Mark Lazerus
@marklazerus.bsky.social
Senior NHL Writer, The Athletic
Co-host, The Athletic Hockey Show
Co-host, Powers & Laz
Old enough to feel ways about stuff
Co-host, The Athletic Hockey Show
Co-host, Powers & Laz
Old enough to feel ways about stuff
GOAL: Brady Tkachuk scores and we're freeing birds out here in Milan. 1-0 USA.
February 12, 2026 at 8:19 PM
GOAL: Brady Tkachuk scores and we're freeing birds out here in Milan. 1-0 USA.
Latvia, sporting the best jerseys in the field, has taken the ice ahead of the big showdown with Team USA.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
Ranking every Olympic hockey team’s jerseys for Milan-Cortina 2026
A return to best-on-best hockey at the Olympics means heightened interest in the on-ice aesthetics of the 12 participating nations.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Latvia, sporting the best jerseys in the field, has taken the ice ahead of the big showdown with Team USA.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
Nathan MacKinnon on being on the same power play as Makar, McDavid and Crosby: "In my opinion, it’s the best defenseman ever and two of the five best players ever on the other sides. Happy to be out there."
February 12, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Nathan MacKinnon on being on the same power play as Makar, McDavid and Crosby: "In my opinion, it’s the best defenseman ever and two of the five best players ever on the other sides. Happy to be out there."
Nifty-netfront tip by Nick Suzuki and it's 5-0 Canada.
February 12, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Nifty-netfront tip by Nick Suzuki and it's 5-0 Canada.
Crosby to McDavid to MacKinnon. Come on, man. That shit's unfair. 4-0 Canada.
February 12, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Crosby to McDavid to MacKinnon. Come on, man. That shit's unfair. 4-0 Canada.
Bo Horvat makes it 3-0. The Canadians might be good.
February 12, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Bo Horvat makes it 3-0. The Canadians might be good.
Nathan MacKinnon delivers a nasty little cross-check to Jan Rutta's ribs right in front of the official, but there's no call.
February 12, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Nathan MacKinnon delivers a nasty little cross-check to Jan Rutta's ribs right in front of the official, but there's no call.
Mark Stone makes it 2-0, cleaning up after a great pass by Mitch Marner during a power move to the net.
February 12, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Mark Stone makes it 2-0, cleaning up after a great pass by Mitch Marner during a power move to the net.
NEW: The NHL — wary of taking any sort of political stand — will continue to defer to the international sporting community when it comes to Russia. So for now, they wouldn't be in the 2028 World Cup.
More from Gary Bettman, Marty Walsh and Luc Tardif:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
More from Gary Bettman, Marty Walsh and Luc Tardif:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
Gary Bettman: NHL has no plans to reintegrate Russia ahead of 2028 World Cup of Hockey
Eager to avoid taking a political stand, the NHL will defer to the International Olympic Committee on Russia.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:18 PM
NEW: The NHL — wary of taking any sort of political stand — will continue to defer to the international sporting community when it comes to Russia. So for now, they wouldn't be in the 2028 World Cup.
More from Gary Bettman, Marty Walsh and Luc Tardif:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
More from Gary Bettman, Marty Walsh and Luc Tardif:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
Macklin Celebrini opens the scoring with 5.7 seconds left in the first period. 1-0 Canada.
February 12, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Macklin Celebrini opens the scoring with 5.7 seconds left in the first period. 1-0 Canada.
Gary Bettman says the NHL will "follow what the international community" is doing in regards to allowing Russia in the 2028 World Cup. In other words, for now, the Russians would not be involved.
February 12, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Gary Bettman says the NHL will "follow what the international community" is doing in regards to allowing Russia in the 2028 World Cup. In other words, for now, the Russians would not be involved.
There's a ton of interesting data and insights from @domluszczyszyn.bsky.social on the Canada-Czechia live blog ahead of the next game. Check it out and keep refreshing throughout the day:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...
Canada vs. Czechia live updates: Winter Olympics 2026 men’s hockey news, predictions and latest
Canada makes its debut in men's Olympic hockey at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:49 PM
There's a ton of interesting data and insights from @domluszczyszyn.bsky.social on the Canada-Czechia live blog ahead of the next game. Check it out and keep refreshing throughout the day:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...
France put up a good fight, but Switzerland wins the first game of the day 4-0. Canada-Czechia is up next at 4:40 p.m. local time (9:40 a.m. CT).
February 12, 2026 at 1:41 PM
France put up a good fight, but Switzerland wins the first game of the day 4-0. Canada-Czechia is up next at 4:40 p.m. local time (9:40 a.m. CT).
Catch up on @theathletic.com hockey coverage in Milan. 🧵
Pierre and I wrapped up a surprisingly competitive and terrifically entertaining Day 1:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
Pierre and I wrapped up a surprisingly competitive and terrifically entertaining Day 1:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
What we saw on Day 1 of Olympic men’s hockey: Slovakia stuns Finland, Landeskog returns
Slovakia upset Finland on Wednesday, setting the stage for what could be a wild tournament in an age of increasing international parity.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Catch up on @theathletic.com hockey coverage in Milan. 🧵
Pierre and I wrapped up a surprisingly competitive and terrifically entertaining Day 1:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
Pierre and I wrapped up a surprisingly competitive and terrifically entertaining Day 1:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
Switzerland's Leonardo Genoni, the best goalie you've probably never heard of, has stopped all 19 French shots through two periods here at Milano Santagiulia.
