Olympic Hockey Roundup: Lightning Players Shine on Day One in Italy
The 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey tournament is officially underway, and if Thursday’s action was any indication, Tampa Bay Lightning players are ready to make their mark on the international stage. From early goals to clutch assists, Bolts skaters were all over the scoresheet as their respective countries opened preliminary play.
Let’s break down a busy day on the ice, where J.J. Moser, Brandon Hagel, Jake Guentzel, Zemgus Girgensons, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Wojciech Stachowiak all made their presence felt.
🇨🇭 Switzerland 4, France 0
J.J. Moser Makes a Statement in Olympic Debut
Switzerland wasted no time asserting themselves, and neither did Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser. Making his Olympic debut, Moser tallied a goal and an assist to help power Switzerland to a 4-0 win over France.
The Swiss struck first just 55 seconds into the game on the power play, and Moser doubled the lead barely two minutes later with a smooth wrist shot from the point. He wasn’t done there. In the third period, he picked up the primary assist on Timo Meier’s second goal of the game, capping a standout performance.
Moser finished with 15:39 of ice time, three shots on goal, and a +2 rating. Goaltender Leonardo Genoni locked things down on the back end with a 27-save shutout, while Meier’s two third-period goals helped seal the deal.
Scoring Highlights:
- 00:55 - Damien Riat opens scoring on the power play.
- 03:06 - Moser scores his first Olympic goal.
- 10:08 (3rd) - Meier scores with help from Roman Josi.
- 16:13 (3rd) - Meier again, this time assisted by Moser and Kevin Fiala.
Switzerland outshot France 43-27 and looked every bit the contender in Group play.
🇨🇦 Canada 5, Czechia 0
Brandon Hagel and Team Canada Roll to Shutout Win
Canada opened their Olympic campaign in style, blanking Czechia 5-0 behind a deep, balanced attack and a rock-solid effort from goaltender Jordan Binnington.
Lightning forward Brandon Hagel logged 14:33 of ice time and registered a pair of shots in a game that saw Canada grow stronger as it went on.
The scoring started late in the first period when Macklin Celebrini deflected a Cale Makar shot past the Czech netminder with just six seconds left. From there, the floodgates opened.
Mark Stone, Bo Horvat, Nathan MacKinnon, and Nick Suzuki added goals in the second and third periods, while Connor McDavid orchestrated the offense with a three-assist night. Binnington stopped all 26 shots he faced to earn the clean sheet.
Scoring Highlights:
- 19:54 (1st) - Celebrini puts Canada on the board.
- 06:40 (2nd) - Stone finishes a slick feed from Mitch Marner.
- 17:26 (2nd) - Horvat scores on a breakaway.
- 07:42 (3rd) - MacKinnon scores on the power play.
- 13:22 (3rd) - Suzuki tips one in off a McDavid pass.
Canada outshot Czechia 36-26 and looked every bit the powerhouse they were expected to be.
🇺🇸 USA 5, Latvia 1
Jake Guentzel Active, Zemgus Girgensons Assists in Latvia’s Lone Goal
Team USA had to work through a bit of early frustration, with two goals overturned in the first period, but once they settled in, they took control and never looked back.
Brady Tkachuk opened the scoring for the Americans, but Latvia answered quickly with a goal from Renars Krastenbergs, assisted by Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons. That would be Latvia’s only highlight of the game, as the U.S. poured it on from there.
Brock Nelson scored twice, Tage Thompson added a power-play goal, and Auston Matthews capped the scoring with a third-period tally from the slot. Five U.S. players finished with multi-point games, and Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 17 shots in net.
Jake Guentzel logged 13:20 of ice time and fired two shots, staying active in the offensive zone.
Scoring Highlights:
- 05:29 (1st) - Tkachuk opens scoring for USA.
- 07:25 (1st) - Girgensons assists on Latvia’s only goal.
- 10:38 (2nd) - Nelson breaks the tie with a backhand move.
- 17:35 (2nd) - Thompson scores on the power play.
- 19:48 (2nd) - Nelson adds his second.
- 02:35 (3rd) - Matthews finishes it off with another PPG.
USA outshot Latvia 38-18 and showed off the depth and puck movement that make them a serious medal threat.
🇩🇪 Germany 3, Denmark 1
Stachowiak Sets Up Game-Winner, Bjorkstrand Leads Denmark Attack
Germany got off to a lightning-fast start-literally-when Leon Draisaitl scored just 23 seconds into their game against Denmark, marking one of the fastest goals to open an Olympic hockey game with NHL players involved.
Denmark tied it up later in the first, but Germany responded in the second period, and Lightning prospect Wojciech Stachowiak played a key role. Battling behind the net, he freed the puck to JJ Peterka, who fed Tim Stützle for the go-ahead goal. Stützle added another later in the period on the power play.
Germany held on from there, despite being outshot 38-26. Philipp Grubauer came up big in net, and Stachowiak finished with an assist and a +1 rating in 16:28 of ice time.
For Denmark, Lightning winger Oliver Bjorkstrand was a workhorse. He led the team with seven shots and logged 23 minutes of ice time-third-most on the team. Despite his efforts, Denmark couldn’t solve Grubauer after the first period.
Scoring Highlights:
- 00:23 (1st) - Draisaitl scores early for Germany.
- 13:09 (1st) - Denmark ties it with a goal from Molgaard.
- 04:20 (2nd) - Stützle scores the eventual game-winner, assisted by Stachowiak.
- 10:02 (2nd) - Stützle adds a second on the power play.
Germany took advantage of their chances, while Denmark struggled to convert their shot volume into goals.
What’s Next?
Friday brings another full slate of preliminary round action, with more Lightning talent on display.
- 6:10 a.m. ET: Lightning captain Victor Hedman and forward Pontus Holmberg will suit up for Sweden in a Group B clash against Finland.
- 6:10 a.m. ET: Erik Cernak hits the ice for Slovakia in their matchup against Italy.
- 10:30 a.m. ET: France faces Czechia in a battle of teams looking to bounce back.
- 3:00 p.m. ET: One to circle-Brandon Hagel and Jon Cooper’s Team Canada takes on J.J.
Moser and red-hot Switzerland.
Olympic hockey is just getting started, but if Thursday was any indication, the Lightning's international footprint is already making waves.