There is mutual respect among the Colorado Avalanche’s Olympic players when they face each other, even with their country’s pride at stake. Despite being professionals, it is “a different ball game.”

Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Devon Toews are playing together for Team Canada. The trio could face Team Sweden’s Gabriel Landeskog in the tournament.

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Canada finished the preliminary round undefeated in first place, earning a bye to the quarterfinals. Sweden will play Latvia on Tuesday to determine whether they advance or if a defeat will end their run.

While the teams have not faced each other yet, there is a possibility that they will. If Sweden qualifies, they play Team USA in the quarterfinals. A Team Sweden victory over the USA would send them to the semifinals.

If Canada earns a victory over the winner of the Czechia/Denmark matchup, the teams could go head-to-head in the next round.

“We’re all professional enough … we all know we can be teammates here one week, and then we go there and we put our country’s jerseys on and play for our countries. It’s a different ball game,” Landeskog said.

While the Avalanche’s chemistry has made them successful in the NHL, friends become foes once the puck drops on the international stage. Canada beat Martin Necas and Team Czechia in the prelims. Team Finland’s Joel Kiviranta and Artturi Lehkonen took down Team Sweden’s captain Landeskog, 4-1.

Avalanche’s top D-pair shines in Olympics

Toews and Makar were the top defensive pair through the first three preliminary games, as expected.

“It’s the best because obviously we’re so familiar with each other …,” Makar said on Dec. 31 after Toews was named to the team. “I’m very fortunate to have a partner like him, and he definitely makes my life and my job a lot easier. Go to bed every night thinking about him, and I wake up in the morning thinking about Taser.”

The pair played together in the 4 Nations Face-Off last year, which Canada won. It was no surprise they remained together for the Olympics. The appreciation for each other is mutual, per Toews’ answer to describe his game in three words: “Pass to Cale.”

“Him (Toews) and Cale have been attached to the hip for years now, so didn’t see that changing going into the Olympics,” Landeskog said on New Year’s Eve. “Canada’s got a really good team, but happy to see all those guys going, and should be an exciting time here moving forward.”

Makar has a goal and three assists for four points in three games. Toews netted a goal in the 10-2 blowout victory over Team France.