I wrote about why you should know him (the second part of this story):
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
I wrote about why you should know him (the second part of this story):
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
You may not know these 3 Olympic men’s hockey players, but soon you just might
The NHL doesn't have the monopoly on players to watch at the Olympics. These three are ready to upset the big names in Milan.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Switzerland's Leonardo Genoni, the best goalie you've probably never heard of, has stopped all 19 French shots through two periods here at Milano Santagiulia.
I wrote about why you should know him (the second part of this story):
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
I wrote about why you should know him (the second part of this story):
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
For those back home in Chicago, @scottpowers.bsky.social has Part I of his Olympic-break mailbag. What does the next phase of the Blackhawks Rebuild ™️ look like?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
What’s the next phase of Blackhawks’ rebuild? Mailbag
The Blackhawks want to implement more of their early-round draft picks into the NHL. Here's what that might look like.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 12:42 PM
For those back home in Chicago, @scottpowers.bsky.social has Part I of his Olympic-break mailbag. What does the next phase of the Blackhawks Rebuild ™️ look like?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
Even Flow. One. #MilanPearlJamCounter
February 12, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Even Flow. One. #MilanPearlJamCounter
NEW: The "gold or bust" mentality of Canada, the U.S. and Sweden is justified and understandable.
It also stinks. For them. For their fans.
My column on the joyful spirit of the Olympics, and how the Big Three don't really get to experience it:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
It also stinks. For them. For their fans.
My column on the joyful spirit of the Olympics, and how the Big Three don't really get to experience it:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
‘Gold or bust’ mentality robs Canada, U.S. and Sweden of the true joy of the Olympics
For the Big Three in hockey, anything less than outright victory is an utter failure — and what a shame that is.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 12:22 PM
NEW: The "gold or bust" mentality of Canada, the U.S. and Sweden is justified and understandable.
It also stinks. For them. For their fans.
My column on the joyful spirit of the Olympics, and how the Big Three don't really get to experience it:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
It also stinks. For them. For their fans.
My column on the joyful spirit of the Olympics, and how the Big Three don't really get to experience it:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
A god among men. Also, Jesus.
February 12, 2026 at 12:15 PM
A god among men. Also, Jesus.
Reposted by Mark Lazerus
There are several former NHLers in these Olympics. Names you definitely know. Some still in their primes.
The next 11 days — on stage in front of the hockey world — offer them one last chance to give themselves, well, one more chance.
My story from Milan:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
The next 11 days — on stage in front of the hockey world — offer them one last chance to give themselves, well, one more chance.
My story from Milan:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
For former NHLers in Milan, the Olympics are a last chance to earn one more opportunity
Some ex-NHLers are hoping to catch the NHL's eye in Milan. If they prove they can still hang against the world's best, anything’s possible.
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:15 PM
There are several former NHLers in these Olympics. Names you definitely know. Some still in their primes.
The next 11 days — on stage in front of the hockey world — offer them one last chance to give themselves, well, one more chance.
My story from Milan:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
The next 11 days — on stage in front of the hockey world — offer them one last chance to give themselves, well, one more chance.
My story from Milan:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
Mika Zibanejad, moments after a baffling decision not to shoot into a wide-open net, scores from long range to ruin the fun. It's 4-2 Sweden with 4:18 to go.
February 11, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Mika Zibanejad, moments after a baffling decision not to shoot into a wide-open net, scores from long range to ruin the fun. It's 4-2 Sweden with 4:18 to go.
Damian Clara, the Ducks prospect who's been so brilliant for Italy tonight, has been taken out. Hurt himself making a terrific sprawling save on a Elias Pettersson shorthanded breakaway. Clara had 46 saves at that point.
February 11, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Damian Clara, the Ducks prospect who's been so brilliant for Italy tonight, has been taken out. Hurt himself making a terrific sprawling save on a Elias Pettersson shorthanded breakaway. Clara had 46 saves at that point.
This is Sweden's goal song. It is by a band called Canneloni Macaroni. It is now my sole mission in life to find out the story behind it.
youtu.be/n9kP5Lf9_JQ?...
youtu.be/n9kP5Lf9_JQ?...
Canelloni Macaroni
YouTube video by Lasse Holm - Topic
youtu.be
February 11, 2026 at 9:40 PM
This is Sweden's goal song. It is by a band called Canneloni Macaroni. It is now my sole mission in life to find out the story behind it.
youtu.be/n9kP5Lf9_JQ?...
youtu.be/n9kP5Lf9_JQ?...
Willy Nylander (pronounced Nee-LAND-er, by the way) scores on Sweden's 40th shot of the game. It's now 3-2 Sweden over Italy with 3:14 to go in the second. And I don't know about this goal song, man.
February 11, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Willy Nylander (pronounced Nee-LAND-er, by the way) scores on Sweden's 40th shot of the game. It's now 3-2 Sweden over Italy with 3:14 to go in the second. And I don't know about this goal song, man.
Sweden wouldn't be in this mess if they had just kept the greatest goal song in the history of goal songs.
youtube.com/watch?v=MxUh...
youtube.com/watch?v=MxUh...
Tre Kronor ft. The Poodles - En För Alla För En
YouTube video by Swehockeyse
youtube.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Sweden wouldn't be in this mess if they had just kept the greatest goal song in the history of goal songs.
youtube.com/watch?v=MxUh...
youtube.com/watch?v=MxUh...