The Men's Hockey at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games is officially underway [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/2026-winter-olympics-crosby-notches-pair-of-helpers-in-canada-s-win-over-czechia], and NHL players have taken the ice for the first time in 12 years. That includes Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins] Sidney Crosby [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/2026-winter-olympics-crosby-notches-pair-of-helpers-in-canada-s-win-over-czechia], Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Artūrs Šilovs. And, unfortunately for Šilovs, things didn't start off on the right foot for his team. On Thursday, Team USA beat Team Latvia, 5-1, to open preliminary round play for both teams. Šilovs entered the game in the third period in place of goaltender Elvis Merzļikins, who surrendered four goals on 32 shots in the first two frames. The Penguins' 24-year-old netminder gave up one goal on six Team USA shots. USA forward Brady Tkachuk opened the scoring five and a half minutes into the game with a snipe from the slot to give the Americans a 1-0 lead. Team USA had disallowed goals after that - one for offside and one for goaltender interference - which were both coach's challenges won by Latvia. Before the end of the first, Latvia did get on the board to tie the score at 1-1, when forward Renārs Krastenbergs put home a rebound at the net-front. But it all unraveled for Latvia in the middle frame. 2026 Winter Olympics: Crosby Notches Pair Of Helpers In Canada's Win Over Czechia [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/fa85244a-40e4-4fac-bd77-53a7d8f5e1ff.jpeg] 2026 Winter Olympics: Crosby Notches Pair Of Helpers In Canada's Win Over Czechia People across the hockey world are pretty accustomed to seeing <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' captain Sidney Crosby take things to a whole other level during international play. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/2026-winter-olympics-crosby-notches-pair-of-helpers-in-canada-s-win-over-czechia] Midway through the second, Brock Nelson made a nice move to beat Merzļikins five-hole and restore the USA lead. Six minutes later, Tage Thompson added a power play goal for Team USA to make it 3-1, and Nelson scored his second of the game two minutes later to put the U.S. up by three. Šilovs's only blemish in the third period came on an Auston Matthews power play goal from the slot, a knuckling shot through a bit of a screen. Latvia's will next play Leon Draisaitl and Team Germany at 6:10 a.m. ET on Saturday before a tilt against Denmark on Sunday. 2026 Winter Olympics: Karlsson, Rakell Held Off Scoresheet In Sweden's 4-1 Loss To Finland [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/d82e82cd-0d60-4430-a850-db5e6871b793.jpeg] 2026 Winter Olympics: Karlsson, Rakell Held Off Scoresheet In Sweden's 4-1 Loss To Finland Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell were both held to zero points during Friday's Finland-Sweden game. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/2026-winter-olympics-karlsson-rakell-held-off-scoresheet-in-sweden-s-4-1-loss-to-finland] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwquDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
