The United States men’s hockey team is looking for its first Olympic gold medal since the “Miracle on Ice” team won in Lake Placid in 1980.
The Americans were drawn into Group C alongside Germany, Latvia and Denmark. The game against the Leon Draisaitl-led German squad is the only threatening matchup on paper.
First place in the group stage would send the Americans straight into the quarterfinals. Sweden, Canada and Finland are the other top contenders to win gold in Milan.
Team USA’s roster is headlined by Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, Quinn and Jack Hughes, Auston Matthews and Tage Thompson.
The lineup combinations will be known once the Americans step foot in Milan. The NHL concludes its pre-Olympic schedule on Thursday.
We should expect to see the Tkachuk brothers together in some capacity, as well as New York Rangers teammates J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck.
A top defense pairing of Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber makes a load of sense too because they play together with the Minnesota Wild.
The expectation is to win the gold, but at minimum the Americans should reach the semifinals and be in a position to play for a medal.
Prediction: Loses Gold Medal Game to Canada.