5 must-watch Olympic events

Think of the Winter Olympics as a primetime TV miniseries.

Certainly, the Opening Ceremony, a musical extravaganza/flag-waving showcase that usually draws in tons of viewers, will receive a lot of attention. But if great competition, athleticism and story lines are your thing, here are five nights you won't want to miss:

Feb. 17 and Feb. 18

Get a double dose of snowboarding on back-to-back nights.

The men's halfpipe takes center stage Feb. 17, and the women's halfpipe follows the next day.

Feb. 21

"Getcha popcorn ready" when the U.S. hockey team takes on the Games' host country, traditionally tough Canada. Much of the NHL's top talent comes from north of our nation's border, so expect that the U.S. men will make it a point of pride to win this one.

Feb. 23 and Feb. 25

Not into tangos or triple salchows landed to Tchaikovsky? Get over it. The women's figure-skating program dominates the Olympics, and this year should be no exception. The women's short program is set for Feb. 23. The free-skating program is Feb. 25.