As the Winter Olympics shift into the elimination rounds, the stakes are rising-and so is the intensity. With medals now in play, the early returns have made one thing clear: Team Canada came to dominate.
But they aren’t the only ones making noise. Let’s break down where things stand after the preliminary stage, with a special look at how a few Philadelphia Flyers are faring on the international stage.
Team Canada: Statement Made
Canada didn’t just win its group-it steamrolled it. Three games, three wins, and a staggering 20-3 goal differential.
The Canadians opened with a clinical 5-0 shutout of Czechia, followed that with a 5-1 win over Switzerland, and then dropped the hammer with a 10-2 rout of France. This team looks deep, fast, and dangerous-and they’ve earned the top seed heading into the Quarterfinals.
One of the more intriguing Flyers-related developments came on the blue line. Travis Sanheim started the tournament on the outside looking in, a healthy scratch in that opener against Czechia. But when Josh Morrissey went down with an injury, Sanheim got the call-and made the most of it.
He slotted in as the seventh defenseman against Switzerland, logging just over 10 minutes and finishing a tidy plus-2. Then came the real test: a full-time role alongside Drew Doughty in the final group game.
Sanheim responded with 18:53 of ice time, two shots on goal, two penalty minutes, and a plus-3 rating. He looked comfortable, confident, and capable on a team with sky-high expectations.
Canada will face the winner of Czechia-Denmark in the Quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Team Czechia: A Rocky Road
It’s been an up-and-down ride for Czechia, who finished the group stage 1-2 and now face a win-or-go-home matchup with Denmark in the Qualification Round.
Dan Vladar, another Flyers representative, has had a mixed showing in net. He backed up Lukas Dostal in the opener against Canada and again in the final group game against Switzerland, which ended in a 4-3 overtime loss.
But in the middle game against France, Vladar got the start-and it was a rollercoaster. He gave up three goals in a shaky second period but managed to hold the line the rest of the way.
Czechia pulled out a 6-3 win, their only victory of the round. Vladar finished with nine saves on 12 shots-not his sharpest outing, but good enough to get his team the W.
Now, it’s all on the line against Denmark.
Team Finland: Building Momentum
Quietly but steadily, Finland is gaining steam-and Rasmus Ristolainen has been right in the thick of it. The veteran defenseman is the only Flyers player to suit up in all three games for his country, and his impact has been growing with each outing.
He opened the tournament with a solid showing in a 4-1 loss to Slovakia, logging nearly 20 minutes and registering three shots. Against Sweden, he was more assertive-picking up two penalty minutes, adding a shot, and finishing plus-3 in a 4-1 win. But the real breakout came in the finale: Finland’s 11-0 demolition of Italy.
Ristolainen was everywhere-two assists, three shots, and a game-best plus-5 in just over 18 minutes of ice time. He’s playing big minutes and playing them well, giving Finland a steady presence on the back end as they head into the Quarterfinals.
Their opponent? The winner of Switzerland-Italy.
Team USA: Undefeated, But Tested
Team USA is through to the Quarterfinals with a perfect 3-0 record, but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. They opened with a 5-1 win over Latvia, but that score doesn’t tell the whole story-the Americans had to grind through a tight contest before pulling away late.
Then came the scare against Denmark. Team USA actually trailed 3-2 in the second period before flipping the switch and rattling off four unanswered goals to secure a 6-3 win. They closed out group play with a more convincing 5-1 win over Germany, locking in the second seed.
Next up: a Quarterfinal showdown with the winner of Sweden-Latvia. If the U.S. wants to keep this run alive, they’ll need to tighten things up defensively and avoid the kind of slow starts that nearly cost them earlier in the week.
What’s Next
With the elimination rounds underway, the margin for error is gone. Canada looks like the team to beat, but the field is deep and unpredictable. Team USA has shown resilience, Finland is trending up, and Czechia is fighting to stay alive.
And for Flyers fans, there’s plenty to watch. Sanheim is playing meaningful minutes on a powerhouse Canadian squad.
Ristolainen is rounding into form on a surging Finnish team. And Vladar still has a shot to help Czechia make a run.
The Olympic spotlight is shining bright-and so far, the Flyers’ representatives are holding their own.