Team USA gets a massive injury update on star forward Tage Thompson ahead of gold medal game
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Austin Sabourin
Feb 21, 2026 (9:40)
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Photo credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
Team USA star Tage Buffalo and head coach Mike Sullivan received some incredibly massive medical news ahead of the gold medal game.
The towering forward awkwardly blocked a heavy shot during Friday's dominant semifinal victory over Slovakia and immediately headed down the tunnel.
Management held him out of the entire third period strictly for precautionary reasons, sending a massive wave of panic through the American fanbase.
Losing a premium offensive weapon just hours before clashing with their ultimate North American rivals in the championship would be an absolute disaster.
But insider Elliotte Friedman dropped a highly encouraging update on Saturday morning that completely changes the mood inside the dressing room.
Thompson was officially spotted on the ice for the mandatory team skate, proving his painful lower-body issue is not entirely catastrophic.
Thompson present at morning skate
Career-wise, the Buffalo Sabres sniper brings a terrifying blend of massive size and elite puck skills that opposing defensemen absolutely hate defending.
His reliable transition game and incredibly long reach perfectly dictate the physical pace when the Americans establish heavy offensive zone pressure.
You simply cannot afford to see your top six post a -3 rating against a heavily favored Canadian squad loaded with premium superstars.
Team USA desperately needs his solid execution and crisp passing to consistently generate dangerous controlled entries across the opposing blue line.
Without his lethal one-timer on the man advantage, the top power play unit legitimately runs the risk of being held scoreless on Sunday afternoon.
Taking on a hungry, bitter Canadian roster strictly demands maximum offensive output from every single forward dressed in an American sweater.
Expect the dedicated medical staff to heavily tape him up and push him right back into the violent trenches for the opening faceoff.
The entire hockey universe is patiently waiting to see if he can physically handle the intense speed and pure chaos of this historic matchup.
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