How lucky are we to have NHL players back at the Olympics? It was a magnificent quarterfinal slate, with three games going to overtime. These Olympic Games have been a great showcase for the sport of hockey. Below are the power rankings heading into the semifinals...
1. Canada
(Same position as Previous Power Ranking)
The overtime thriller against Czechia is exactly the type of win Canada needed. Canada coasted through the group stage at these Winter Games, but that changed in the quarterfinals, as Czechia pushed Canada to the limit. Canada faced elimination, down 3-2 in the third period. But the response was emphatic. Canada poured it on and found the equalizer late, then an individual moment of magic from Mitch Marner sealed the win in overtime. Rallying back from the brink as they did is a moment the team can build on — now they are battle-tested and carry momentum into the late stages. Doing it without captain Sidney Crosby down the stretch only made it more impressive. Canada will face Finland in the semifinal on Friday at 10:40 a.m. ET for the right the skate for gold.
2. United States
(Same position as previous Power Rankings)
It was another overtime moment of magic that pushed the U.S. through to the semis. Quinn Hughes had a quiet offensive start to the tournament, but his overtime winner sent Sweden home. The U.S. had the toughest quarterfinal matchup of the remaining teams as Sweden entered widely regarded as the third-best team in the field. The U.S. took a 1-0 lead in the second period and held it deep into regulation, but they were taken to overtime after giving up a late goal. There is no shame in a competitive game against Sweden, even if the U.S. could have closed it out earlier. The United States had not beaten Sweden in men's Olympic hockey since 1960. It could be a rallying moment for the U.S. At this point in the Games, the motto is simple: live to see another day. The U.S. did exactly that and therefore holds its position in these rankings. The U.S. will face Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday at 3:10 p.m. ET.
3. Slovakia
(Up two spots from previous Power Rankings)
Separating Slovakia from the team ranked below them was difficult, but the Slovakians move up here for a few reasons. First, they had the most comfortable quarterfinal victory, a comprehensive 6-2 win over Germany. Second, they defeated Finland 4-1 to open these Winter Games. The only concern is their roster on paper. The U.S. and Canada are entirely made up of NHL players. Finland’s roster includes only one player not in the NHL. Slovakia, meanwhile, has just seven NHL players, but is punching above its weight. Despite not scoring in the quarterfinals, Juraj Slafkovsky has been lights out this entire tournament with seven points in four games as he continues to make his case for MVP. He won MVP at the 2022 Beijing Games and has a chance to become the first player to win MVP at multiple men’s Olympic Games.
4. Finland
(Down one spot from previous Power Rankings)
Dropping Finland was difficult, but the Scandinavians struggled against Switzerland, needing a two-goal comeback to win in overtime. That was not the first concern — Finland also lost 4-1 to Slovakia to open these Games. On paper, Finland is stronger than Slovakia. However, there are questions about its consistency. The highs — beating Sweden and defeating Italy 11-0 — contrast with the lows against Slovakia and Switzerland. Consistency is the reason Finland drops to fourth in these rankings. The reason Finland faces gold medal favorite Canada in the semifinals is because of its inconsistencies, as it is seeded as the lowest-ranked team remaining. Beat Canada, and you can beat anyone.
