olympic career-a milestone that adds yet another chapter to his legendary résumé.
On the NHL front, trade season chatter is heating up. Vincent Trocheck’s name is making the rounds, with speculation that the Boston Bruins could be eyeing the veteran forward as part of their deadline plans. Trocheck’s versatility and playoff experience make him a valuable asset, and if the Rangers are serious about a retool, he could be one of the bigger names on the move.
But not all the news is good. The Los Angeles Kings confirmed that Kevin Fiala will miss the rest of the regular season after undergoing surgery on his left leg.
Fiala suffered multiple fractures during Switzerland’s 5-1 loss to Canada at the Olympics. It’s a brutal blow for both the Kings and Team Switzerland, as Fiala had been a key piece for both squads.
And in a lighter moment from Milan, Seth Jarvis has picked up his own fan club. With a little help from Air Canada, a group of supporters has been following him around the tournament, sporting matching jerseys and bringing the kind of energy usually reserved for rock concerts. It's a fun reminder that the Olympics aren’t just about medals-they’re also about moments.
What’s Next
With the Qualification Playoffs set for Tuesday and the Quarterfinals kicking off Wednesday, the Olympic men’s hockey tournament is about to hit another gear. The top seeds are in position, but as we’ve seen before, anything can happen in single-elimination play.
Team USA and Canada look as strong as ever. Finland is surging.
And Slovakia has already shown they’re not here to play the underdog. Buckle up-the best hockey of the tournament is still ahead.