MILAN — It’s Friday, Feb. 20 at the 2026 Winter Olympics and we’re underway with another day of competition at the Milano Cortina Games.
If Friday’s action can match the excitement we saw Thursday – with the USA women’s hockey team and Alysa Liu both winning gold – we will be lucky Olympic viewers.
Among the action to keep an eye on Friday: the U.S. men’s hockey team takes on Slovakia in the Olympic tournament semifinals, while Canada takes on Finland.
USA TODAY Sports has a team of more than a dozen journalists on the ground in Italy to bring you behind the scenes with Team USA and keep you up to date with every medal win, big moment and triumphant finish. Get our Chasing Gold newsletter in your inbox every morning and join our WhatsApp channel to get the latest updates right in your texts.
USA men’s hockey scores two goals in 19 seconds
It’s back-to-back goals in 19 seconds for the United States against Slovakia in men’s hockey. It was first Jack Hughes who extended the lead to 3-0 before Jack Eichel pushed it to 4-0 in the second period.
Corrine Stoddard wins bronze in women’s short track
Corrine Stoddard takes home bronze in the women’s short track 1500-meter race. It is the first Olympic medal in short track by an American since 2010. It’s also Team USA’s 29th medal won at the 2026 Winter Olympics, which is the second most, only behind Norway.
Corrine Stoddard advances to gold medal race in women’s short track
Team USA’s Corrine Stoddard is on to the gold medal race for the women’s short track 1500 meters. Stoddard finished second in the third semifinal with a time of 2:21.042.
USA men’s hockey leads Slovakia 2-0 after first period
Dylan Larkin put USA on the board 4:19 into the game, scoring his second goal in two games. Slovakia played hard, but the USA took a 2-0 lead with 40.9 seconds on the clock, with Tage Thompson scoring on a power play. The USA has looked fast and strong, and has an 11-8 edge in shots. – Helene St. James, Cydney Henderson and Mike Brehm
Team USA in third place of two-woman bobsled after qualifying runs
The Americans are in contention for an Olympic medal in the two-woman bobsled event after Friday’s qualifying runs, with the duo of Kallie Armbruster Humphries and Jasmine Jones currently in third place. Team USA also has the duo of Kaysha Love and Azaria Hill in fifth place.
Competition resumes on Saturday with Runs 3 and Run 4 at 6 a.m. ET in Cortina.
Johnny Gaudreau’s family in attendance for USA-Slovakia men’s hockey semifinal
The family of the late Johnny Gaudreau is in Milan for the game. Team USA has his jersey in the locker room, just as they did in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Zach Werenski, who played with Gaudreau on the Blue Jackets, set up the opening goal. Gaudreau and brother Matthew died in 2024 when they were bicycling in New Jersey and were hit by a driver. – Helene St. James, Cydney Henderson and Mike Brehm
Dylan Larking puts USA men’s hockey on board
Dylan Larkin gets the USA’s opening goal for the second game in a row. Beautiful up-ice by Zach Werenski to Larkin, who splits the defense and beats Samuel Hlavaj. – Helene St. James, Cydney Henderson and Mike Brehm
Click here to view live updates of USA vs. Slovakia in men’s hockey.
USA men’s hockey almost underway vs Slovakia
USA men’s hockey looks to secure its spot in Sunday’s gold medal game against Canada with a win over Slovakia in the second semifinal of the day. Puck drop between the United States and Slovakia is just a few seconds away.
Click here to view live updates of USA vs. Slovakia in men’s hockey.
Alex Ferreira finally wins Olympic gold medal in men’s freeski halfpipe
Just before the Olympics, American freestyle skier Alex Ferreira told media in Milan, ‘It’s time to complete the set.’
Ferreira, 31, won silver in Pyeongchang in 2018 and bronze in Beijing in 2022 in the men’s freeski halfpipe. Clearly, gold was the goal in Italy.
And as it turned out, Ferreira did it. He snatched the gold medal Friday, Feb. 20 at Livigno Snow Park in one of the last events of these Olympics. His high score of 93.75 came on his final run, edging Estonia’s Henry Sildaru by 0.75. Read more here. – Gentry Estes
Americans move into medal contention in men’s free ski halfpipe
That’s more like it for the U.S. men’s free ski halfpipe team.
Birk Irving moved into first place momentarily with a healthy dose of switchback skiing in the second of three finals runs. Hunter Hess went big and lost a ski on his fourth jump (he was OK). Alex Ferreira showed why he’s a two-time medalist in this event and laid down a gorgeous run to propel himself into first (90.50).
