TAKING CENTER STAGE

MEN’S HOCKEY

The U.S. hockey team has been saying the games don’t really matter until the single-elimination round begins. Right. They won’t be saying that after facing the Canadians.

SPEEDSKATING

In the men’s 1,000 meters, listen for the clicks. The boot of the clapskate lifts up at the heel. The blade stays on the ice. When they come together again, there it is.

FREESTYLE SKIING

In the crowd-pleasing aerials, athletes flip high in the air off ramps and are judged for height of the leap and difficulty of the tricks they perform while airborne. Sort of like Kobe Bryant.