A daily guide to watching the Games

NBCOlympics.com will live stream all events except for the Opening Ceremony. Check the Star Tribune's daily TV listings and event schedule for exact times throughout the Games, and follow startribune.com for instant results from all events.

Friday

The Opening Ceremony will be televised from 6:30-10:30 p.m. Central time, with Bob Costas, Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira.

Saturday

Let the Games begin: Gold medals will be awarded in six events, including pairs team figure skating, where Meryl Davis and Charlie White could be America's best hope for gold in that sport. The U.S. women's hockey team, with three Minnesotans, begins its quest for gold against Finland.

Sunday, Feb. 9

One of the premier events of the Games: the men's downhill. Also, Duluth's Anna Ringsred competes in the 3,000 meters in speedskating.

Both the U.S. men's and women's curling teams begin play. The rosters feature numerous Minnesotans, including men's skip John Shuster of Duluth.

Tuesday, Feb. 11

Bloomington's Keri Herman competes in the women's slopestyle free skiing. But the stories of the day are likely to be the debut of women's ski jumping after a 10-year battle with Olympic authorities, and Shaun White's attempt to win a third consecutive gold medal in the men's halfpipe.

Wednesday, Feb. 12

The U.S. women's hockey team meets its chief rival, Canada. The women's downhill takes place, without injured Lindsey Vonn.

The U.S. men's hockey team, featuring the Wild's Zach Parise, Ryan Suter and numerous others with Minnesota ties, opens group play against Slovakia.

Friday, Feb. 14

Gold will be awarded in the men's free program in figure skating, and the super combined (downhill and slalom) takes place on Rosa Khutor.

Saturday, Feb. 15

Afton's Jessie Diggins could become the first U.S. woman to medal in cross-country skiing when she competes in the 4x5 relay. The U.S. men take on an old rival in hockey, Russia.

It's an early wake-up call for viewers as the U.S. men's hockey team faces Slovenia (6:30 a.m. Central time). In curling, both the U.S. men and women go against Canada.

Monday, Feb. 17

It's an ice hockey doubleheader in the women's semifinals, and gold is up for grabs in ice dancing with the free dance program.

Tuesday, Feb. 18

The men's ice hockey qualification round takes place with four games, paring the tournament to the final eight.

At last, the women's figure skating competition begins with the short program. South Korea's Kim Yu-na is the favorite to win gold.

Thursday, Feb. 20

Will the U.S. women's team take gold in ice hockey? The championship game is 11 a.m. Central time. At the Iceberg Skating Palace, gold also will be awarded in women's figure skating.

Friday, Feb. 21

The men compete for gold in curling. Over at the Bolshoy Ice Dome, the semifinals take place in men's hockey. Games are scheduled for 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. Central time.

The four-man bobsled begins, and for pure fun, there's the Gala Exhibition in figure skating.

Sunday, Feb. 23