Wednesday's quarterfinals of the men's hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics delivered the kind of drama that keeps fans on the edge of their seats. Each of the four games was decided by a single goal, with three thrilling overtimes adding to the excitement.
In the end, the favorites emerged victorious, but not without their fair share of nail-biting moments. For Dallas Stars fans, the tournament has been particularly engaging.
Radek Faksa's Czechia squad was eliminated in a heartbreaker against Canada, surrendering a lead with just four minutes left before falling in overtime. Now, the Slovakian team is set to face Jake Oettinger and Team USA, while the Finnish contingent of Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz, Esa Lindell, and Miro Heiskanen prepares to clash with Thomas Harley's Canada.
The Canadians punched their ticket to the semifinals thanks to a crucial assist from Harley on the game-winning goal, setting up an intense showdown with Finland.
Looking ahead, Team USA is considered the frontrunner for gold, with odds from "The Athletic" giving them a 48% chance of taking the top spot and a 44% shot at silver. Their path to the final is seen as more straightforward compared to Finland's uphill battle against Canada.
Canada isn't far behind in the odds race, boasting a 41% chance of winning gold, followed by silver and bronze probabilities. Finland's best shot is at bronze, while Slovakia embraces its underdog status with a slim chance at medaling.
Despite the odds, history reminds us that surprises are always possible. Since NHL players were first allowed to compete in the Olympics in 1998, the Americans have medaled twice, while Canada has often dominated, securing gold in 2002, 2010, and 2014.
Finland and Slovakia bring their own recent successes to the ice. Finland, the reigning gold medalists, has consistently medaled, and Slovakia is eager to add to its bronze from 2022.
As fans, we can only hope the semifinals match the intensity of the quarters. For Dallas Stars supporters, there's the added excitement of seeing one of their own vie for Olympic glory.