NHL Hockey Olympians In Miami

     Players from Team USA and Team Canada in the men's hockey gold medal game will arrive at Miami International Airport early on Monday. The 2026 Winter Olympics concluded on Sunday in Italy. 

     The United States-bound planes were diverted to Miami from Newark and New York City. The reason was the bad hazardous weather in the Northeast portion of the United States. Individual players will fly out of Miami to cities where their NHL teams are based before the resumption of the National Hockey League regular season on Wednesday.  

Inter Miami CF Lose Season Opener

     The reigning MLS Cup champions Inter Miami CF began their 2026 Major League Soccer campaign and lost their season opener to LAFC 3-0 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night. The Herons began their seventh season in Major League Soccer. Inter Miami CF played their first MLS contest in franchise history in Los Angeles against the same club back in March 2020. 

     The game turned out to be the highest-attended Major League Soccer game on opening weekend in its 31-year history. The attendance for the contest at Los Angeles Memorial Stadium was 75,673. It was the second-largest crowd ever for a MLS contest. 

     LAFC(1-0-0) scooted out to a 1-0 advantage in the 38th minute. The Herons turned the ball over near midfield which led to a 13-yard shot by David Martinez with his left foot.

     Inter Miami CF(0-1-0) was behind 2-0 during the 73rd minute on a tally by Denis Bouanga. He headed the ball over the head of Herons goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair at the 35-yard line and then placed in a right-footed shot into an empty net from 10 yards away. 

     It became 3-0 for LAFC in stoppage time at the end of the second half. Bouanga crossed the ball from the left side and Nathan Ordaz found the back of the net tapping in a five-yard shot with his right foot. 

Winter Olympics NBC Ice Hockey Announcers

     The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy concluded on Sunday. It was the 25th edition of the Olympic Winter Games.

     NBC had the United States television rights to the 2026 Winter Olympics. They had numerous on-air personnel for the ice hockey tournaments. Many of them announce National Hockey League games on TNT.

      Kenny Albert was the primary play-by-play announcer for the telecasts. He announced the gold medal games in men's hockey and women's hockey. Albert announced 26 hockey games in a 14-day period. 

      Eddie Olczyk was the game analyst and Brian Boucher worked as the rinkside reporter. Kathryn Tappen was the locker room reporter.

      NBC did have secondary on-air personnel. Brendan Burke and A.J. Mleczko were the secondary announcers for other ice hockey contests. 

United States Tops Canada For Gold Medal

     Team USA defeated Team Canada 2-1 in overtime in the gold medal game of the men's hockey tournament in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy on Sunday. Both teams had previously met in the gold medal contest in 2002 and 2010 with the Canadians victorious in both. It was the last sporting event to be held at this year's Winter Olympics.

     Team USA captured their first gold medal since 1980. It was the third time overall during the Winter Olympics that the Americans won the gold medal in men's ice hockey. Today is the 46th anniversary of the Miracle Of Ice by the United States against the Soviet Union in Lake Placid, New York. 

     Both nations faced each other in the Winter Olympics for the eighth time. Team Canada is now 6-2 on those eight meetings against Team USA. 

     Canada remains at three gold medals in men's hockey when National Hockey League players are involved. It was the first time since 2014 that NHL players participated in the men's hockey tournament. The Canadians medaled for a record 17th time in men's ice hockey. 

     Team Canada captain and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby did not dress and participate in the game. Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid was elevated to the captain position for them. 

     Team USA alternate captain and Florida Panthers right wing Matthew Tkachuk won his first goal medal. Panthers center Sam Reinhart, center Sam Bennett and center Brad Marchand finished with the silver medal for Team Canada. Former Florida Panthers center and current New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck also captured a gold medal for Team USA. 

     Team USA rolled out to a 1-0 lead at the 6:00 mark of the first period with their first shot of the contest. Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes cycled the puck from the American end wall. Team USA captain and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews centered it in his own zone. Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy carried the puck through the neutral zone and split two defenders in the middle of the Canadians zone. He steered in a backhand shot from the top of the crease past St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington for his second tally in the tournament. 

     Team Canada tied it up 1-1 with 1:44 left in the second period. Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews angled a pass from the left point. Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar released a forehand shot from the right-circle dot by Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck for his second goal in this men's hockey tournament. 

     There was no scoring by either nation during the third period. Team USA won the game and the gold medal at 1:41 of overtime. Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski sent a cross-ice pass from the low right circle and New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes fired a wrist shot from the inner left circle. It was the fourth goal by Hughes in the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

Finland Wins Bronze Medal

     Team Finland broke by Team Slovakia 6-1 for the men's hockey bronze medal in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy on Saturday. Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell, left wing Eetu Luostarinen and defenseman Niko Mikkola will receiver a bronze medal on the podium Sunday. 

     Finland medaled in their second straight Winter Olympics men's hockey tournament and in seven of the last nine occasions. It was their fourth consecutive Winter Olympics medal with National Hockey League players participating. They captured the gold medal back in 2022 in Beijing, China. Slovakia won their first men's hockey medal ever picking up the bronze medal four years ago.

     In the first period, Team Finland flew out to a 1-0 lead at 7:27 of the first period. Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho collected his fourth goal of the tournament as he swept in a shot from the blue paint.

     It became 2-0 for Team Finland at the 8:05 mark of the second period. One-time Florida Panthers left wing Erik Haula released a wrist shot from the right wing.  

     Team Slovakia capitalized on a bad bounce off the end wall. Former NHL player Tomas Tatar scored on a backhand shot from the crease area with 29.2 seconds remaining in the second and cut it to 2-1. 

     Team Finland extended their lead to 3-1 at 8:27 of the third period. Dallas Stars left wing Roope Hintz redirected a shot at the top of the crease. 

     They would make it 4-1 just 42 seconds later. Seattle Kraken right wing Kaapo Kakko snapped a shot from the right-circle dot. Los Angeles Kings right wing Joel Armia added an empty-net goal from the neutral zone with 4:28 left for a 5-1 lead. Haula score a tally into an empty net from the inner left circle for his second goal of the contest with 1:18 to go for a four-goal margin. 

Heat Evaporate Grizzlies

     The Miami Heat streaked by the Memphis Grizzlies 136-120 on Saturday night at Kaseya Center. It was the Heat's first home game in South Florida since February 9. They now have a three-game winning streak and are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. 

     Miami(31-27) outscored their opponent 39-33 in the opening quarter. Memphis(21-34) stayed with the pace in the second quarter and they were down 73-68 at halftime. 

     The Heat extended their lead and held a 112-94 advantage at the conclusion of the third quarter. The Grizzlies tried to cut the deficit during the final quarter.

     Andrew Wiggins led the Heat with a game-high 28 points while Norman Powell finished with 25 points. Tyler Herro was able to pump in 14 points in the victory. Kel'el Ware ended up with a double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds. 

     G.G Jackson fell short of a double-double with a game-high 28 points along with nine rebounds for Memphis. Jaylen Wells ended up with 25 points. 

United States Routs Slovakia

     Team USA crushed Team Slovakia 6-2 in the 2026 Winter Olympics men's hockey semifinals on Friday in Milan. The Americans will play for the gold medal on Sunday against Team Canada.

     The United States was up 2-0 after the first period. They increased their lead to 5-0 by the end of the second period. 

      Florida Panthers right wing Matthew Tkachuk picked up the secondary assist on a tally by Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel at the 12:33 mark of the second for a 4-0 advantage. Former Florida Panthers center Vincent Trocheck got the primary assist on a goal by Ottawa Senators center Brady Tkachuk to give Team USA a 6 -1 lead with 9:08 remaining in the third.