{"id":18908,"date":"2026-02-11T09:05:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T09:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/usa-womens-hockey-shiffrin-malinin\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T09:05:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T09:05:10","slug":"usa-womens-hockey-shiffrin-malinin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/usa-womens-hockey-shiffrin-malinin\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 4 recap \u2014 U.S. women dominate, Shiffrin falters, Malinin leads at 2026 Olympics"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<h2>Lead<\/h2>\n<p>On Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, at venues across Milan and Cortina, several headline stories unfolded on Day 4 of the Winter Olympics: the United States women\u2019s hockey team routed Canada 5\u20130 in Milano Santagiulia, Mikaela Shiffrin suffered an uncharacteristic slalom leg that cost a U.S. alpine combined medal, and 21-year-old Ilia Malinin topped the men\u2019s figure skating short program with a commanding 108.16. The U.S. squad improved to 4\u20130 in hockey and has outscored opponents 20\u20131 so far. A number of other finals and podium moments \u2014 from mixed doubles curling to biathlon \u2014 rounded out a busy day of competition.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>U.S. women\u2019s hockey beat Canada 5\u20130 at Milano Santagiulia; the team is 4\u20130 in group play and has a tournament goal differential of 20\u20131.<\/li>\n<li>Caroline Harvey recorded a goal and two assists; Abbey Murphy added three assists and drew four penalties against Canada.<\/li>\n<li>Mikaela Shiffrin\u2019s slalom leg ranked 15th of 18 finishers in the women\u2019s team combined, dropping the U.S. pair to fourth, 0.06 seconds shy of the bronze.<\/li>\n<li>Ilia Malinin posted 108.16 in the men\u2019s short program, leading Japan\u2019s Yuma Kagiyama (103.07) and France\u2019s Adam Siao Him Fa (102.55).<\/li>\n<li>Sweden\u2019s siblings Isabella and Rasmus Wran\u00e5 edged the U.S. duo Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin 6\u20135 to win mixed doubles curling gold; the Americans took silver \u2014 the first Olympic mixed-doubles curling medal for the U.S.<\/li>\n<li>Norway\u2019s Sturla Holm Laegreid won bronze in the 20km individual biathlon; fellow Norwegian Johan-Olav Botn took gold and France\u2019s Eric Perrot silver.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>The U.S.\u2013Canada women\u2019s hockey rivalry is among the sport\u2019s most intense and historically balanced matchups; in the months leading to Milan, the U.S. had already dominated head-to-head play, outscoring Canada 24\u20137 across four Rivalry Series games in November and December. That run set expectations high for another tight Olympic duel, but the U.S. carried momentum into Group play and maintained control through disciplined special teams and depth scoring.<\/p>\n<p>In alpine skiing, the team combined format pairs a speed run (downhill or super-G) with a slalom leg; success requires both a fast downhill and a sharp slalom performance. Breezy Johnson entered the team combined buoyed by a downhill gold, while Shiffrin has been among the most successful slalom specialists of her generation \u2014 making their pairing a pre-event favorite for gold.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>At Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena the U.S. delivered a comprehensive performance: balanced scoring, opportunistic power-play execution and staunch defense that handed Canada a rare shutout. Caroline Harvey continued a purple patch with a goal and two assists, Hannah Bilka added a two-goal night, and Abbey Murphy\u2019s vision helped sustain constant pressure and drew multiple penalties that tilted the game in the U.S. favor. The win concluded group play for the Americans; they advance to the quarterfinals to meet Italy.<\/p>\n<p>In the alpine team combined, Breezy Johnson posted the fastest downhill leg and gave the U.S. an advantage going into slalom, but Shiffrin\u2019s slalom run lost time early and could not recover the deficits. The U.S. pairing finished fourth overall, with teammates Jackie Wiles and Paula Moltzan taking the bronze for the American contingent. Austria secured gold and Germany silver in the event.<\/p>\n<p>Ilia Malinin energized the crowd at the Milano Ice Skating Arena with two clean quadruple jumps, including a quad lutz\u2013triple toe combination, and a showpiece backflip. His short-program total of 108.16 put him in clear control heading into Friday\u2019s free skate. Competitors Yuma Kagiyama (103.07) and Adam Siao Him Fa (102.55) follow in second and third, leaving Malinin well positioned for an individual podium bid.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>The U.S. women\u2019s hockey performance is notable for both margin and method: 5\u20130 is not just a decisive scoreline but a manifestation of sustained depth across forward lines and reliability on defense. Outscoring opponents 20\u20131 through four games indicates a roster that combines elite pieces with role players who execute system play \u2014 a formula that typically scales well into knockout rounds. Facing Italy in the quarters, the U.S. will be expected to control tempo and minimize turnovers that could invite the underdog\u2019s momentum.<\/p>\n<p>Mikaela Shiffrin\u2019s slalom lapse underlines the thin margins in alpine combined formats. A 0.06-second gap to a medal position is a reminder that small technical errors or a conservative line choice can cascade into lost podiums. For Shiffrin, who has time before Sunday\u2019s giant slalom, the priority will be diagnostic: equipment check, course inspection notes and mental reset. The U.S. alpine program nevertheless showed depth by earning bronze through Wiles and Moltzan.<\/p>\n<p>Ilia Malinin\u2019s short program reintroduced the technical ceiling of men\u2019s figure skating: when he lands his high-difficulty elements cleanly, his base value advantage combined with positive GOE (grade of execution) places him in a class of his own. That said, his history of inconsistency means Friday\u2019s free skate \u2014 which carries more weight \u2014 will determine whether the short-program lead converts to gold. Competitors within a five-point band remain capable of upward movement if Malinin under-rotates or receives negative GOE.