Sabres at The Winter Olympics | News, stats and updates

While most of the Buffalo Sabres will enjoy a couple weeks off in February, three of them will be traveling to Italy for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, American forward Tage Thompson and Finnish goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will each help their countries compete for gold at The Winter Olympics – the first to feature NHL talent since 2014 in Sochi.

• Enter to win a signed jersey from each Sabres Olympian

Bookmark this page to follow each player’s performance when the games get underway Feb. 11.

All games will be available on NBC's networks and streaming on Peacock.

For now, here’s more on those Sabres’ selections to their national teams, as well as the full men’s hockey schedule at Milano Cortina 2026.

Rasmus Dahlin

Buffalo’s captain was announced in June as one of Sweden’s first six roster choices. He’s the only one of the Sabres trio with prior Olympic experience, having played two games in Pyeongchang in 2018 – months before being drafted first overall.

Dahlin also represented Sweden at last February’s 4 Nations Face-Off, scoring one goal in three games while playing with childhood idols like Erik Karlsson and Victor Hedman. That experience had Dahlin dreaming of an appearance on the best-on-best Winter Olympics stage, and now he’ll get that chance.

• Read: 4 Nations ‘a dream come true’ for Dahlin

Tage Thompson

The United States is leaving some elite forwards at home, but Thompson’s NHL track record, plus his golden goal in overtime versus Switzerland at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, helped earn him a spot on the Milano Cortina 2026 roster.

“When I heard [Team USA general manager Bill Guerin] say I was on the team, just kind of a big sigh of relief, excitement, a bunch of different emotions going through you at the same time,” he said. “Really cool. It’s a goal I’ve worked towards for a very long time and dreamt of as a kid. For it to be coming true now is pretty special.”

• Read: Thompson reacts to Team USA roster selection

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

By most metrics, Luukkonen ranks among the best of the NHL’s seven Finnish goaltenders this season. He didn’t dress for a game at the 4 Nations Face-Off last year, but his 2025-26 numbers – aided by a strong December – suggest he can win some playing time from Olympic teammates Juuse Saros or Kevin Lankinen.

Luukkonen grew up watching The Winter Olympics and can’t wait for his opportunity to perform under that international spotlight.

• Read: Luukkonen talks Olympic selection, Finland’s talented roster

“I think a lot of it, even playing hockey in the NHL, how big of a privilege that is, and now getting to go to the Olympics, it’s huge,” he said. “I’m just really, really excited.”

Full schedule

Wednesday, Feb. 11

Group B
Slovakia vs Finland, 10:40 a.m. – Santagiulia Arena
Sweden vs. Italy, 3:10 p.m. – Santagiulia Arena

Thursday, Feb. 12

Group A
Switzerland vs. France, 6:10 a.m. – Santagiulia Arena
Czechia vs. Canada, 10:40 a.m. – Santagiulia Arena

Group C
Latvia vs. United States, 3:10 p.m. – Santagiulia Arena
Germany vs. Denmark, 3:10 p.m. – Rho Arena

Friday, Feb. 13

Group B
Finland vs. Sweden, 6:10 a.m. – Santaguilia Arena
Italy vs. Slovakia, 6:10 a.m. – Rho Arena

Group A
France vs. Czechia, 10:40 a.m. – Santagiulia Arena
Canada vs. Switzerland, 3:10 p.m. – Santagiulia Arena

Saturday, Feb. 14

Group B
Sweden vs Slovakia, 6:10 a.m. – Santagiulia Arena
Finland vs. Italy, 10:40 a.m. – Santagiulia Arena

Group C
Germany vs. Latvia, 6:10 a.m. – Rho Arena
USA vs. Denmark, 3:10 p.m. – Santagiulia Arena

Sunday, Feb. 15

Group A
Switzerland vs. Czechia, 6:10 a.m. – Santagiulia Arena
Canada vs. France, 10:40 a.m. – Santagiulia Arena

Group C
USA vs. Germany, 3:10 p.m. – Santagiulia Arena
Denmark vs. Latvia, 3:10 p.m. – Rho Arena

Tuesday Feb. 17

Qualification playoff, 6:10 a.m. – Santagiulia Arena
Qualification playoff, 6:10 a.m. – Rho Arena
Qualification playoff, 10:40 a.m. – Santagiulia Arena
Qualification playoff, 3:10 p.m. – Santagiulia Arena

Wednesday, Feb. 18

Quarterfinal, 6:10 a.m. – Santagiulia Arena
Quarterfinal, 8:10 a.m. – Rho Arena
Quarterfinal, 10:40 a.m. – Santagiulia Arena
Quarterfinal, 3:10 p.m – Santagiulia Arena

Friday, Feb. 20

Semifinal, 10:40 a.m. – Santagiulia Arena
Semifinal, 3:10 p.m. – Santagiulia Arena

Saturday, Feb. 21

Bronze medal game, 2:40 p.m. – Santagiulia Arena

Sunday, Feb. 22

Gold medal game, 8:10 a.m. – Santagiulia Arena