For three days during the 2026 Winter Olympics, the men’s hockey tournament continues to generate excitement. Whether it was close matches or thrilling matches, the tournament did not fail to entertain. Heading into the penultimate day of the preliminary round, all four Group B teams will play out their final matches as they look to secure a strong position heading into the knockout stages of the tournament.
Sweden vs Slovakia (6:10)
As the Swedes enter their third match of the tournament, they are still looking for their first win of the 2026 Olympics. In their most recent defeat, they lost 4-1 to Finland on February 13. Their goaltending has been disappointing so far and they will need everyone in the net to play a stronger game if they want to win their final match in the preliminary round. A shakeup in the lineup could be a route to getting the attack going for Sweden as well.
Overall, the Swedes once again have the advantage in skill and depth over their opponent, but execution will be the name of the game if they are to beat Slovakia today.
Slovakia will go into today’s match after a hard-fought win over the host country, Italy, on February 13. Juraj Slafovský (Montreal Canadiens) continued their strong start to the Olympics with another point in their 3-2 win over the Italians and they are getting production from their top players but will need to get a little more out of the rest of their lineup if they want to send the Swedes into the qualifiers winless.
Favorite: Sweden
Germany vs Latvia (6:10)
Two teams battling for what will likely be second place in Group C behind the United States, this match should be a tight contest. The Germans come into the match having won their opening match February 12 against Denmark. Unsurprisingly, they were led up front by Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers) and Tim Stützle (Ottawa Senators) up front in the win, and these two will once again be key players for the Germans against Latvia. Dealing with the hard-working Latvians and taking advantage of what is given to them will be crucial for Germany to achieve their second victory at this year’s Olympic Games.
Latvia lost 5-1 to the United States in their first match, and while the Germans have the talent in Draisaitl, Stützle and JJ Peterka (Utah Mammoth), they don’t possess the depth that the Americans do, so the Latvians could use their non-stop, in-your-face style of play to get some extra attacking opportunities. In Latvia’s loss to the United States, Alberts Šmits, who will be eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, was solid and looked at home against some of the best players the Americans have to offer.
Who will be in net for Latvia will be something to keep an eye on as Elvis Merzlikins (Columbus Blue Jackets) was pulled against the United States in favor of Artūs Šilovs (Pittsburgh Penguins). Whoever is between the pipes will be counted on to keep Germany’s star players at bay.
Favorite: Germany
Finland vs Italy (10:40)
A rebound game against Sweden in their second match at the Olympics puts Finland in a solid spot heading into their final match of the preliminary round. The Finns got a very strong performance from Juuse Saros (Nashville Predators) and stopped 34 shots in their 4-1 win over the Swedes. In an important match for seeding purposes, he could very well be in line to play his third match in a row. The depth of the Finnish squad also came to the fore with contributions throughout the line-up. If they can get this out of the lineup again, they should have great success against Italy.
The Italians put up a strong fight in both matches at this year’s Olympic Games, although they fell short in both matches. They will have to continue that play against the Finns again to have a chance in this match. After falling just short against the Slovaks yesterday, they could bring some momentum into today’s match and certainly won’t make things easy for Finland. But ultimately, the Finnish depth and overall talent will likely be too much for Italy to keep up with.
Favorite: Finland
United States vs. Denmark (3:10 PM)
After putting in a very strong performance in their opening win against the Latvians, the Americans enter the match against Denmark with a lot of momentum and confidence. They got contributions and strong play from every line against Latvia, and that can be expected again if they want to go 2-0 in the preliminary round. Keeping the Danes’ likely starting goaltender, Frederik Andersen (Carolina Hurricanes), busy will be key for the Americans to get off to a strong start and build an early lead.
Related: Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey tournament
Denmark will face a huge uphill battle to retain the Americans’ skill and depth in this game. Players like Nikolaj Ehlers (Carolina Hurricanes) and Oliver Bjorkstrand (Tampa Bay Lightning) will likely play more than 20 minutes again today and will be counted on to spark an attack. At the back of the ice, they will need strong defense and goaltending from whoever is in net (likely Andersen) to keep things close.
Favorite: United States
Tournament in full swing
Now that every team has played at least once, the 2026 Men’s Olympic Tournament is in full swing. Things are starting to take shape, and today’s four matches will certainly be the most important for each country as they look to finish their preliminary round on a high note (Group B) or prepare well for their third match on February 15.
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