Men's hockey Team USA vs Slovakia live stream: Watch online free Olympics in Sochi, Thursday at 7:30 a.m. ET as it gets underway for Group A as the US looks to get back to the gold medal game.

This will be the first game for both teams as Group A gets underway at the 2014 Winter Olympics. It took a goal with less than a minute left for Team USA to force overtime in the gold medal game four years ago vs Canada. They ultimately lost in overtime and look to be one bit higher on the podium this go around. Watch the free live stream online as a tough Slovakia team looks to prove their worth.

Watch the free live stream online of Team USA vs Slovakia for men's hockey at the Olympics

Date: Thursday Feb. 13
Start Time: 7:30 a.m. ET
TV Info: NBCSN
Live Stream: NBC Olympics Live Extra or NBC Olympics.com     

Four years ago Jonathan Quick was the third goaltender for the United States in Vancouver. Since then Quick has won a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe Trophy and played in back-to-back Western Conference Finals for the Los Angeles Kings. American coach Dan Bylsma told Quick at practice Wednesday that the goaltender will make the start against Slovakia, according to NHL.com.

"It was pretty casual," Quick said. "We were on the ice stretching and he just came over and said it. We have three great goalies on this team and everyone wants to start. I'm just fortunate for the opportunity and want to make the best of it."

The Buffalo Sabres' Ryan Miller, the MVP of the 2010 Olympic tournament and the starting goaltender in Vancouver, will be the backup and could start Friday against Russia, but that will be determined following Thursday's opener.

"It was the coach's decision," Miller told NHL.com. "Obviously I want to play and compete and do my part. Right now I will just back up Jon. He's a great goalie and he is going to do great for us. We'll see where it goes from here and I'll just be ready to play.

Zdeno Chara left the Bruins a few games early to be a torch-carrier for the opening ceremony for his home-country of Slovakia.

"I don't think we will ever be among the favorites," captain Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins told the IIHF website. "We won't go into the World Championships or into any kind of tournaments as a favorite. But we do have potential and when we play as a team, as we have shown before, we can be a very strong team. But honestly, to predict who will win or even who will be the toughest team to beat is hard."