The United States and Latvia face off in this Group C men's ice hockey matchup during the 2026 Winter Olympics on Thursday.

Columbus Blue Jackets teammates Zach Werenski and Elvis Merzlikins make Olympic debuts on opposite sides in commanding U.S. victory over Latvia.

Recapping from the final day of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which included a historic gold medal victory for the U.S. men's hockey team.

Latvia’s Teddy Blueger tried to make a pass out of his defensive zone, but the puck hit the skates of Nylander and went to the stick of Sweden teammate Joel Eriksson Ek, whose shot on goal hit Kempe’s right skate and went in for a 1-0 lead at 10:55.

Team USA's quest for its first Olympic men's hockey gold since 1980 began against Latvia at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, with the B/R staff on hand to deliver live analysis and reaction.

Two teams with differing expectations meet in the first round of the knockout stage, as Lucas Raymond and Sweden take on Latvia in the men’s playoff qualifiers at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Severance is coming off an outstanding NHL season in which he went 235-155-21 (plus $2,022). He entered the Olympic break on a 26-12 roll on NHL money-line picks this season, returning $1,326 for $100 players. Anyone following his hockey picks at their favorite sportsbooks could have seen huge returns.

It’s been quite the ride for Panthers rookie Sandis Vilmanis. On Jan. 10, the 2022 fifth-round pick made his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators. A month later, he was with Latvia at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

SportsLine's expert Mike Severance reveals his USA vs. Latvia picks for their Winter Olympics men's hockey matchup on Thursday

Elvis Merzlikins, a star NHL goalie for the Columbus Blue Jackets, is set to represent Team Latvia at the Olympics. He faces a tough opener against Team USA. Merzlikins sees this as a significant personal challenge to showcase his skills on the world's biggest stage.

Denmark and Latvia face off in this Group A men's ice hockey matchup during the 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday.