For the first time since 2014, NHL players from the United States are competing at the Olympic Games.
Team USA's opening matchup of the 2026 Milan Cortina Games was against Latvia, a team that features several current and former NHL players as well. The U.S. won 5-1.
The U.S. is led by arguably the strongest collection of talent to ever represent the country in international best-on-best competition, including a one-two punch of Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel at center, do-everything defensemen like Quinn Hughes, Zach Werenski and Charlie McAvoy, and easily the best goaltending group in the tournament in Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman.
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