The preliminary round of men’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics has wrapped, and now the waiting game begins for several New York Rangers stars as the tournament shifts into its knockout phase. With the stakes rising and the margin for error shrinking, things are about to get real - and for a few Rangers, there’s a very real chance their Olympic paths are about to intersect.
Team USA: Perfect Start, Eyes on the Podium
Team USA, led behind the bench by Mike Sullivan and David Quinn, closed out Group C play with a convincing 5-1 win over Germany, capping a dominant preliminary round with a perfect 3-0-0-0 record and a full nine points. That effort was good enough for the No. 2 overall seed heading into the quarterfinals, trailing only Canada on goal differential. The Americans scored 16 goals and gave up just five across three games - a strong showing that speaks to both their offensive depth and defensive structure.
Among the Rangers representing the red, white, and blue, J.T. Miller has been anchoring the fourth line with his trademark physicality and two-way play, while Vincent Trocheck has slotted in as the extra forward - a testament to Team USA’s impressive forward depth.
Now, Team USA waits to see who they’ll face in the quarterfinals, which will be decided by the outcome of Tuesday’s qualification game between the No. 7 and No. 10 seeds. Spoiler alert: that matchup has major implications for Rangers fans.
Sweden’s Road Gets Tougher - But the Talent’s There
Sweden, featuring Rangers center Mika Zibanejad in a top-six role, wrapped up Group B play with a 5-3 win over Slovakia. That victory earned them a 2-0-0-1 record and six points, but due to goal differential, they landed as the No. 7 seed. The Swedes scored 11 goals and allowed nine - a respectable tally, but some inconsistency between the pipes has raised eyebrows.
Next up for Sweden? A do-or-die qualification game against No. 10 seed Latvia on Tuesday.
Latvia managed just one win in Group C, scoring seven goals while giving up 12, and they enter this matchup as clear underdogs. But Olympic hockey has a way of throwing curveballs, and Sweden can’t afford to take anything for granted.
If Sweden gets past Latvia, they’ll run into Team USA in the quarterfinals - setting up a potential Rangers-on-Rangers showdown with Zibanejad facing off against Miller and Trocheck, with Sullivan and Quinn calling the shots from the American bench.
A Rangers Collision Course?
If the bracket breaks the way it’s expected to, Wednesday could bring a fascinating matchup featuring Rangers teammates turned Olympic rivals. Zibanejad has looked solid for Sweden in a top-six role, and while Sweden’s goaltending has been a bit of a question mark, the talent is undeniable.
Team USA, meanwhile, boasts one of the deepest rosters in the field, and that includes a healthy dose of Minnesota Wild representation - Matt Boldy, Brock Faber, and GM Bill Guerin. Sweden’s Wild contingent counters with goalies Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt, top-line center Joel Eriksson Ek, and veteran Marcus Johansson on the third line. So if you're a fan of the Wild or the Rangers, this potential quarterfinal clash might feel like a family reunion - with Olympic medals on the line.
What Comes After?
Looking beyond the quarterfinals, the Olympic format calls for a reseeding of the remaining teams. That means the highest-ranked teams will face the lowest remaining seeds in the semifinals.
For Team USA, currently sitting as the No. 2 seed, that’s good news. It means that if they keep winning, a potential heavyweight showdown with Canada - the tournament’s top seed and a juggernaut in the group stage - would only happen in the gold medal game.
But first, Team USA has to get through the quarterfinals. And if Sweden handles business against Latvia, it’ll set the stage for a high-stakes, Rangers-heavy clash with a semifinal berth on the line.
We’ll know more by Wednesday. For now, the table is set.
The prelims are over. The real tournament starts now.