The Pittsburgh Penguins are well represented at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, with four players donning their national colors: Sidney Crosby, Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Arturs Silovs. And with the second day of the men’s ice hockey tournament wrapped up, we’re already seeing some big performances from the black-and-gold contingent.
Karlsson, Rakell help Sweden survive early scare vs. Italy
Sweden came into the tournament with high expectations-and rightfully so. On paper, they’re one of the most complete rosters in the field.
But their Olympic opener didn’t exactly go according to script. Facing host nation Italy, Sweden found themselves trailing 1-0 early in the first period.
That deficit didn’t last long, though. Gabriel Landeskog got Sweden on the board, and Erik Karlsson picked up a secondary assist on the equalizer. It wasn’t flashy, but it was classic Karlsson-jumping into the play, moving the puck efficiently, and helping his team generate offense from the back end.
Later in the game, with Sweden up 3-2 and looking to put some distance between themselves and the underdog Italians, Rickard Rakell made his presence felt. He set up Mika Zibanejad for a goal that gave Sweden a two-goal cushion and some much-needed breathing room.
Sweden eventually pulled away for a 5-2 win, but the Italians didn’t make it easy. The real story here?
Italy’s goaltending. Sweden peppered the net with 60 shots, but Italian netminders Damian Clara and Fadani Davide combined for 50 saves.
Clara, who carried most of the workload, was especially impressive before exiting in the third period due to injury. It was a gutsy effort from the host nation, and while the scoreboard leaned heavily in Sweden’s favor by the end, the path there was anything but smooth.
Crosby dishes two assists in Canada’s dominant debut
Over in Canada’s camp, the Olympic journey started with a statement. A 5-0 shutout win over Czechia sent a clear message: the gold medal favorites are locked in.
Sidney Crosby, wearing the ‘C’ for Canada once again, looked like a man on a mission. He notched two assists in the win, both of them vintage Crosby-smart, unselfish, and perfectly timed.
The first came on a slick sequence that saw Crosby hit Mitch Marner in stride, who then found Mark Stone for Canada’s second goal of the game. Later, with Canada on the power play in the third, Crosby quarterbacked a play from the half-wall, feeding Connor McDavid, who then set up Nathan MacKinnon for a one-timer that made it 4-0.
McDavid finished with three points to lead the way, but Crosby wasn’t far behind. At 38, he's still showing why he's one of the most complete players in the game-reading the ice, creating chances, and elevating everyone around him.
Silovs backing up for Latvia in Olympic opener
While Karlsson, Rakell, and Crosby were making their mark on the scoresheet, Arturs Silovs is still waiting for his Olympic moment. The Penguins goaltender suited up for Latvia but served as the backup behind Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Elvis Merzlikins in their opener against Team USA.
Silovs has shown flashes of brilliance in his young NHL career, and while he didn’t see action in this one, his presence on the Latvian roster adds depth and experience to their crease. Whether he gets the nod later in the tournament remains to be seen, but he’s a name to keep an eye on as the games progress.
With the group stage heating up, the Penguins’ Olympic quartet is already making waves. Crosby’s still dishing dimes, Karlsson and Rakell are contributing in key moments, and Silovs is waiting in the wings. There’s a long way to go in this tournament, but if the early returns are any indication, Pittsburgh’s presence is being felt on the international stage.