Olympic Hockey Roundup: Tkachuk Sparks U.S. Win, Finland Dominates, Latvia Stuns Germany
The United States men’s hockey team continued its strong run at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, powered by a key setup from Matthew Tkachuk and a clutch finish from Jack Eichel in a 6-3 win over Denmark.
With the game tied midway through the second period, Tkachuk stepped into the spotlight. Off a clean offensive zone faceoff, the Florida Panthers forward delivered a pinpoint assist to Eichel, who buried the go-ahead goal at 10:23 to give the U.S. a 3-2 edge. From there, Team USA never looked back.
Tkachuk’s stat line won’t jump off the page-two shots on goal, a plus-two rating, and 16:16 of ice time-but his impact was felt in the flow of the game. He played with the edge and vision we’ve come to expect, helping the Americans maintain their perfect record in Group C.
While the U.S. was handling business, Finland was putting on a clinic.
The Finns steamrolled Italy 11-0 in one of the most lopsided victories of the tournament so far, and a pair of Florida Panthers teammates were right in the thick of it. Defenseman Niko Mikkola and forward Eetu Luostarinen each notched two assists in the blowout, showcasing the depth and balance that’s made Finland a perennial Olympic contender.
Mikkola, in particular, was a force. He logged 20:36 of ice time, fired four shots on goal, and finished with a staggering plus-five rating.
That’s the kind of two-way dominance that anchors a defensive corps. Luostarinen chipped in with a plus-three rating in 12:33 of ice time and added a shot on goal of his own.
Notably absent from Finland’s lineup was Anton Lundell, who missed the game due to illness. Even without one of their key centers, the Finns didn’t miss a beat, riding back-to-back wins to a second-place finish in Group B and putting themselves in a strong position for a wild card berth in the quarterfinals.
Elsewhere in Group B, Slovakia may have fallen 5-3 to Sweden, but they still managed to top the group standings. Sweden leaned on steady play from defenseman Gustav Forsling, who logged 20:33 of ice time, registered one shot on goal, and finished the game with an even rating.
In Group C action, Latvia pulled off a gritty 4-3 win over Germany, with Uvis Balinskis and Sandis Vilmanis playing key roles.
Balinskis was a workhorse on the blue line, leading all Latvian skaters with 24:09 of ice time. He added a shot on goal and finished with an even rating, anchoring the back end in a tight contest. Vilmanis, meanwhile, brought energy up front, getting off two shots in the first period and skating 18:10 while also finishing even.
With group play heating up, here’s a look at today’s slate of games in the men’s tournament:
Sunday’s Games (Men’s Tournament):
- Group A: Switzerland (1-1) vs.
Czechia (1-1) - 6:10 a.m. ET
- Group A: Canada (2-0) vs. France (0-2) - 10:40 a.m.
ET
- Group C: Denmark (0-2) vs.
Latvia (1-1) - 1:10 p.m. ET
- Group C: Germany (1-1) vs. United States (2-0) - 3:10 p.m.
ET
Saturday’s Results (Men’s):
- Sweden 5, Slovakia 3
- Finland 11, Italy 0
- Latvia 4, Germany 3
- United States 6, Denmark 3
Saturday’s Results (Women’s Quarterfinals):
- Canada 5, Germany 1
As the men’s tournament barrels toward the knockout rounds, the storylines are starting to take shape. The U.S. looks sharp, Finland is finding its rhythm, and Latvia is proving they won’t back down from anyone. With more pivotal games on deck, the chase for Olympic gold is just getting started.