Happy Valentine’s Day to all the hockey lovers out there! While the NHL season is currently on pause, the hockey world is buzzing with the intensity of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. The world’s best players have traded their club sweaters for their national colors, delivering the kind of high-stakes drama that only best-on-best international hockey can provide. Today’s news is dominated by thrilling victories, a devastating injury to a key NHL forward, and the ever-present rumble of trade deadline chatter.
Milano Cortina 2026: Men’s Olympic hockey recap and scores
The preliminary rounds are in full swing, and the action on the ice has been nothing short of spectacular. Here is a look at the latest scores and major storylines from the last 24 hours in men’s Olympic hockey.
Friday, February 13, 2026: Scores and Notes
- Canada 5, Switzerland 1: Team Canada continued its dominance, securing the top spot in Group A. The star-studded lineup fired on all cylinders. Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon each registered a goal and two assists, showing incredible chemistry. Young phenom Macklin Celebrini continued his impressive tournament with another goal, while captain Sidney Crosby also tallied his first goal of the 2026 Olympics. Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley chipped in with a goal as well, showing his growing confidence on the international stage.
- Major Injury News: The win was marred by a scary incident. Switzerland’s Kevin Fiala, a star forward for the Los Angeles Kings, suffered a tournament-ending lower-leg injury following a collision with Canada’s Tom Wilson. He was stretchered off the ice, dealing a significant blow to Swiss medal hopes and raising a major concern for the Kings’ playoff push back home.
- Finland 4, Sweden 1: In a heated Nordic rivalry game, Finland bounced back from an opening loss to defeat Sweden. Florida Panthers forward Anton Lundell was a key contributor for the Finns, who looked much more disciplined.
- Czechia 6, France 3: Czechia’s offense came alive, rallying from a deficit to secure a high-scoring victory over a spunky French team.
- Slovakia 3, Italy 2: Slovakia held on for a tight, hard-fought win over the host nation, Italy, in front of a passionate home crowd.
Saturday, February 14, 2026: Early Scores
The action continued on Valentine’s Day morning with more key matchups.
- Sweden 5, Slovakia 3: Vancouver Canucks superstar Elias Pettersson put the team on his back, leading the way for Sweden with two goals to help his team rebound from their loss to Finland.
- Latvia 4, Germany 3: In one of the upsets of the tournament so far, Latvia stunned a heavily favored German team in a close contest, proving that there are no easy games at this level.
Later today, keep an eye on Finland vs. Italy and a highly anticipated matchup between Team USA and Denmark. The young American squad, led by the dynamic Hughes brothers, will look to build on their strong start to the tournament.
NHL trade rumors heat up as deadline approaches
Even with the Olympic break absorbing much of the attention, NHL general managers are busy working the phones ahead of the March 6th trade deadline. The rumor mill is churning, and several teams are emerging as clear sellers.
- St. Louis Blues: The Blues are reportedly open for business and listening to offers for several key pieces. While the asking price for franchise center Robert Thomas is said to be astronomically high, veterans like defenseman Justin Faulk and forwards Brayden Schenn and Pavel Buchnevich could be on the move to contenders. Goaltender Jordan Binnington, currently with Team Canada, could also see his trade value rise with a strong Olympic performance.
- Carolina Hurricanes: The Canes are rumored to be aggressively in the market for defensive help to bolster a deep playoff run. Speculation has linked them to a potential reunion with former Hurricane Dougie Hamilton, though the New Jersey Devils’ asking price would likely be significant.
- On the Bubble: Teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers find themselves in a difficult position. Sitting squarely on the playoff bubble with limited cap space and assets makes their path forward unclear. Will they decide to buy, sell, or stand pat and hope for internal improvement? The next few weeks will be crucial.
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