No NHL boosts Russian hopes for Olympic gold in men's hockey

Finland's Sekari Manninen, right, scores his side's third goal as Russia's Vyacheslav Voynov fails to stop him during the Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Russia and Finland in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

United States' Jake Sanderson (8), Tanner Dickinson (71) and Chaz Lucius (28) celebrate a goal against Finland during the first period of an exhibition game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, before the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Russia's Vyacheslav Voynov, 2nd left, scores his side's opening goal past Sweden's goalie Magnus Hellberg goal during the Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Sweden and Russia in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

FILE - Michigan's Strauss Mann plays during an NCAA hockey game on Wednesday Dec. 8, 2020, in Ann Arbor, Mich. Former Michigan goaltender Strauss Mann, who is now playing in the Swedish Hockey League, is expected to be the U.S. starter for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The United States and other countries needed to pull from the college ranks and European leagues after the NHL decided not to send players to Beijing. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)

FILE - Sweden's Jakob De La Rose, center, makes an attempt to score against Czech Republic's goalie Simon Hrubec during the Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Czech Republic and Sweden in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. Former St. Louis, Detroit and Montreal center Jacob de La Rose is expected to play for Sweden at the Olympics after the NHL decided not to send players to Beijing. De La Rose played 259 NHL games.(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

FILE - Russia's Vyacheslav Voynov (27) celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Russia and Finland in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. Former Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov and the Russians are favored once again at the Olympics without NHL players. Voynov was part of the “Olympic Athletes from Russia” team that won gold in 2018 in Pyeongchang. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

Russia's Vadim Shipachyov celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Russia and Canada in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

FILE - New York Rangers coach David Quinn gestures from the bench during the third period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins in Boston on Jan. 19, 2019. On Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, Quinn was named the U.S. men's hockey coach and John Vanbiesbrouck general manager for the upcoming Winter Olympics after the NHL decided not to send players to Beijing. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm, File)

Russia's Vyacheslav Voynov, right, and Sweden's Emil Petterson battle for the puck during the Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Sweden and Russia in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

FILE - Finland's Leo Komarov speaks with referees during the Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Russia and Finland in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. Leo Komarov is expected to play for Finland at the Olympics after the NHL decided not to send players to Beijing. Komarov played in the NHL as recently as October, and he and the New York Islanders agreed to mutually terminate his contract in November.(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

FILE - North Dakota defenseman Jake Sanderson plays against Penn State during an NCAA college hockey game on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. USA Hockey and Hockey Canada are eyeing several college players to play at the Olympics after the NHL decided not to participate in Beijing. North Dakota’s Jake Sanderson has already agreed to play for the U.S. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)

FILE - Canada's Jason Demers, right, and Finland's Sekari Manninen battle for the puck during the Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Finland and Canada in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. Longtime NHL defenseman Jason Demers is expected to play for Canada at the upcoming Olympics after the NHL decided not to send players to Beijing. Demers played 760 NHL games for San Jose, Arizona, Dallas and Florida. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)

FILE - Canada's Owen Power (25) is chased by Czech Republic's Vojtech Jirus (25) during second-period IIHF world junior hockey championship game action in Edmonton, Alberta, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021. USA Hockey and Hockey Canada are eyeing several college players to play at the Olympics after the NHL decided not to participate in Beijing. Owen Power could suit up for Canada. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP, File)