The women delivered the classic we expected. Now it’s up to the Canadian and American men to set up another must-see gold medal hockey game.
The United States and Canada are a win away from clinching a second North American hockey duel on the Olympic ice in Milan, with both teams playing in Friday’s semifinals at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
The best-on-best tournament at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics has been everything hockey fans could hope for, with Wednesday’s quarterfinals producing three overtime games out of four.
What could the men possibly give us for an encore? In another action-packed day at the Winter Olympics, that’s just one of many intriguing storylines.
Top events to watch
Ice hockey: Men’s semifinals
Canada v. Finland times: 10:40 a.m. ET, 4:40 p.m. in Italy
United States vs. Slovakia times: 3:10 p.m. ET, 9:10 p.m. in Italy
TV: Peacock
What to watch for: The NHL has sent its best to the Olympics five times since the 1998 Games in Nagano, with the Canadians and Americans meeting twice in the gold medal match to determine the top of the podium. A much-anticipated round three will happen only if both teams can survive the semifinal round. And that’s hardly a given. Both Canada (4-3 vs. Czech Republic) and the U.S. (2-1 vs. Sweden) needed overtime goals just to reach the semifinals, as did the Canadians’ semifinal opponent, Finland (3-2 vs. Switzerland). Only Slovakia cruised in the quarterfinals with a 6-2 win over Germany, and now the Americans await.
Speedskating: Women’s 1,500m final
Times: 10:30 a.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. in Italy
TV: Peacock
What to watch for: Japan’s Miho Takagi is the world record-holder at this distance and has claimed silver in the event at each of the last two Olympics. With reigning world champ Joy Beune unable to qualify at the Dutch trials, Takagi is the favorite to win. If she does, Takagi will add to a Milan Cortina haul that already includes three bronze medals (she has 10 medals for her career). Dutch skater Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong may be Takagi’s greatest roadblock, but 37-year-old American Brittany Bowe will also challenge after placing fourth in the 1,000.
Curling: Norway vs. Switzerland in men’s bronze medal game
Times: 1:05 p.m. ET, 7:05 p.m. in Italy
TV: Peacock
What to watch for: The Norwegian and Swiss men will slide their stones for a piece of Olympic hardware after falling in the semifinals to Canada and Great Britain. Norway hasn’t medaled in men’s curling since the 2010 Games in Vancouver, when the Norwegians took home silver after losing the gold medal match to host Canada. Switzerland is going for its fourth bronze medal since the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, and first since PyeongChang in 2018.
Curling: Women’s semifinals
Times: 8:05 a.m. ET, 2:05 p.m. in Italy
TV: Peacock
What to watch for: The United States can clinch its first Olympic medal in women’s curling with a win over Switzerland, one day after beating the second-ranked Swiss in dramatic fashion. Meanwhile, Canada looks to take down curling power Sweden in the other semifinal at the same time. The Swedes have medaled in five straight Olympics, including a bronze medal in Beijing in 2022, and are 7-2 in these Games. They lost to Rachel Homan’s Canadian team in the preliminary rounds, but Anna Hasselborg is out for revenge and a shot at her second gold medal after leading Sweden to the top of the podium in 2018.
Freestyle skiing: Men’s halfpipe
Times: 1:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. in Italy for final
TV: Peacock
What to watch for: The final event of the night at Livigno Snow Park should be a good one. American Alex Ferreira has won silver and bronze in this event at the last two Olympics and is aiming to win the last of the set. Fellow American Nick Goepper won slopestyle medals in each of the past three Olympics, and now will look to add a halfpipe medal to his collection. World Cup points leader Finley Melville Ives of New Zealand may be the best of the bunch at just 19 years old.