ondrej palat, Horvat and former Islanders: A look at Olympic pool play
Pool play at the 2026 Winter Olympics has finished and the tournament now shifts to single-elimination. The NY Islanders' footprint on the ice is compact but meaningful: Bo Horvat has slotted into a new role for Canada, ondrej palat has carved out top-line minutes for Czechia, and former Islander Brock Nelson has been a catalyst for the United States. Here’s how each player's tournament through pool play shapes the knockout picture.
Bo Horvat: Adapted role, timely production for Canada
Canada closed pool play as the top overall seed, and Horvat’s contributions helped secure that status even while he played well below the heavy minutes he routinely logged with his club. Slotted into a bottom-six role and occasionally serving as a 13th forward, Horvat averaged 10: 16 of ice time across his first three games but made his time count with two goals. He has been trusted in defensive situations and on the penalty kill, and that reliability is precisely why he earned his spot on this loaded roster.
Canada’s depth allows for flexible matchups and the coaching staff expects role players like Horvat to execute in high-leverage moments. With the bracket now set, Horvat and his teammates will await the winner of Tuesday’s Czechia–Denmark game; a Czech victory would set a potential rematch featuring Horvat against ondrej palat.
ondrej palat: New line, steady minutes for Czechia
Acquired in a move that brought another Czech presence to the Islanders' locker room, ondrej palat has taken on a prominent role for his national team at age 34. Palat has averaged 18: 53 per game through pool play and chipped in one assist while frequently skating on the Czech top line alongside Tomas Hertl and David Pastrnak. That trio has been the go-to group for zone starts and offensive-zone deployment.
Czechia’s path through pool play was bumpy: the team entered its final group match with one win and one loss and fell in overtime to Switzerland, finishing third in the group. That placement forces a knockout match against Denmark on Tuesday; a Czech win would set up a tantalizing meeting with Horvat and Canada. Palat’s ice time and his role on the top line suggest he will be a central figure if Czechia advances.
Former Islanders and wider implications for the knockout rounds
Beyond current Islanders, former forward Brock Nelson has been a standout for the United States. Nelson scored twice and added an assist, all in the U. S. opener, and has been an important piece on the penalty kill. That family Olympic legacy — goal-scoring that ties him to his uncle and grandfather — adds narrative weight as the Americans prepare for a knockout game against the winner of Sweden–Latvia.
With preliminary play complete, matchups tighten and every bench decision will carry added consequence. Teams that relied on depth and role players in pool play — Canada being the prime example — now move into a bracket where special teams, matchup management and timely scoring decide who advances. For the Islanders’ representation, the next window matters: Horvat’s defensive reliability and Palat’s top-line minutes could collide in a marquee contest, while Nelson’s red-hot form keeps him in the spotlight should the Americans meet a top-tier opponent.
The Olympic tournament now heads into single elimination, with each game a potential season-defining moment for these players. Expect coaches to lean on trusted minutes and for those who adapted to new roles in pool play to be called upon to deliver under pressure.
