How to Watch NHL Players in 2026 Olympics: Streaming Guide for Fans

The much-anticipated return of NHL players to the 2026 Olympics in Milan is just around the corner, starting on February 11th. This will be the first time since 2014 in Sochi that we’ll see these top athletes competing for gold on the Olympic stage. Get ready for a thrilling best-on-best tournament involving 12 of the world’s hockey powerhouses, unlike anything we’ve seen since Sochi.

Last year, the NHL treated us to the exciting 4 Nations Face-Off, a smaller tournament featuring just four nations that showcased spectacular hockey and fierce national pride. While the United States came out on top in a fight-filled round-robin game against Canada, the Canadians got their revenge with an intense overtime win in the championship game. But Milan will be a whole different ball game. The Olympic tournament follows the rulebook of the International Ice Hockey Federation, where any major penalty for fighting comes with harsh consequences like an automatic game misconduct.

Expect nothing short of phenomenal, high-energy play as NHL players make their Olympic comeback for only the sixth time in history. From Nagano in 1998 to Sochi in 2014, we’ve seen some unforgettable moments, with countries like Czechia, Canada, and Sweden taking home the gold. After missing out on Pyeongchang in 2018, the players fought hard to secure their spot in the 2022 and 2026 Games. Unfortunately, the pandemic threw a wrench into the plans for Beijing in 2022, but this time around, the NHL and its players are in sync and ready to shine on the international stage.

The schedule for Team USA in Group C is as follows:
– Thurs, Feb. 12: USA vs. Latvia at 3:10 p.m. ET
– Sat, Feb. 14: USA vs. Denmark at 3:10 p.m. ET
– Sun, Feb. 15: USA vs. Germany at 3:10 p.m. ET

The rest of the groups include powerhouse teams like Canada, Czechia, Finland, Sweden, and more, all vying for a shot at Olympic glory. Due to political tensions, Russia and Belarus will not be participating in Milan-Cortina.

For viewers in the U.S., NBC is the go-to broadcast partner for all Olympic events. Coverage will be spread across NBC, CNBC, and USA Network, with live streams available on various digital platforms like Peacock and the NBC Sports app.

As for the players to keep an eye on, the U.S. team boasts stars like Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, who dazzled fans at the 4 Nations Faceoff. With a roster of talented athletes representing their countries, including top-notch players like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and David Pastrnak, the competition is sure to be fierce and exciting.

So, should we anticipate another thrilling Canada/U.S. gold-medal showdown? With the unpredictability of single-game playoff eliminations and the potential for goalies to steal the show, anything is possible. Keep an eye on Sweden’s strong trio of netminders and get ready for some unforgettable moments as NHL players light up the Olympic ice in Milan.