With its win over Switzerland on Wednesday, the United States men’s hockey team clinched a spot in a medal game this weekend.
But come Sunday night, the Olympics will be over and players will head back to their respective teams.
The quest for the Stanley Cup will be officially on.
It will be interesting to see if the Olympics ends up helping or hurting teams down the stretch as they get ready for the playoffs.
The San Jose Sharks have nine players who will have competed in the Olympics, the most of any team in the NHL.
They also currently sit in first place in the Western Conference, trailing the Washington Capitals by just one point for the Presidents’ Trophy.
Will the extra two weeks of hockey they’re playing give them the needed experience for a bigger stage? Or will they get worn down due to the extended mileage on their skates?
The same could be said about the Anaheim Ducks, who would miss the playoffs if the season ended today, despite the fact they have eight Olympians on their roster.
I say no. The wear and tear will have no effect on the NHL playoffs.
Only time will tell.