<\/p>\n<p>The mixed-doubles curling final signals the maturation of U.S. curling on the world stage. Thiesse and Dropkin\u2019s silver reflects tactical progress and international experience since forming in 2022. While Sweden\u2019s Wran\u00e5 siblings executed the decisive stone in a tight 6\u20135 game, the American run through the tournament establishes the U.S. as a serious medal threat in team and mixed disciplines going forward.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Event<\/th>\n<th>Leading result<\/th>\n<th>Notable stat<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>USA vs CAN \u2014 Women\u2019s hockey<\/td>\n<td>5\u20130 (Milano Santagiulia)<\/td>\n<td>U.S. tournament goal differential: +19 (20\u20131)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Men\u2019s figure skating \u2014 Short program<\/td>\n<td>Ilia Malinin 108.16<\/td>\n<td>Second: Yuma Kagiyama 103.07; Third: Adam Siao Him Fa 102.55<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Mixed doubles curling \u2014 Final<\/td>\n<td>Sweden 6\u20135 USA<\/td>\n<td>First U.S. Olympic medal in mixed doubles (silver)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Women\u2019s team combined \u2014 Alpine<\/td>\n<td>Austria gold; USA 4th<\/td>\n<td>U.S. missed bronze by 0.06 seconds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>This table highlights how single performances \u2014 a shutout, a short-program peak, a single slalom leg or one last curling stone \u2014 shaped medal outcomes on Day 4. Across events, margins were often measured in tenths or single seconds, underscoring the high variance and the premium on execution at the Olympic level.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;It was a really great game. We just needed to be a little bit sharper today.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Cory Thiesse, U.S. mixed doubles curler (postgame NBC broadcast)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;I made my biggest mistake and cheated on her,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Sturla Holm Laegreid (NRK interview after biathlon medal ceremony)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;When Ilia lands those quad elements cleanly, his technical advantage is decisive.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Figure skating analyst (on-air commentary)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: formats and scoring<\/summary>\n<p>The Olympic women\u2019s team combined in alpine pairs a speed run with a slalom leg; teams\u2019 total times decide standings and medals. In figure skating, the short program sets starting order and awards points for required elements; the free skate (on Friday for men) carries higher base value and often determines final podiums. Mixed doubles curling features two players per team, six ends, and a pre-placed pair of stones per end, intensifying strategic calls \u2014 a single draw or takeout in the final end often decides the match.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>No official explanation has been released for the specific technical issue(s) that slowed Mikaela Shiffrin\u2019s slalom leg; equipment or course conditions have not been confirmed as factors.<\/li>\n<li>Sturla Holm Laegreid did not identify the person he referenced in his televised personal statement; details about the relationship and its status remain private and unverified.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Day 4 reinforced that depth and execution matter as much as star power: the U.S. women\u2019s hockey team combined role-player contributions with top-end talent to produce a lopsided win over Canada, while a single off-performance cost a heavy favorite in the alpine combined. Ilia Malinin\u2019s short program restored a technical storyline to men\u2019s skating, but the free skate will decide how that lead converts to medals.<\/p>\n<p>As the Games move into elimination rounds and free skates later in the week, expect narrow margins, strategic conservatism from favorites and continued volatility where single elements or stones determine outcomes. For viewers and national teams, the focus will be on recovery, tactical adjustments and minimizing small errors that carry outsized consequences at this level.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7036946\/2026\/02\/10\/olympics-recap-usa-womens-hockey-shiffrin-malinin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The New York Times \u2014 Athletic coverage of Day 4 (media)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/olympics.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Olympic Games official results and schedules (official)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcolympics.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NBC Olympics \u2014 broadcast reports (broadcaster)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrk.no\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NRK \u2014 Norwegian broadcaster (media)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead On Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, at venues across Milan and Cortina, several headline stories unfolded on Day 4 of the Winter Olympics: the United States women\u2019s hockey team routed Canada 5\u20130 in Milano Santagiulia, Mikaela Shiffrin suffered an uncharacteristic slalom leg that cost a U.S. alpine combined medal, and 21-year-old Ilia Malinin topped the &#8230; <a title=\"Day 4 recap \u2014 U.S. women dominate, Shiffrin falters, Malinin leads at 2026 Olympics\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/usa-womens-hockey-shiffrin-malinin\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Day 4 recap \u2014 U.S. women dominate, Shiffrin falters, Malinin leads at 2026 Olympics\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18906,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Day 4: U.S. women dominate; Malinin leads | Olympics Daily","rank_math_description":"Day 4 of the 2026 Winter Olympics saw the U.S. women rout Canada 5\u20130, Shiffrin lose time in the team combined, and Ilia Malinin top the men\u2019s short program with 108.16. Read the full recap.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"usa-womens-hockey,mikaela-shiffrin,ilia-malinin,mixed-doubles-curling,sturla-laegreid","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18908","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18908"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18908\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18906"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}