The preliminary round of the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics is officially in the rearview mirror, and several Tampa Bay Lightning players are right in the thick of the action - some already punching their ticket to the quarterfinals, others gearing up for a win-or-go-home qualification round. Let’s break down how each Lightning representative has fared so far, grouped by country, and what lies ahead as the knockout stage begins.
United States: Jake Guentzel
Jake Guentzel hasn’t lit up the stat sheet just yet, but he picked a great time to make his mark. With the U.S. clinging to a narrow 4-3 lead over Denmark heading into the third period on Saturday, the Lightning winger delivered the insurance goal that helped seal the deal.
Guentzel parked himself in front of the net, took a slick feed from Auston Matthews, and buried it to give the Americans breathing room. That goal helped spark a strong finish, as the U.S. closed out a 6-3 win.
Team USA rolled through the preliminary round with a perfect 3-0-0-0 record, joining Canada as the only undefeated squads. Now, they await the winner of Sweden vs. Latvia in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Canada: Brandon Hagel
Brandon Hagel got on the board for the first time in these Olympics during Canada’s offensive explosion against France. His goal came late in the third period - the ninth of ten tallies in a dominant showing that left little doubt about Canada’s firepower. It may not have been a game-winner, but it was a confidence booster for Hagel and a sign that Canada’s depth scoring is alive and well.
The Canadians also cruised through the prelims with a 3-0-0-0 record, taking the top spot in Group A. They’ll face the winner of Czechia vs. Denmark in the quarterfinals.
Sweden: Victor Hedman & Pontus Holmberg
Victor Hedman has been steady on the blue line for Sweden, contributing on both ends of the ice. The Lightning captain opened his Olympic scoring account with an empty-net goal in a win over Italy, then followed it up with a key assist in a 5-3 victory against Slovakia - setting up Elias Pettersson’s go-ahead goal in the third period. Hedman’s leadership and poise have been evident, and he’s playing like a guy who’s been here before.
Pontus Holmberg, on the other hand, is still searching for his first point of the tournament. While he hasn’t cracked the scoresheet yet, he’ll have another opportunity Tuesday when Sweden faces Latvia in the qualification round. A win there would send them into the quarterfinals.
Despite a solid 2-0-0-1 record, Sweden finished third in Group B and now has to earn its way into the next stage the hard way.
Denmark: Oliver Bjorkstrand
Oliver Bjorkstrand has chipped in offensively for Denmark, notching an assist on a goal by Nikolaj Ehlers that pushed their lead over Latvia to 3-0 in a game they eventually won 4-2. It’s been a grind for Denmark, but they’ve shown flashes of what they can do when they’re clicking.
Now, they’ve got a tough test ahead: a qualification-round clash with Czechia on Tuesday. Win, and they move on. Lose, and it’s time to pack up.
Slovakia: Erik Cernak
Erik Cernak hasn’t found the scoresheet yet, but his defensive presence has helped Slovakia secure a top spot in Group B. They’re through to the quarterfinals, where they’ll face the winner of Germany vs.
France on Wednesday. Cernak’s physical edge and shutdown ability will be key in what’s likely to be a tight, hard-fought matchup.
Latvia: Zemgus Girgensons
Zemgus Girgensons has arguably been the most productive Lightning player in the tournament so far. He’s racked up four assists in three games, including two in Latvia’s upset win over Germany. One came on a game-tying goal, the other on the go-ahead - both in clutch moments that helped swing the momentum.
Latvia finished the preliminary round with a 1-0-0-2 record, but they’ve still got life. They’ll face Sweden in Tuesday’s qualification round, with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.
Switzerland: JJ Moser
JJ Moser is making the most of his Olympic opportunity. The Swiss defenseman has four points through three games - a goal and three assists - and has been a steady two-way presence for his national team. Two of those assists came in a dramatic overtime win over Czechia, while his other two points came in a victory over France to open the tournament.
Switzerland will meet Italy in the qualification round on Tuesday. If they advance, they’ll face Finland in the quarterfinals.
Looking Ahead
Three Lightning players - Guentzel, Hagel, and Cernak - are already locked into the quarterfinals. The rest are still fighting for a shot at Olympic glory.
With the knockout stage about to crank up the intensity, expect the pace to quicken, the hits to get heavier, and the stakes to rise with every shift. The road to gold is never easy - but for these Lightning players, the journey is just getting good.