It was a strong day on the international stage for the Philadelphia Flyers’ Olympic representatives, with all three players helping their countries notch key victories as the tournament heats up.
Rasmus Ristolainen and Team Finland got things started with a bounce-back performance, taking down rival Sweden 4-1 in a game that felt like a statement. After a surprising loss to Slovakia in their opener, Finland came out with purpose-tightening up defensively and playing with the kind of structure that’s long been their calling card.
Ristolainen logged just under 20 minutes of ice time (19:58), anchoring the Finnish blue line with a steady, physical presence. He didn’t need to do anything flashy-just smart, reliable hockey in a matchup that always carries extra weight given the history between these two nations.
Finland’s defensive unit, with Ristolainen playing a key role, kept Sweden’s attack largely in check and helped restore order after a shaky start to the tournament.
Later in the day, Dan Vladar got the nod in net for Czechia and found himself in the middle of one of the more emotional swings we’ve seen so far in this Olympic tournament. Czechia fell behind early against France, but responded with four unanswered goals to flip the game on its head, eventually skating away with a 6-3 win.
Vladar faced just 12 shots, stopping nine, but the numbers don’t tell the whole story. He had to battle through a tough opening stretch and stay mentally sharp while his teammates mounted the comeback.
It wasn’t a high-volume outing, but it was the kind of performance that keeps a team grounded when things start to go sideways early. The win keeps Czechia in good position as the medal rounds draw closer.
Travis Sanheim also made his tournament debut for Canada in a 5-1 win over Switzerland. He logged 10:17 of ice time and finished a plus-2 in a game where Canada controlled the tempo from start to finish.
Sanheim wasn’t asked to do too much, but he delivered exactly what was needed-efficient, low-event hockey that helped maintain Canada’s grip on the game. The Canadians rolled their defensive pairings throughout, and Sanheim slotted in seamlessly, playing his role in a deep, disciplined defensive corps that’s looked sharp so far.
Three Flyers, three wins, and a reminder that even in the high-pressure environment of Olympic hockey, these players know how to step up and deliver when their countries need them most.