Olympics Daily Guide: What to watch Wednesday, Feb. 21

Wednesday’s lineup for the 2018 Winter Olympics includes some high-flying action, and some very winnable medals for the United States. Beginning and ending the evening with the men’s alpine skiing slalom event, the in-between is packed with big-air tricks in the men’s freeski halfpipe and some board-bashing aggression in the women’s hockey gold medal match between the USA and Canada.

During the qualifying runs for the men’s freeski halfpipe event, Team USA proved that they sent four gold medal contenders to Pyeongchang, and could even pull off a podium sweep by Wednesday night’s end — a feat they achieved at last month’s X Games.

The U.S. skiers took the top three spots after the qualifying round, with Aaron Blunck bouncing back from a fall on his first run to post the top score of the round (94.40). Blunck was the only American competing in the Olympics to not take home a medal during the X Games, but it looks like he plans on making up for it in Pyeongchang.

”I’m so beyond stoked,” Blunck said, according to NBC. ”It’s definitely the most nervous I’ve ever been [before I was] about to drop in. I was just freaking out up top and said to myself, ‘Whatever happens, happens.’”

Rounding out the top of the pack, were Americans Alex Ferreira at No. 2 (92.60) and Torin Yater-Wallace at No. 3 (89.60). Teammate David Wise — who took gold at the X Games — fell on his first run and went with a more conservative run to ensure a spot in the finals, finishing the day in eighth place (79.60). The best 12 skiers advance to the final, so Wise was safe.

”I never got to do my right [double cork 1260], which is always one of my harder tricks for qualification day,” Wise said following his run, according to NBC. “So I actually fell on it first run, and I just decided, ‘You know what, today is not the day to go for glory and try to win the contest’ The task of qualifiers is to qualify. So I took the right dub 12 out of my run, did a two-handed grab on my right [900] and landed it.”

We’ll see if Wise has better luck on Wednesday night, and whether or not the Americans can pull off another podium sweep.

You can find live streaming of all events at NBC’s Olympics site.

Event: Men’s alpine skiing: Slalom
Time: Run 1: 8:15 p.m. ET | Run 2: 11:45 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Online Streaming: NBC Olympics | FuboTV

Event: Men’s freestyle skiing: Halfpipe
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Online Streaming: NBC Olympics | FuboTV

Event: Women’s hockey finals: USA vs. Canada
Time: 11:10 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN
Online Streaming: NBC Olympics | FuboTV

The United States is sitting pretty, ranked No. 5 in medals won thus far in Pyeongchang, with 16 total (six gold, four silver, six bronze). Two more medals were added to the list on Tuesday, with Lindsey Vonn taking home the bronze in the women’s alpine skiing downhill final, and Team USA taking gold for the women’s CC skiing team spring final.

“Of course I would have liked a gold medal,” Vonn said, via NBC. “But, I mean, honestly, this is amazing, and I’m so proud.”

Wednesday night’s Olympic lineup could prove very fruitful for the American medal count, with all four U.S. athletes making it the the men’s freeski halfpipe final (9:30 p.m. ET), the men’s alpine skiing slalom final (11:45 p.m. ET), and an epic battle between the USA and Canada in the women’s hockey gold medal game (11:10 p.m. ET).