2026 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey Quarterfinals Preview

Last Updated on February 17, 2026 1:39 pm by Erwin Noguera

The men’s ice hockey quarterfinals at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina feature three confirmed matchups that will shape the road to the Olympic medals.

After a thrilling preliminary round with NHL players back in Olympic competition for the first time since 2014, the top teams have secured quarterfinal berths. Canada, Slovakia, Finland, and the United States earned direct spots based on group performance, while Germany and Switzerland advanced through qualification games. Latvia and Sweden will battle out to see who will take the spot against the United States.

At Gambyl Casino, the action goes beyond the field. Explore all Winter Olympics predictions and Odds while enjoying a complete Online Casino experience, with fast action and intuitive gameplay.

Winter Olympics Ice Hockey Quarterfinals: Slovakia vs. Germany

Slovakia enters the quarterfinals as the number three seed, having topped Group B by virtue of goal differential after round-robin play. They posted a 2-1-0 record, including a strong opening win over Finland, and earned respect for consistent team defense and opportunistic scoring. Dalibor Dvorsky and Martin Gernat have been offensive catalysts throughout the preliminaries, providing timely goals and supporting disciplined team defense.

Germany, on the other hand, advanced through the qualification playoff by defeating France 5-1, a game in which Leon Draisaitl and JJ Peterka provided key scoring punch and confirmed Germany’s capability to perform in knockout hockey. Leon Draisaitl leads the German attack with power-play scoring ability, while Philipp Grubauer’s goaltending anchors the defensive effort.

Slovakia’s balanced approach and intact group-stage momentum make them slight favorites, but Germany’s top-line talent and playoff resilience mean this will likely be a tightly contested affair. A disciplined Slovak defensive showing could tip the balance if Germany cannot generate consistent secondary scoring.

Slovakia vs. Germany Betting Pick: Slovakia

Winter Olympics Ice Hockey Quarterfinals: Canada vs. Czechia

Canada soared through the preliminary round as the number one overall seed, finishing unbeaten with a 3-0-0 record and dominating France 10-2 to secure top positioning. Stars like Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Macklin Celebrini fueled Canada’s potent offense, which led the tournament in goals and power-play success.

Czechia’s path has been more turbulent. After a heavy loss to Canada early in the tournament, Czechia rebounded with a win over France, and their final preliminary game (a loss in overtime to Switzerland) showed competitiveness but inconsistency. Czechia has struggled to match the offensive firepower of the top seeds.

Canada enters as the overwhelming favorite in this quarterfinal. Their depth, high offensive output, and dominant preliminary showing make them hard to beat. Unless Czechia tightens gaps defensively and capitalizes on limited scoring chances, Canada is expected to control all sides of the game.

Canada vs. Czechia Betting Pick: Canada

Winter Olympics Ice Hockey Quarterfinals: Finland vs. Switzerland

Finland punched their quarterfinal ticket with solid group-stage form, earning six points and finishing among the top group winners alongside Slovakia. Finland’s roster blends top NHL players with a collective discipline and strong special-team play. Players such as Sebastian Aho and Mikko Rantanen provide offensive punch, while solid goaltending and structured defensive units give them a balanced attack.

Switzerland, on the other hand, advanced via the qualification round, including an exciting 4-3 overtime victory over Czechia, controlled largely by opportunistic scoring and resilient defense.

Finland enters as the favorite in this matchup due to greater consistency and offensive firepower displayed in preliminary play. Switzerland’s momentum from their qualification victory and character in close games keeps them competitive, but Finland’s blend of scoring and structure should prevail over 60 minutes.

Finland vs. Switzerland Betting Pick: Finland