Islanders Olympic Check In #1

After the completion of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, there was much uncertainty around the future of NHL players in the Olympics for a variety of reasons. With the Winter Olympics taking place in February, the NHL was forced to put a stoppage on their season for weeks due to their athletes participating in the Games. In return, the NHL received nothing but publicity of their athletes. The National Hockey League saw zero revenue from the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) efforts behind the Games.

Additionally, there was uproar in Sochi, when infamous Islanders centerman John Tavares tore his MCL and meniscus in a preliminary game against the Latvians, which caused Tavares to miss the remainder of the Islanders season. There were obvious issues with logistics for the NHL's involvement in Olympic Games.

In years leading up to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman bartered with the IIHF to allow the NHL to receive a portion of revenue in the Games. The IIHF held strong and forced Gary Bettman and the NHL to pull out of the 2018 Olympic Games on April 3, 2017.

Amidst the NHL's COVID troubles in the 2021-22 season, the NHL believed that if enough NHL games were played before the Games, the NHL could put together a plan for a tournament. These plans were short-lived as the NHL had countless positive Covid tests and were forced to call it off again.

It's been a dozen years since the Sochi Games when we last saw NHL players wear their nations' colors in the Olympics. Now in 2026, finally, the NHL and its players are back at the Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.

As noted earlier, John Tavares was the Islanders lone representative in Sochi in 2014. 12 years later, the Islanders have two forwards in Milan. Bo Horvat representing Canada and newly acquired Czech winger, Ondrej Palat, is there as well.

Horvat and Palat, linemates in Elmont, were lined up across from each other when their 2026 Olympics got underway yesterday.

With a Canadian team featuring the likes of Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Cale Makar, the Great White North were presumable favorites in the tournament. Despite the sizeable talent disparity between Canada and Czechia, the Czechs held on for the first 19 minutes and 54 seconds of the opening Olympic effort. That was until 19-year-old Canadian superstar, Macklin Celebrini, beat Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal just as the opening period came to a close.

That goal would take a lot out of the Czech's sails. Mitch Marner would set up Vegas teammate Mark Stone for a back door tap in early in the middle frame. Then, New York Islander forward Bo Horvat broke in on a breakaway in the 2nd period and beat Dostal through his wickets on the backhand. It was Horvat's first Olympic goal. The Canadians would then pile it on the Czech's with goals from Nathan MacKinnon and Nick Suzuki in the 3rd period. It was a 5-0 final. Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped all 26 shots he faced from the Czechs, including two shots from Ondrej Palat.

The Americans took on the Latvian's after the completion of the Canadian game. Islanders legend Brock Nelson, now a 3rd generation Olympian, scored two goals and had a third called back. Incredible stuff from the Warroad, Minnesota native in his Olympic debut.

On Friday morning, Ondrej Palat and the Czechs bested the French 6-3. Palat assisted David Pastrnak's on his 2nd period goal. It was Palat's first point of the tournament. After the sheet was cleared, the Canadiens dueled with the Swiss. Connor McDavid got the scoring started for Canada and the onslaught was on. Bo Horvat was held off the scoresheet but did take a minor penalty for high-sticking. Pius Suter scored the lone Swiss goal. It was a 5-1 final. The Americans are off until Saturday when they face the Danes.