Lawson Crouse finally taps into that 2015 first-round swagger, anchoring Utah's top line with Keller and Schmaltz while piling up hits and shots that scream bounceback. His ice time surges past 18 minutes some nights, turning early struggles into a physical force the Mammoth desperately need for playoff push. Meanwhile, JJ Peterka carves out a starring role for Germany at the Olympics, proving Buffalo's gem shines brightest on the big stage.

Utah shakes up its lines with Logan Cooley and Zach Kerfoot slotting back into the mix after stints on the mend, while Clayton Keller channels that Olympic snub into pure fire. Sources whisper the captain's got extra motivation now that Karel Vejmelka sat for Czechia despite his league-leading wins, and with JJ Peterka and Olli Maatta returning from international duty, the locker room buzzes with reimagined chemistry.

Leon Draisaitl puts on a captain's clinic with three points as Germany steamrolls France in the Olympic qualifiers at Milano Cortina. Tim Stutzle dishes dimes and JJ Peterka buries one, sending the Germans to face Juraj Slafkovsky's Slovakia in the quarters while Columbus' Alexandre Texier logs heavy minutes in a losing effort for the French. These knockout games always bring the NHL stars to the forefront, especially with the league back at the Olympics after a dozen years away.

Germany finally pulls back the curtain on its 2026 Olympic roster, stacking the deck with NHL heavyweights like Leon Draisaitl and Tim Stutzle to chase another medal run. You know the Germans don't mess around - they've got Moritz Seider anchoring the blue line and JJ Peterka ready to light it up, all while prepping for that brutal Group C clash with the USA.

Buffalo's JJ Peterka prepares for his first Winter Olympics, bringing Sabres speed and scoring touch to the international stage. The young winger, who's been a consistent 20-goal threat, eyes a breakout tournament amid NHL stars flooding the ice. His readiness signals Germany's depth in a field stacked with North American firepower.

JJ Peterka, the Utah Mammoth forward who grew up dragging his parents across borders for ice time, finally turns his childhood vision into reality with a year-round rink at the family home near Munich. He dreams big - beer garden, spectator spots, gym, the works - all to give German kids easy access to summer skating that he never had.