As we head into the knockout stage of the 2026 Olympic men’s hockey tournament, the Colorado Avalanche have every reason to be proud. All eight of their Olympic representatives found the scoresheet during the preliminary round-and yes, that includes Cale Makar, who was the last of the group to get on the board. Not exactly what you'd expect from one of the most dynamic blueliners in the world, but he got there.
Let’s break down where things stand for each Avs player and their national teams as we gear up for Tuesday’s qualifying round.
Canada: Dominant and Dangerous
Canada didn’t just win Group A-they steamrolled through it. A +17 goal differential over three games tells you everything you need to know.
They opened the tournament with a statement: a 5-0 shutout of Czechia. Then came a 5-1 win over Switzerland, and they wrapped the group stage with a 10-2 rout of France.
This team is firing on all cylinders.
Jordan Binnington started in net for the wins over Czechia and France, while Logan Thompson got the nod against Switzerland. Both goalies held up their end, but with the offense clicking like this, they haven’t needed to be perfect.
Canada earned the No. 1 overall seed and a bye to the quarterfinals. They’ll face the winner of Czechia vs. Denmark.
Avalanche Players:
- Nathan MacKinnon: 3 GP, 2 G, 3 A, 5 P (1 PPG) MacKinnon has looked every bit the superstar. He’s been a force in transition and lethal on the power play.
- Cale Makar: 3 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 P (1 PPG) It took him a little longer than usual to find the back of the net, but Makar’s vision and puck movement have been elite.
- Devon Toews: 3 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 P Toews has been steady on the back end, contributing a goal and playing his usual reliable two-way game.
USA: Balanced and Battle-Tested
The Americans took care of business in their group, finishing undefeated and locking up the No. 2 seed. They edged out Germany in the group finale and only missed out on the top overall seed due to goal differential (Canada’s +17 to their +11).
They’ll also get a bye and will face the winner of Sweden vs. Latvia in the quarterfinals.
Avalanche Player:
- Brock Nelson: 3 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 3 P Nelson’s been a key contributor, both offensively and defensively. He opened strong and has been a dependable presence in all three zones.
Finland: Bounced Back in a Big Way
Finland didn’t get off to the start they wanted, dropping their opener to Slovakia. But they responded like a veteran group.
A clutch win over Sweden followed by an 11-0 dismantling of France pushed them into second place in Group B. Thanks to a strong goal differential, they secured the No. 4 seed and the final bye.
They’ll face the winner of Switzerland vs. Italy in the quarters.
Avalanche Players:
- Artturi Lehkonen: 3 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 4 P Lehkonen is doing what he does best-creating offense through relentless effort and smart positioning.
- Joel Kiviranta: 2 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 2 P Kiviranta made the most of his ice time, finding the net twice and showing the kind of energy that makes him a fan favorite.
Sweden: Talent There, Results Lagging
Sweden’s tournament has been a mixed bag. They had a shot at winning the group, but a late goal from Slovakia in their head-to-head matchup cost them. Despite a 5-3 win in that game, they finished third in the group behind both Slovakia and Finland.
Now they’ll have to go through Latvia in the qualifying round. If they win, they’ll face Team USA in what could be a marquee quarterfinal.
Avalanche Player:
- Gabriel Landeskog: 3 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 P (1 PPG) Landeskog hasn’t lit up the scoresheet, but he’s still providing leadership and physicality. He’ll need to elevate his game if Sweden wants to make a run.
Czechia: Looking to Rebound
The Czechs had a rough finish to the prelims, losing in overtime to Switzerland in their final game. That dropped them to third in Group A and into a knockout-round matchup with Denmark. The winner of that game gets the unenviable task of facing Canada.
Avalanche Player:
- Martin Necas: 3 GP, 2 G, 3 A, 5 P (1 PPG) Necas has been one of the bright spots for Czechia. He’s been creative with the puck and dangerous on the power play.
What’s Next: Knockout Bracket Set
Here’s how the playoff bracket shapes up heading into Tuesday’s qualifying round:
Quarterfinal Matchups (Wed. Feb. 18):
- Canada 🇨🇦 vs.
Winner of Czechia 🇨🇿 / Denmark 🇩🇰
2.
USA 🇺🇸 vs. Winner of Sweden 🇸🇪 / Latvia 🇱🇻
- Slovakia 🇸🇰 vs.
Winner of Germany 🇩🇪 / France 🇫🇷
4.
Finland 🇫🇮 vs. Winner of Switzerland 🇨🇭 / Italy 🇮🇹
Semifinals will be re-seeded based on tournament rankings, so every goal still matters. For the Avalanche’s Olympic contingent, the preliminary round was a showcase of skill, depth, and versatility. Now, the stakes get higher-and the spotlight gets brighter.