Everything you need to know about Team USA men’s hockey at the Milano Cortina Olympics

The GIST: As the women’s hockey preliminary round wraps up today, the juggernaut American men are preparing for puck drop on the first Olympic tournament since 2014 to feature NHL players. And with star-studded lineups across the board, nothing is guaranteed…

👏 The return of the NHLers: The reason for their 12-year absence? Schedule disruptions and a lack of league benefit, according to the NHL. However, the pushback was fierce, and a new collective bargaining agreement in 2020 paved the way for the NHL’s (slightly delayed) return to the Games, much to the delight of players and fans alike.

• The Olympics are officially a best-on-best tournament once again, except for a small caveat: Russia is still sanctioned by the IOC for their invasion of Ukraine, excluding them — and superstars like Washington Capital Alex Ovechkin — from participation.

⚙️ How it works: The men’s tourney features 12 teams, divided into three groups (A, B, and C). Each will play three round-robin games, with the group winners and the best runner-up squad receiving a bye straight to the quarter-finals. The other eight teams will compete in a playoff for the remaining spots, all in hopes of reaching the gold medal game on February 22nd.

🇺🇸 Team USA aiming for gold — with a chip on their shoulder: The American squad has a bone to pick with the Canadians, who defeated them in last year’s feisty 4 Nations Face-Off. Their secret weapon? A deep goaltender roster, led by three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck.

• On the flip side, fellow gold-medal favorite Canada’s strength is…their offense. Three of the best centers in the world — Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon — all rock the red and white, which will pose a problem for any defense, no matter who’s in goal.

👀 Catch the American men in action for the first time today at 3:10 p.m. ET against Latvia. Drop that puck.