1. First medal event in alpine skiing: A strong contingent from the Canadian Cowboys alpine ski team will make their Sochi debut at the men’s downhill event. Erik Guay, who narrowly missed the podium in Turin with an Olympic-best fourth-place finish in the Super G, is competing in his third Games and is looking to achieve just about the only thing he hasn’t in a decorated career by capturing an Olympic medal. He’s joined by fellow Cowboys Jan Hudec and Manny Osborne-Paradis, who celebrates his 30th birthday today. So he has that going for him. Which is nice. This is one of eight medal events happening in Sochi today. 2 a.m. EST
2. Nesbitt’s first crack at the podium in Sochi: London, Ont.’s Christine Nesbitt won gold in Vancouver in the 1,000m speed skating race, and competes in Sunday’s 3,000m event. (Cindy Klassen holds Canada’s best-ever result in this competition, winning bronze in both Salt Lake City in 2002 and Turin in 2006.) Another notable Canadian racing is Danielle Wotherspoon-Gregg, sister of former Olympic medallist Jeremy Wotherspoon and wife of Jamie Gregg, who is also in Sochi competing in long-track speed skating. 6:30 a.m. EST
3. Team figure skating wrap: After the best skaters of the top 10 figure skating countries have competed in each discipline over four days (with the first events taking place the day before the Opening Ceremony), medals in the first-ever team figure skating event will be awarded following the final program, the ice dance free dance. Russia, highlighted by Evgeni Plushenko’s first-place comeback performance, currently sits atop the standings with Canada behind at No. 2. In addition to the ice dance free dance, the women’s and men’s free skate will also happen today. Medals are awarded to nations based on cumulative scores in all team events. 10 a.m. EST
4. Spencer O’Brien goes for gold: After finishing third in qualifying, Courtenay, B.C.’s Spencer O’Brien secured a spot in the women’s slopestyle finals. This is the first Olympic appearance for both the event and O’Brien, although she has a strong pedigree, including gold at the 2013 FIS World Championships, and four X-games medals. 1:30 a.m. EST
5. Busy day at the Laura Center: The venue serving as home base for all cross-country skiing and biathlon events will see two medal events take place today. First up is the men’s skiathlon, combining 15 km of classic technique (with skis confined to pre-made tracks in the snow) and 15 km of freestyle (exactly as it sounds). Among the notable Canadians competing is 2013 World Championship bronze medallist (sprint classic) Alex Harvey; Russian-born Ivan Babikov; and Devon Kershaw. Later in the day, the women’s biathlon 7.5 km sprint will take place, with Red Deer’s Zina Kocher standing an outside shot at medalling. 5 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. EST