Estonia’s Henry Sildaru upped that with one of the biggest tricks this halfpipe has seen on his fourth hit and the judges rewarded him with a 92.75. Nick Goepper of the USA moved into podium contention with a 89.0. But Canada’s Brendan McKay seemed primed to be right there with the rest of the heavy hitters but fell on his final, perhaps easiest, trick. – Chris Bumbaca
Slow start for U.S. in men’s freestyle skiing halfpipe
Not a good first run for Team USA and its four members in the men’s halfpipe finals.
Each of the quartet endured miscues at some point during their first of three attempts, and their scores reflected those issues. But the entire field struggled, with 76.50 standing as the highest score heading into the second run down the halfpipe. The conventional wisdom indicates the medalists score in the 90s.
Hunter Hess couldn’t quite land his final jump attempt of his first run. American Alex Ferreira, who won the Olympic bronze medal in 2018 and a silver medal in 2022 in the men’s halfpipe, sits in third place despite a score of 49.50 during his initial run of 2026. – Chris Bumbaca
Men’s hockey: Canada completes dramatic Olympic comeback
Canada is headed to the gold medal game in men’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but the favorites entering this Olympic hockey tournament sure cut it close again in their pursuit of a gold medal for the first time since 2014.
After Canada fell behind 2-0 to Finland playing without captain Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon took a cross-ice feed from Connor McDavid with two seconds remaining on a late power-play to score the game-winning goal with 35.2 seconds remaining in the third period of Friday’s first semifinal game.
The goal was confirmed after a challenge by Finland, which had been called for high sticking after MacKinnon nearly scored earlier during Canada’s frantic charge.
Canada then held off the final Finnish attempts to secure its 3-2 victory. Sam Reinhart and Shea Theodore had the Canadians’ first two goals of the comeback. Canada also trailed in the third period of its overtime win against Czechia in the quarterfinal round.
Canada will face the winner of Friday’s semifinal game between the United States and Slovakia in Sunday’s gold medal game.
Connor McDavid sets NHL-era Olympic record in Canada vs. Finland
Canada has erased a 2-0 deficit to tie its Olympic men’s hockey semifinal against Finland, and the comeback started with a little history.
Canada’s Connor McDavid picked up an assist on Sam Reinhart’s second-period goal in the semifinals to give him 12 points in Milan. That breaks the record of 11 held by Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu in an Olympics using NHL players. The Finnish players did that in 2006.
Shea Theodore got the game-tying goal for the Canadians midway through the third period and Canada has mostly dominated play since after the first intermission. But the score is deadlocked at 2 with a spot in the Olympic gold medal game on the line.
No medal for Brittany Bowe in final Olympic speedskating race
Bowe finished in fourth in the 1,500 meters on Friday, Feb. 20. Her time of 1:54.70 was 0.61 seconds behind gold medal winner Antoinette Rijpma-deJohn of the Netherlands, who pulled off a huge upset to win. Norway’s Ragne Wiklund took silver (1:54.15), and Canada’s Valerie Maltais won bronze (154:40.).
Bowe previously won bronze in the 1,000 meters in Beijing and bronze in the team pursuit at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang.
Bowe, who turns 38 next week, had already said 2026 Milano Cortina would be her last Olympics. Though she is still among the best in the world — she finished third in the World Cup standings in the 1,000 meters this season and was fifth in the 1,500 meters — she said she’s excited to do other things in life, including getting married. Bowe and U.S. hockey captain Hilary Knight, who met four years ago at the Beijing Olympics, got engaged Wednesday, Feb. 18. Read more here. — Nancy Armour
Hilary Knight watching fiancée Brittany Bowe chase Olympic speedskating gold
A day after leading the U.S. women to an overtime win over archrival Canada, Knight was at the Milan Speed Skating Arena on Friday, Feb. 20, to watch Bowe skate in the 1,500 meters, her final Olympic race. Like Knight, Bowe announced before 2026 Milano Cortina that these would be her final Games.
Knight arrived about halfway through the lineup, Bowe slated to compete in the 14th pairing. She sat with Bowe’s parents, Debbie and Mike Bowe, who donned Bowe Team USA gear, and family.
Bowe is a medal contender in the 1,500. She was in the top five at each of the World Cups this season, including one third-place finish. Read more here. – Nancy Armour
U.S. women’s curling will play for bronze medal after semifinal setback
The United States women’s curling team featuring Tabitha and Tara Peterson, Cory Thiesse and Taylor Anderson-Heide still has a chance to make history at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games despite a semifinal setback Friday in the Olympic semifinals.
Switzerland bested the Americans, 7-4, and it means the U.S. team will play for the bronze medal on Saturday. The U.S. team is slated to face Canada, which lost to Sweden in Friday’s other semifinal in women’s curling
No American women have ever medaled in Olympic women’s curling competition.
