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

The GIST: As the women’s hockey preliminary round wraps up today, the juggernaut Canadian 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.

🇨🇦 Gold or bust for Team Canada: That’s par for the course for this hockey-loving nation, who’ll be backing one of the best skating groups Canada’s ever assembled. It starts up front, where a trio of generational talents — decorated captain Sidney Crosby, the inimitable Connor McDavid, and 19-year-old phenom Macklin Celebrini — headlines absolutely stacked lines.

• But this roster isn’t infallible: Canada’s biggest weakness is between the pipes, and that’s where their archrivals will thrive. American goalie Connor Hellebuyck is the reigning Hart Memorial Trophy winner (awarded to the NHL MVP) and a bona fide brick wall.

👀 Catch the Canadian men in action for the first time today at 10:40 a.m. ET against Czechia. Drop that puck.