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American men’s hockey received a hero’s welcome upon its return to the United States on Monday after defeating Canada in the gold medal game of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The team partied in Miami that same night, and some traveled to Washington, DC, to visit President Donald Trump and attend his State of the Union address to the nation. These players received a standing ovation in the House chamber. The president announced that goaltender Connor Hellebuyck would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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On Wednesday he goes back to work.
The NHL will return to regular season action with the Stanley Cup playoffs on the horizon. Every player on Team USA will return to work at some point this week. Read below how fans can support players as the puck drops in the second half of the 2025-26 season.
Jeremy Swayman, Charlie McAvoy – Boston Bruins
Goaltender Jeremy Swayman and defenseman Charlie McAvoy return to the Boston Bruins this week. The team is 32-20-5 and is in fifth place in the Atlantic Division. The Bruins return to the ice on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 7 p.m. ET.
Jackson LaCome – Anaheim Ducks
Jackson LaCome was the only Anaheim Ducks player on the U.S. team this year. The team is in fourth place in the Pacific Division with a record of 30-23-3. The Ducks will welcome the Edmonton Oilers to California on Wednesday night at 10:30 pm ET.
Brady Tkachuk, Jake Sanderson – Ottawa Senators
Brady Tkachuk (7) of Team USA and Matthew Tkachuk #19 of Team USA celebrate after their game against Team Canada during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026. (Geoff Burke/Image Images)
Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson may play in Canada, but they return to their team in Ottawa, Canada’s capital. The Senators are 28-22-7 and are in sixth place in the Atlantic Division. Ottawa will play the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night at 7 pm ET.
Zach Werenski – Columbus Blue Jackets
Zach Werenski #8 and Dylan Larkin #21 of Team USA celebrate winning the gold medals after the team’s 2-1 overtime victory in the men’s gold medal match between Canada and the United States on Day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Zach Werenski assisted on Jack Hughes’ golden goal that gave the United States the gold medal against Canada. The Columbus Blue Jackets are in the thick of the playoff race and are in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division. They are 29-20-7. He will face his Team USA brothers on Thursday when the team plays the Bruins at 7 pm ET.
Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin – Vegas Golden Knights
Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin return to Las Vegas as gold medalists. The Vegas Golden Knights are atop the Pacific Division with a record of 27-16-14. The team will be in action Wednesday night at 10 pm ET against the Los Angeles Kings.
JT Miller, Vincent Trocheck – New York Rangers
There hasn’t been much to be happy about with the New York Rangers this season, as the team sits at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division with a record of 22-29-6. But fans will be cheering them on when they return to Madison Square Garden. The Rangers will welcome the Philadelphia Flyers to the Big Apple on Thursday night at 8 pm ET.
Matt Boldy, Brock Faber – Minnesota Wild
Matt Boldy, left, of the United States, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Matt Boldy and Brock Faber played crucial roles in the United States’ victory over Canada. Boldy scored Team USA’s first goal against Canada in the Olympics. The Minnesota Wild are 34-14-10 and are in second place in the Central Division. The Wild will return to action against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday at 9 pm ET.
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Matthew Tkachuk – Florida Panthers
Matthew Tkachuk has spent a lot of time in the White House over the past few years. He has been a big part of the Florida Panthers’ back-to-back Stanley Cup victories. Tkachuk and the Panthers return to action Thursday at 7 pm ET.
Chasing a third title, Florida will need a big push to make the playoffs this season. They sit in last place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 29-25-3.
Dylan Larkin – Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings will need Dylan Larkin to help maintain their position in the Atlantic Division. The Red Wings are third in the Atlantic Division with a record of 33-19-6. Detroit will play the Senators of Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson on Thursday at 7 pm ET.
Brock Nelson – Colorado Avalanche
Brock Nelson has helped keep the Colorado Avalanche atop the Central Division. The Avalanche are 37-9-9 this season. The team will face the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday night at 9 pm ET.
Jake Oettinger – Dallas Stars
Jake Oettinger was among the goalkeepers the United States could have used during the Olympics. He has been the goaltender for the Dallas Stars since the 2020-21 season. The Stars are 34-14-9 this season, ranking third in the Central Division.
Auston Matthews – Toronto Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews of the United States, right, celebrates after scoring his team’s fifth goal during a men’s ice hockey preliminary round game between the United States and Germany at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Auston Matthews is in the same boat as some of his other Team USA compatriots. He will return to Canada to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs. As one of the NHL’s best players, Matthews’ next task will be to end Canada’s Stanley Cup drought. The Maple Leafs are 27-21-9 and are just above the Florida Panthers in the Atlantic Division. Toronto will play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET
Connor Hellebuyck, Kyle Connor – Winnipeg Jets
The last few days have been a whirlwind for Connor Hellebuyck and Kyle Connor. They will return to Winnipeg, Canada, to join their Jets teammates for the remainder of the season. The Jets are 22-26-8 and are in seventh place in the Central Division.
Jake Guentzel – Tampa Bay Lightning
Jake Guentzel and the Tampa Bay Lightning are one of the best teams in the NHL. The Lightning have the best record in the Eastern Conference with a 37-14-4 record in the Atlantic Division. The Lightning will face the Maple Leafs on Wednesday night at 7:30 pm ET.
Tage Thompson – Buffalo Sabers
Tage Thompson will return to the Buffalo Sabres, who are in the middle of a fight in the Atlantic Division. The Sabers are 32-19-6 and are in fourth place in the Atlantic Division. The team will face the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night at 7 pm ET.
Jacob Slavin – Carolina Hurricanes
Jaccob Slavin and the Carolina Hurricanes are pushing to win the Metropolitan Division and get back into contention for the Stanley Cup title. The Hurricanes lead the Metropolitano with a record of 36-15-6. The Hurricanes face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night at 7 pm ET.
Jack Hughes – New Jersey Devils
Jack Hughes (86) of the United States poses with his teammates after a men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Jack Hughes may never have to pay for a beer again in New Jersey, or anywhere else in the United States, after scoring the game-winning goal against the Canadian team. It will take a lot of effort to get the team into playoff contention, as the team is 28-27-2 in the Metropolitan Division. The Devils play Wednesday night against the Thompson’s Sabers on Wednesday night at 7 pm ET.
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Clayton Keller – Utah Mammoth
Clayton Keller was the sole representative of the upstart Utah Mammoth team. The NHL’s newest team sits in fourth place in the Central Division with a record of 30-23-4. The Mammoth face the Avalanche at 9 pm ET on Wednesday.
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