Team USA closed out group play at the 2026 Winter Olympics in style, skating to a commanding 5-1 win over Germany in Milan. The victory not only capped a strong preliminary round for the Americans, but it also secured them a direct ticket to the quarterfinals. For Germany, the road gets a little longer - they'll need to get past France in the qualification round to keep their medal hopes alive.
But while the scoreboard told one story, the chirping on the ice added some extra spice - and a bit of Olympic theater.
Matthew Tkachuk, never one to shy away from a verbal jab, had a moment that quickly made the rounds. Caught on a hot mic during the game, Tkachuk skated past Germany’s Leon Draisaitl and dropped this zinger: *“Always the bridesmaid, eh, Leon?
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.” *
It was a pointed shot - and a personal one. Tkachuk and Draisaitl have some well-documented history, having met in each of the last two Stanley Cup Finals.
On both occasions, Tkachuk left the ice with a ring. Draisaitl?
Just another deep run that came up short.
After the game, reporters gave Draisaitl a chance to fire back. His response?
Just one word: *“No.” * Short, sharp, and maybe a little telling.
Later, he offered a bit more when asked about the matchup.
“It’s always a challenge,” Draisaitl said. *“Our teams have some history.
And (it’s) always fun playing him.” *
That “history” is doing a lot of work there. These two have been circling each other for years - in the NHL, in the playoffs, and now on the Olympic stage. And while the stakes are different in Milan, the competitive fire clearly hasn’t cooled.
As for Draisaitl’s play in the tournament, it’s been relatively quiet. He’s logged just one goal and two assists through group play - solid, but not the kind of output Germany needs from its top star if they’re going to make a deep run. Tim Stützle, with four goals so far, has carried more of the scoring load.
Germany finished group play at 1-2, and now faces a win-or-go-home showdown with France. The odds of another clash with Team USA are slim - it would take a German run to the gold medal game or a U.S. stumble in the semifinals to set the stage.
But if it does happen? You can bet Tkachuk and Draisaitl will be ready to renew the rivalry.
For now, the Americans are rolling, and the Germans are regrouping. And in the middle of it all, a little Olympic chirp has added some extra fuel to the fire.