Team USA rides high off their 2026 gold, with 19 roster spots primed for returnees like Matthews, Eichel, and the Tkachuk brothers still in their prime. Canada faces a roster shakeup, waving goodbye to Crosby at 42 and vets like Doughty while leaning on McDavid, MacKinnon, and young guns such as Bedard and Celebrini. Goalie battles loom large on both sides, from Oettinger and Swayman for the Americans to Thompson and wild cards like Cossa for the Canadians.

Rasmus Dahlin wastes no time shaking off Sweden's Olympic quarterfinal heartbreak against Tage Thompson's Team USA, hitting the ice for Sabres practice and laser-focused on the playoff grind ahead. The captain, who's quarterbacked power plays at the highest levels and now brings that big-stage edge to Buffalo's first true postseason chase in his eight NHL years, hints at settling scores with old draft rival Lucas Raymond down the stretch.

The US men's hockey team unleashes a second-period barrage with Jack Hughes and Jack Eichel lighting up the scoreboard to bury Slovakia and punch their ticket to the gold-medal showdown. NHL stars like Brady Tkachuk and Tage Thompson flex their pro muscle on the big stage, turning a tight opener into a rout that has Milano buzzing. Facing Canada next carries the weight of decades of rivalry, with Team USA chasing their first gold since the Miracle on Ice amid a perfect tournament run.

Jaccob Slavin and Tage Thompson, two of the league's quiet warriors, anchor Team USA's march to their first men's hockey gold since the Miracle on Ice, edging Canada in a thriller. Slavin logs heavy minutes on the penalty kill while Thompson chips in offensively alongside stars like Quinn Hughes and the Tkachuk brothers, proving NHL pedigrees shine brightest under Olympic pressure.

Buffalo's breakout winger Josh Doan catches the eye of USA Hockey brass as a gritty fit for the 2028 World Cup roster, projected right into that versatile fourth-line role alongside Cutter Gauthier. With Tage Thompson locked in after his Olympic heroics and gold-medal OT winner at the Worlds, Doan needs to sustain this hot streak to crash the party. Front offices whisper that two more years of forechecking fury could seal his spot on the plane to the tournament.

The NHL shakes off the Olympic rust this week, and Buffalo leads the charge with a red-hot 21-5-2 streak that has the Sabres clinging to the East's first wild card. Tage Thompson returns fresh off U.S. gold-medal glory, while Alex Tuch brushes off trade whispers amid contract talks with new GM Jarmo Kekalainen. Front offices across the league watch closely as this pivotal 25-game sprint decides playoff fates, with Jersey up first on Wednesday.