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Tim Stutzle had two goals for Team Germany, Brady Tkachuk scored and Jake Sanderson was solid for Team USA, and Denmark’s Lars Eller played his first ever game at a best-on-best tournament.
Published Feb 12, 2026  • Last updated 50 minutes ago  • 3 minute read
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Brady Tkachuk of Team United States celebrates after scoring a goal in the first period of his team’s game against Latvia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 12, 2026. Photo by Andreas Rentz /Getty ImagesArticle content
Four Ottawa Senators took the ice on Day 2 of the men’s hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina.
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It was the first time playing at the Winter Games for Brady Tkachuk, Jake Sanderson, Tim Stutzle and Lars Eller.
Here’s everything you need to know about how each of them fared on Thursday.
Brady Tkachuk (USA)
Just like everyone anticipated, Tkachuk began his Olympic career with a bang.
On his first shift, he took a run at Latvia’s Uvis Balinskis, laying a thunderous hit in the corner.
On his second shift, Tkachuk took a pass from brother Matthew Tkachuk on the regroup into the offensive zone and ripped a wrist shot off the right post and in for the game’s opening goal.
Unsurprisingly, Brady and Matthew had a ton of chemistry on the first line with centre Jack Eichel.
Tkachuk was simply dominant. He had a point-blank shot from the slot nearing the end of the first period that Matthew nearly cleaned up on the rebound.
In a matter of 15 seconds midway through the second period, Tkachuk forced a Latvian turnover with a huge hit on Janis Jaks, got the puck back for a Grade A scoring chance at the netfront, and then capped off the play with a wraparound while falling to the ice.
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Tkachuk finished with one goal, three shots and a plus-1 rating in 15:33 of ice time. The United States defeated Latvia 5-1.
Jake Sanderson (USA)
Sanderson’s role with Team USA will be drastically different compared to that of his with the Senators.
He is not quarterbacking either power-play unit for the Americans, he is not killing penalties, and he is playing with Zach Werenski on the third pairing.
That’s just how good Team USA’s D corps is.
Sanderson played pretty much all of his minutes at 5-on-5, and he was solid against Latvia’s top line.
He blocked a shot late in the second period, and started the rush that led to Brock Nelson’s 4-1 goal.
Sanderson finished with two shots in 16:28 of ice time.
Here’s when you can catch Tkachuk and Sanderson next:
USA vs. Denmark — Saturday, Feb. 14 at 3:10 p.m. (TSN)
Tim Stutzle of Team Germany celebrates after scoring a goal in the second period of his team’s game against Denmark at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Photo by Jamie Squire /Getty ImagesTim Stutzle (Germany)
The greatest German hockey team ever assembled was led by their stars on Thursday against Denmark.
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After Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers) got the party started with the 1-0 goal, Stutzle went to work.
The 24-year-old, falling back on one knee, one-timed a centring pass from JJ Peterka (Utah Mammoth) glove side on Frederik Andersen (Carolina Hurricanes) to make it 2-1.
Minutes later, Stutzle’s saucer pass intended for Draisaitl deflected in off of the skate of a Danish defender for the 3-1 marker.
Midway through the second period, it looked like Stutzle was getting freezing gel applied to his left hand by a trainer, as he grimaced on the bench.
Stutzle finished with two goals, three shots and a plus-1 rating in 16:49 of ice time. Germany defeated Denmark 3-1.
Here’s when you can catch Stutzle next:
Germany vs. Latvia — Saturday, Feb. 14 at 6:10 a.m. (TSN)Lars Eller (Denmark)
At 36 years old, and one of the greatest Danish players of all time, you may be surprised to hear that this is Eller’s first Olympics.
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That’s because this is the first time that Denmark has qualified for a best-on-best tournament.
Eller committed a Sens-on-Sens crime in the first period, going for a hit on Stutzle, but swiping the German’s feet with his left skate and taking a tripping penalty.
Eller and Stutzle would meet again soon after, lining up to take the faceoff at the beginning of the second frame.
Eller finished with four shots and a minus-1 rating in 17:04 of ice time in his team’s loss.
Mads Sogaard (Denmark)
Sogaard dressed to back up Andersen on Thursday, which makes it even more likely that the Sens’ fourth-string goalie will start a preliminary-round game.
Here’s when you can catch Eller and Sogaard next:
USA vs. Denmark — Saturday, Feb. 14 at 3:10 p.m. (TSN)Nikolas Matinpalo (Finland)
Matinpalo was the lone defenceman in the press box for Finland’s 4-1 loss to Slovakia on Wednesday.
Considering the upset in the opening game, expect Matinpalo to draw in next game.
Here’s when you can catch Matinpalo next:
Finland vs. Sweden — Friday, Feb. 13 at 6:10 a.m. (TSN)
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