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ESPN staff
For the first time since 2014, NHL players from the United States will be competing at the Olympic Games.
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Team USA’s opening matchup of the 2026 Milan Cortina Games is against Latvia, a team that features several current and former NHL players as well.
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 1-2 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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Follow along live for all the top moments from Thursday’s game.
