Olympic Hockey Day 3 Recap: Avalanche Players in the Spotlight as Tournament Heats Up
Day 3 of Olympic hockey delivered everything fans could ask for - redemption arcs, dominant performances, and a few wake-up calls. For the Colorado Avalanche players representing their countries, it was a mixed bag: some continued to roll, others struggled to find their rhythm, and a few are still waiting for their moment. Let’s break down how the day unfolded for the Avs abroad.
Finland vs. Sweden: A Nordic Clash With Playoff Intensity
This was the marquee matchup to start the day, and it didn’t disappoint - at least for Finland. After a shaky opening game, the Finns came out with purpose, dictating the pace and controlling the game from start to finish. Sweden, meanwhile, looked like a team still shaking off the cobwebs.
Gabriel Landeskog didn’t sugarcoat it after the game, admitting Sweden came out “sleepy” and vowing a more urgent effort next time out. And he’s not wrong - falling behind 2-0 to a team like Finland isn’t something you can easily recover from.
Against Italy? Maybe.
But against a structured, disciplined Finnish squad? That’s a different story.
And with Slovakia up next, Sweden will need to be sharper from puck drop.
For the Avalanche players, it was a relatively quiet outing. Artturi Lehkonen logged just over 14 minutes of ice time but didn’t register a shot on goal. His line didn’t produce offensively, but on the flip side, they weren’t on the ice for the lone goal against either - a neutral night in a game where Finland didn’t need much more than steady contributions.
Joel Kiviranta, meanwhile, continues to wait for his chance. He was a healthy scratch again and has yet to see the ice in the tournament.
As for Landeskog, his game mirrored Sweden’s overall performance - flashes of effort, but not enough bite. He played just over 15 minutes, put two shots on net, and finished the game minus-one. He’ll be leaned on heavily to help right the ship in their next matchup.
France vs. Czechia: Necas Leads the Charge in a Wild One
This one had a bit of everything. Czechia jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, only to see it evaporate in the second as France stormed back with three unanswered goals. But just when it looked like the upset might be brewing, Czechia flipped the switch again and closed out a 6-3 win.
Martin Necas was a standout - and not just because of his stat line. His speed, hands, and vision were on full display, helping him tally a goal and an assist on six shots in just over 14 minutes of ice time. He opened the scoring with a power-play goal and later added a slick assist early in the third period that gave Czechia a two-goal cushion.
With much of the defensive attention focused on David Pastrnak, Necas took full advantage of the extra space. It was a strong bounce-back performance after a quiet first game and a reminder of how dangerous Czechia can be when their top guys are clicking.
Canada vs. Switzerland: MacKinnon, Makar Shine in Statement Win
Canada just keeps getting better. Every line, every pairing, every shift - they’re starting to look like a team that’s finding its groove at the perfect time. And the Avalanche trio of Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Devon Toews continues to play a big part in that.
Let’s start with Toews. While he didn’t hit the scoresheet, he logged just under 18 minutes of ice time and finished the night plus-two. Outside of one early turnover that forced Logan Thompson into a big save, Toews was his usual steady self - calm, composed, and quietly effective.
Cale Makar, on the other hand, took on a bigger role with Josh Morrissey sidelined due to injury - and he delivered. Playing just under 22 minutes, Makar notched two assists and fired four shots on goal.
His passing was crisp, his skating elite, and he helped quarterback a power-play unit that looked lethal. He and MacKinnon combined on a beautiful sequence to set up Connor McDavid for a back-door finish to open the scoring.
Later, Makar threaded a pass that led to a tip-in goal by Mitch Marner, with Sidney Crosby assisting on the setup.
And then there’s MacKinnon. What he’s building with McDavid and Macklin Celebrini is special - and borderline unfair.
That trio combined for three goals and five assists in the game, with MacKinnon picking up a goal and two assists on four shots in just over 16 minutes of ice time. He set up Celebrini with a slick backhand pass for a one-timer that made it 3-1, and later buried a rebound off a McDavid rush to extend the lead to 5-1.
Canada is rolling, and the Avalanche stars are right in the middle of it.
Looking Ahead to Day 4
Sweden will look to regroup quickly with a matchup against Slovakia - a team that’s already shown it can take advantage of a slow start. Landeskog’s leadership will be crucial in setting the tone early.
Finland, with Lehkonen in the mix, will aim to keep building momentum against Italy - a game they’ll be expected to control from start to finish.
And for Team USA, Brock Nelson and company take on Latvia as they try to maintain their strong start to the tournament.
Three days in, the Olympic men’s hockey tournament is already delivering high drama and high-level play. And for Avalanche fans, there’s no shortage of reasons to keep tuning in - their guys are making an impact, and the best may still be yet to come.