Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski will play two more games with the United States at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, and the stakes of the second one will be determined by the first in a Feb. 20 semifinal matchup against Slovakia.
Milano Cortina 2026: Werenski helps U.S. down Sweden in Milano Cortina 2026 quarterfinal
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A win over Slovakia sends the U.S. into the gold medal game Feb. 22 against the winner of a Feb. 20 semifinal pitting top-seeded Canada against No. 4 seed Finland, while a semifinal loss for the U.S. puts Werenski into the Feb. 21 bronze medal game against the Canada/Finland loser.
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CBJ’s Zach Werenski at 2026 Olympics
Zach Werenski of United States during training at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, Milan, Italy on February 08, 2026.
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CBJ’s Zach Werenski at 2026 Olympics
Zach Werenski of United States during training at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, Milan, Italy on February 08, 2026.
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CBJ’s Zach Werenski at 2026 Olympics
U.S. Olympians Jeremy Swayman, Zach Werenski, Charles McAvoy Jr and Jake Oettinger pose for a photo at the Team USA Welcome Experience at the 206 Milan-Cortina Olympics on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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CBJ’s Zach Werenski at 2026 Olympics
U.S. Olympians Jack Eichel, Jacob Slavin, Matt Boldy and Zach Werenski attend the Team USA Welcome Experience at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics on February 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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CBJ’s Zach Werenski at 2026 Olympics
Brock Faber #14 and Zach Werenski #8 of Team United States take part during training on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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CBJ’s Zach Werenski at 2026 Olympics
Quinn Hughes #43 and Zach Werenski #8 of Team United States participate during training on day three of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 09, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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CBJ’s Zach Werenski at 2026 Olympics
Zach Werenski #8 of Team United States takes part during training on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
After easily winning its group in the preliminary round, the U.S. earned a bye into the quarterfinals and eked past Sweden on Feb. 18 in a 3-on-3 overtime decided on defenseman Quinn Hughes’ goal. Slovakia also won its group in the preliminary round and routed Germany 6-2 in the only quarterfinal game that didn’t go to overtime, so the U.S. has another tough matchup in store.
Werenski has contributed two points in four games with a goal and assist to help the U.S. defeat Latvia, Denmark and Germany in the preliminary round before downing Sweden, which eliminated Latvia with a 5-1 victory Feb. 17 in a playoff qualification matchup against Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins.
Zach Werenski #8 of Team United States shoots the puck against Moritz Seider #53 of Team Germany in the second period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Germany on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 15, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
The puck is scheduled to drop for the U.S. and Slovakia at 3:10 p.m. ET on Feb. 20 in Milan, Italy.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Zach Werenski #8 of Team United States and Gabriel Landeskog #92 of Team Sweden compete for the puck in the first period during the Men’s Quarterfinals Playoff match between the United States and Sweden on day 12 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
How to watch Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, United States play Slovakia at Milano Cortina 2026?
The game will be broadcast live on NBC at 3:10 p.m. ET on Feb. 18 and re-air at either 6 p.m. or 11 p.m. ET on USA Network. The broadcast will also be livestreamed on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com.
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Stream the Olympics on Peacock.
Zach Werenski #8 of Team United States walks to the ice before the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Germany on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 15, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
Werenski leads all NHL defensemen in goals (20) and points per game (1.19) while trailing Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard by just one point for the overall defensive scoring lead.
Regardless, he’s been relegated to the third pairing by a U.S. coaching staff led by Mike Sullivan (New York Rangers) that has given Hughes, by far, the biggest role and most ice time. Werenski diesn’t even have a set defense partner in this tournament, splitting his shifts between Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson and Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin.
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Sullivan and his assistants, including former Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella, had finally started to skate Werenski sporadically with Hughes (Minnesota Wild) on the top pairing and they thrived in those shifts against Denmark and Germany. Against Sweden, that didn’t happen and the U.S. found itself clinging to a 1-0 lead that evaporated on a tying goal by Mike Zibanejad with 1:31 left in regulation.
Hughes and Werenski playing together has sparked good possession numbers and scoring chances, including Werenski’s goal against Germany for a 1-0 lead late in the first period Feb. 15 to conclude the preliminary round with a 5-1 win. It’s baffling why Sullivan, Tortorella and the other assistant, Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes don’t keep them together as the team’s top pairing.
Werenski has still impressed in the role he’s getting, acting as a calming influence for the U.S. whenever he’s on the ice, so there’s a chance he’ll score or create a key goal that keeps the U.S. hopes of winning a gold medal going.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How to watch Zach Werenski play Slovakia at Milano Cortina 2026