Celebrate US women’s hockey with commemorative page prints
How will you remember Team USA’s thrilling victory over Canada that earned the gold medal in the women’s Olympic hockey tournament? Whatever your answer, USA TODAY Sports will help fans long relive the country’s golden glory with two commemorative page prints.
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Page prints come on high-quality art paper, in a variety of sizes and start at $29 (plus shipping and handling) through the USA TODAY Store. For more details, go to usatodaystore.com and search ‘Olympic.’
Lindsey Vonn provides update on latest surgery
Vonn provided an update on her health after another surgery to repair a lower-leg injury suffered in her final downhill event of the Olympics.
‘Just a quick update… my last surgery went well. It took a little over 6 hours. I have been recovering from the surgery but pain has been hard to manage. Making slow progress but I hope I can be out of the hospital soon. Thank you all for the support,’ Vonn said on social media.
Canada vs. Finland men’s hockey semifinal; Sidney Crosby out
Top-seeded Canada is looking to win its first Olympic men’s hockey gold medal since the NHL last sent players to the Winter Games in 2014. Finland is looking to defend the gold medal that it won in 2022 in Beijing without NHL players.
The two teams will play in Friday’s early men’s hockey semifinal to see which country advances to the gold medal game and which plays for bronze.
Sidney Crosby will not play in the semifinals because of a lower-body injury, Hockey Canada announced. Connor McDavid will wear the captain’s jersey, and Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon will serve as alternates.
Get real-time updates as Canada takes on Finland.
US biathlon team experiences familiar feeling
The Olympic medal drought for the U.S. biathlon team continues.
Campbell Wright finished 29th in the men’s 15 km mass start Friday, Feb. 20, ending hopes that the Americans would capture their first Olympic medal in a sport that combines cross-country skiing and riflery.
Johannes Dale-Skjevdal of Norway won the gold, Sturla Holm Laegreid of Norway won the silver and Quentin Fillon Mailett of France won the bronze.
Dale-Skjevdal finished the race in 39:17.1, 10.5 seconds ahead of Laegreid.
Wright, a 23-year-old with dual citizenship to the United States and New Zealand, began competing for the U.S. in 2023. It was a significant addition for the Americans.
Wright won silver medals at the 2025 World Championships in the 10K km sprint and the 12.5 km pursuit.
At the Milan Cortina Winter Games, he finished 27th in the men’s 20K individuals and 12th in the men’s 10 km spring before competing in the men’s 15 km mass start. He finished 29th in a field of 30 in what was the final men’s race of the Milano Cortina Winter Games.
No Americans are in the field for the final women’s biathlon race, the women’s 12.5 km mass start Saturday, Feb. 21. — Josh Peter
Hilary Knight, Evan Bates to carry Team USA flag at Closing Ceremony
Olympic gold medalist hockey player Hilary Knight and ice dancer Evan Bates, a three-time Olympic medalist, will be the flag bearers for Team USA at the Closing Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics on Sunday.
Men’s freestyle skiing: Americans out of aerials finals
Chris Lillis, Derek Krueger and Connor Curran failed to make the next round of finals in aerials. Athletes from Switzerland and China make up the finalists.
Mikaela Shiffrin gets Taylor Swift shoutout
MILAN — Ruining the friendship was worth it for Mikaela Shiffrin.
Taylor Swift responded to one of Shiffrin’s Instagram posts, congratulating her on winning her third Olympic gold medal. The post was a photo of Shiffrin during the slalom race Wednesday, Feb. 18, and she captioned it, ‘My advice is always ruin the friendship.’
‘HISTORIC’ Swift replied, adding three gold medal emojis.
Shiffrin put a screenshot of the comment on her IG story, saying ‘Ummmm’ with several starstruck and stunned emojis. Shiffrin is a big Swift fan, and she took her U.S. Ski teammates to the Denver stop of the Eras tour in July 2023. – Nancy Armour
Empire State Building shines red, white and blue
The Empire State Building displayed its patriotism on Thursday night after the dramatic and emphatic gold medal won by the US women’s hockey team.
Men’s freestyle skiing: Three Americans into aerials finals
That’s a great way to make an Olympic debut for 21-year-old Connor Curan, who automatically punched his ticket to men’s aerials finals by placing in the top six (of 24 competitors) in the first qualifying round.
Fellow Americans Derek Krueger (10th) and Chris Lillis (11th) joined Curran thanks to their jumps in the second qualifying round.
