![\"Kaapo](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/kaapo-kakko-84-team-finland-120793942.jpg\")
Kaapo Kakko #84 of Team Finland participates during training on day three of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Getty Images<\/p>\n
Seattle also went into the 20-day hiatus in playoff position, sitting in third place in the Pacific Division with a .563 point percentage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kakko rotated with Oliver Kapanen on Finland\u2019s third line alongside Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen, who the 24-year-old is rooming with in the Olympic Village.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember when I was watching, when I was young, the days Team Finland played I was just waiting for the game and getting ready,\u201d he recalled after wrapping up practice. \u201cLike, all the people were just talking about the games and how they are going to do. You kind of feel, I don\u2019t know, pressure, but I think it\u2019s more exciting when everybody\u2019s watching. Thinking about the games and asking how you guys are doing here. My friends and family are asking how it is at the Olympics. So it\u2019s been fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through two days of practice, it looks like Team USA plans to keep the line of Jack Eichel between the Tkachuk brothers that it ended 4 Nations with. Otherwise, things look in flux.<\/p>\n
Matt Boldy, a third-line staple during 4 Nations, skated with Auston Matthews and Jake Guentzel on Tuesday with Kyle Connor, Dylan Larkin and Tage Thompson making up the third line. The fourth featured some rotation but currently appears likely that Brock Nelson will play center.<\/p>\n
![\"USA](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-matt-boldy-united-states-120726491.jpg\")
Matt Boldy of United States and Jeremy Swayman of United States during training. REUTERS<\/p>\n
Neither Charlie McAvoy nor Jack Hughes, both of whom were injured leading up to the Olympics, are expected to be kept out of action here. McAvoy has skated next to Quinn Hughes in practice, though Sullivan has warned not to read into practice alignment.<\/p>\n
The big lineup news through two days out of Team Canada is the second line, where Connor McDavid is centering Tom Wilson and Macklin Celebrini. The 19-year-old superstar for the Sharks is being thrust into the cauldron as the second-youngest player at these Olympic Games, behind only Alberts Smits of Latvia, a likely lottery pick in this summer\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n
2026 WINTER OLYMPICS<\/p>\n
\u201cHe may be 19 years old, like his physical body is, but his acumen for the game<\/a> is not,\u201d Canada coach Jon Cooper told reporters Sunday. \u201cHe\u2019s wise beyond his years. And so I can\u2019t sit here and look at him as this kid. \u2026 If he\u2019s shown us anything and all of us in this NHL year, he\u2019s a pretty special player.\u201d<\/p>\n