The prelims are in the rearview mirror, and now it’s all about survival at the Olympics - win or go home. Team USA wrapped up group play with a strong 5-1 win over Germany on Sunday night, locking in the No. 2 seed heading into the knockout rounds. Canada edged them out for the top spot, but both squads earn a valuable bye into the quarterfinals.
While the chase for gold heats up, let’s take a moment to check in on how the Tampa Bay Lightning players have fared so far in the tournament. With Erik Cernak now in the mix, here’s how the Bolts stack up through the group stage:
Lightning Players at the Olympics - Group Stage Recap
| Player | Games | Goals | Assists | Wins | WALT* |
|---|
| J.J. Moser | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Victor Hedman | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | | Zemgus Girgensons | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Wojciech Stachowiak | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | Jake Guentzel | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Brandon Hagel | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | | Pontus Holmberg | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Oliver Bjorkstrand | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | Erik Cernak | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
*WALT = Wins Against Lightning Teammates
J.J. Moser and Zemgus Girgensons are leading the charge statistically, with Moser putting up four points and Girgensons dishing out four helpers of his own.
But if we’re talking bragging rights, Jake Guentzel is the clubhouse leader - he faced off against three of his Lightning teammates during group play and beat every single one of them. That’s a clean 3-0 record in those head-to-heads.
Quarterfinal Picture: Let the Real Games Begin
With the group stage finished, the tournament now shifts into elimination mode. The U.S., Canada, Slovakia, and Finland have earned byes into the quarterfinals, giving them a crucial day of rest. The remaining teams will battle it out in Tuesday’s play-in games to determine who joins them.
Here’s a look at Tuesday’s matchups:
- 6:10 AM - Germany vs. France (Winner faces Slovakia)
- 6:10 AM - Switzerland vs. Italy (Winner faces Finland)
- 10:40 AM - Czechia vs. Denmark (Winner faces Canada)
- 3:10 PM - Sweden vs. Latvia (Winner faces United States)
Here’s where things get interesting: if Czechia and Sweden take care of business - and they’re both favored to do so - then the top two seeds, Canada and the U.S., could be staring down arguably the toughest paths to the semifinals. These aren’t the kind of quarterfinal matchups you typically hope for as a top seed.
Around the Rink: Olympic Storylines Heating Up
USA vs. Sweden (Women’s Semifinal)
While the men’s side gears up for the quarters, the women’s tournament has already reached the semifinal stage. Team USA and Sweden are set to clash in one matchup, while Canada takes on Switzerland in the other.
These are heavyweight battles with medal implications, and both games promise high-level hockey from start to finish.
Kevin Fiala Out for the Season
The first major NHL casualty of the tournament has arrived.
Kevin Fiala is done for the year after taking a hard hit from Tom Wilson along the boards. The impact fractured Fiala’s leg, and while surgery was successful, the Kings will have to move forward without one of their key playmakers.
It’s a brutal blow, especially after Los Angeles made a splash by adding Artemi Panarin just before the Olympic break.
No Suspension for Tom Wilson After Fight
Tom Wilson’s Olympic experience has been, well, very Tom Wilson.
After the hit on Fiala, he followed it up with a Gordie Howe hat trick - goal, assist, and a fight - in Canada’s win over France. While fighting is generally frowned upon in Olympic play, Wilson and France’s Pierre Crinon won’t face any supplemental discipline.
A rare Olympic scrap, but apparently not one that crossed the line.
Coop Being Coop
With the pressure ramping up, there may be no better coach to guide a high-expectation team than Jon Cooper. His calm, confident approach has become a calling card, and it’s exactly what a team like Canada needs in a tournament where one off night can end everything.
Kucherov on Vasilevskiy
And we’ll leave you with this gem from Nikita Kucherov:
“I knew he was going to beat the wheels off Swayman right away. We call (Vasilevskiy) ‘Tyson’ now.”
That’s the kind of quote that tells you everything you need to know. The Lightning’s Olympic crew is making noise - and we’re just getting to the good part.