Quinn Dehlinger ended up not making his Olympic debut at the Winter Games in Milano Cortina after re-aggravating a knee injury, his mother, Cindy Dehlinger, confirmed to The Cincinnati Enquirer on Feb. 18.
After speaking with doctors, Dehlinger decided not to compete in this year’s Games, News 5 (WLWT-TV) reported.The three-time World Cup winner has two gold and two silver medals at two world championships. – Chris Bumbaca
Men’s freestyle skiing: Team USA in good shape in halfpipe
The Americans are crushing it in the morning qualifying of the men’s freestyle skiing halfpipe.
Nick Goepper (90.00), Alex Ferreira (85.75), Birk Irving (84.25) and Hunter Hess (82.75) all posted solid first runs and are in solid shape to advance to the finals.
After the first round, Goepper is in first, followed by Ferreira (third), Irving (fourth) and Hess (fifth) all in the top five, an early indication that Team USA will be in contention for multiple medals in this event.
Of the 25-man field, 12 will advance. As a result of snowy conditions pushing the qualifying back a day, the halfpipe finals are set for later tonight. — Gentry Estes
Where to watch Olympics today
Watch all 2026 Winter Olympics events on NBC and Peacock.
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Feb. 20 Winter Olympics TV Schedule
All times Eastern and accurate as of Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at 7:33 p.m.
2:00 AM – FIGURE SKATING (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Women’s Free Skate USA NETWORK
4:00 AM – FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) Women’s Cross Qualification USA NETWORK, PEACOCK
4:30 AM – FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) Men’s Aerials Qualification USA NETWORK, PEACOCK
6:00 AM – FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Women’s Cross Final USA NETWORK, PEACOCK
7:30 AM – FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Men’s Aerials Finals USA NETWORK
8:45 AM – CURLING (LIVE) USA vs. Switzerland Women’s Semifinal USA NETWORK, PEACOCK
11:00 AM – SPEED SKATING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Women’s 1500m USA NETWORK
11:50 AM – ICE HOCKEY (LIVE) Canada vs. Finland Men’s Semifinal USA NETWORK, PEACOCK
12:00 PM – BOBSLED (LIVE) Women’s Doubles: Heat 1 NBC
12:15 PM – FREESTYLE SKIING (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Men’s Aerials Finals NBC
1:00 PM – FREESTYLE SKIING Men’s Halfpipe Qualifying USA NETWORK
1:00 PM – SPEED SKATING (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Women’s 1500m NBC
1:30 PM – BIATHLON (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Men’s 15km Mass Start USA NETWORK
1:30 PM – FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Men’s Halfpipe Final NBC, PEACOCK
2:15 PM – SHORT TRACK (LIVE) (Medal Event) Men’s 5000m Relay Final, Women’s 1500m Prelims, Final USA NETWORK, PEACOCK
3:10 PM – ICE HOCKEY (LIVE) USA vs. Slovakia Men’s Semifinal NBC, PEACOCK
4:15 PM – BOBSLED (REPLAY) Women’s Doubles: Heat 1 and 2 USA NETWORK
5:00 PM – BIATHLON (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Men’s 15km Mass Start USA NETWORK
6:00 PM – CURLING (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Men’s Bronze Final USA NETWORK
8:00 PM – PRIMETIME IN MILAN (REPLAY) Speed Skating, Short Track, Freestyle Skiing, Bobsled NBC, PEACOCK
8:00 PM – BIATHLON (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Men’s 15km Mass Start USA NETWORK
8:45 PM – CURLING (REPLAY) USA vs. Switzerland Women’s Semifinal USA NETWORK
11:35 PM – OLYMPIC LATE NIGHT (REPLAY) NBC, PEACOCK
11:45 PM – ICE HOCKEY (REPLAY) USA vs. Slovakia Men’s Semifinal USA NETWORK
Feb. 20 Winter Olympics Streaming Schedule
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4:00 AM – FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) Women’s Ski Cross Qualifying PEACOCK
6:00 AM – FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Women’s Ski Cross Finals PEACOCK
8:00 AM – GOLD ZONE: DAY 14 (LIVE) Digital Exclusive PEACOCK
8:05 AM – CURLING (LIVE) Sweden vs. Canada Women’s Semifinal PEACOCK
10:30 AM – SPEED SKATING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Women’s 1500m PEACOCK
12:00 PM – BOBSLED (LIVE) Women’s Doubles: Heat 1 and 2 PEACOCK
1:05 PM – CURLING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Norway vs. Switzerland Bronze Final PEACOCK
Meet Team USA 2026: Get to know the athletes behind the games
More 2026 Winter Olympics
See the full Milano Cortina Games schedule
See the 2026 Medal Count Here
