Matthew Tkachuk and Team USA reach Olympic final but not without havoc to end the game

Feb 20, 2026 (5:45 PM)

Photo credit: Screenshot

Matthew Tkachuk powered Team USA past Slovakia in the Olympic semifinal, then got yanked from the game with Erik Cernak in a rivalry-fueled blowup.

The United States ripped open the game early and never let Slovakia breathe.
Dylan Larkin scored 4:19 in, and you could feel Slovakia tighten up.

Tage Thompson made it 2-0 late in the first, the kind of backbreaker that turns a semifinal into a chase.

From there, the Americans played fast, clean exits, quick touches, no fear in the middle.

Jack Hughes buried one, then did it again, and the building basically accepted the outcome.

Jack Eichel piled on, and suddenly it was a track meet with Slovakia stuck in mud.

Connor Hellebuyck did the boring superstar thing, swallowed pucks, killed momentum, and let the skaters keep leaning forward.

If you’re a Slovak fan, you’re proud of the fight and furious at how it ended.

Mid-shift, Matthew Tkachuk and Erik Cernak went full Tampa Bay versus Florida, grabbing, jabbing, and refusing to back off.

The refs hit both with misconducts and sent them away, which felt like game management more than justice.

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Nobody wanted a match penalty headline that could change a medal weekend, so the quickest exit button got pressed.

Brady Tkachuk scored to make it 6-1, and the bench looked like it wanted to keep things calm and just get to Sunday.

Juraj Slafkovsky finally broke through, then Slovakia added a late one, but the result was already set in stone.

Now it’s United States vs Canada for gold on Sunday, and the real question is whether Team USA can keep its edge without letting the edge bite back.

Previously on Puck Reporter

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9 HOURS AGO\|277 ANSWERS Matthew Tkachuk and Team USA reach Olympic final but not without havoc to end the game Should Matthew Tkachuk change his approach before the USA vs Canada gold medal game?
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