The 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey tournament is barely underway, but it’s already delivering the kind of high-paced, high-stakes action that fans live for. And if you're a Florida Panthers supporter, there's no shortage of storylines to follow-because a significant chunk of the Panthers’ roster is making their presence felt on the Olympic stage in Milan.
Finland’s Core Panthers Logging Big Minutes
Let’s start with Finland, where three Panthers are playing key roles early in the tournament. Defenseman Niko Mikkola has been a workhorse on the Finnish blueline, averaging just under 19 minutes of ice time through the first two games.
He’s chipped in with an assist, four shots on goal, a pair of penalty minutes, and a solid plus-2 rating. That kind of two-way presence is exactly what Finland needs as they try to find consistency-especially after splitting their first two games: a 4-1 loss to Slovakia and a bounce-back 4-1 win over Sweden.
Up front, Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen are getting more involved as the games go on. Lundell found the back of the net for his first Olympic goal in the win over Sweden, while Luostarinen added an assist.
Both players saw their ice time climb from around 16 minutes in the opener to closer to 19 in the second game. That’s a sign the Finnish coaching staff is trusting them more with each shift-and they’re earning it.
Gus Forsling Steady for Sweden
On the Swedish side, Panthers defenseman Gus Forsling has been a rock. He scored his first Olympic goal in Sweden’s opening win over Italy and wrapped up the preliminary round with two points, six shots, and a plus-2 rating.
He’s not just logging minutes-he’s making them count. Forsling’s calm, efficient play has helped stabilize Sweden’s defense, and his offensive contributions are a welcome bonus.
Canada’s Panthers Playing Their Roles
Team Canada has come out flying in Milan, outscoring Czechia and Switzerland by a combined 10-1. While the Panthers’ trio of Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart, and Sam Bennett haven’t been leaned on heavily yet, they’re still finding ways to contribute.
Marchand picked up an assist in the opener against Czechia before sitting out the second game. Reinhart and Bennett saw a slight uptick in ice time in that second matchup, suggesting Canada’s coaching staff may be looking to mix up the forward rotation as the tournament progresses. It’s early, and with Canada’s depth, there’s plenty of time for these three to make a bigger impact.
Latvia’s Breakthrough, Powered by Panthers
Latvia’s Olympic history doesn’t include many wins, but they added a big one on Saturday with a 4-3 victory over Germany. That marked just their fourth Olympic win ever-and their first since 2014.
Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis has been the engine on Latvia’s blue line, leading the team in ice time in both games. He added an assist and a shot on goal in the win over Germany, showing poise under pressure.
Forward Sandis Vilmanis also played a key role, logging over 18 minutes and firing a pair of shots. For a team still building its international profile, performances like these are massive.
Tkachuk and Team USA Still Rolling
Matthew Tkachuk and Team USA are set to return to the ice Saturday afternoon against Denmark. Tkachuk’s impact has been felt already-his mix of skill and edge fits perfectly on the Olympic stage. Expect him to keep playing a central role as the Americans push deeper into the tournament.
With so many Panthers making noise in Milan, this Olympic tournament is shaping up to be more than just a showcase of international talent-it’s a chance for Florida’s core to shine under the brightest lights. We’ll keep tracking every shift, every goal, and every storyline as the action continues. Stay tuned.