Olympic males’s hockey quarterfinals: Breaking down the matchups for Canada, USA and extra

The Athletic has dwell protection of Canada vs Czechia within the 2026 Winter Olympics males’s hockey quarterfinal.

MILAN — The quarterfinals on the Olympic males’s hockey event are set following Tuesday’s qualifying-round motion. Here’s a take a look at all 4 of Wednesday’s matchups.

No. 7 Sweden vs. No. 2 USA

There’s no disgrace in silver. But for the world’s best hockey gamers, notably these from one of many world’s best hockey nations, there’s not precisely a ton of pleasure in it, both.

“I’ve got a silver medal at home,” Sweden’s Gabriel Landeskog stated. “And I guess it’s something that sits there. Doesn’t mean as much as if it would have been a gold medal. If it’s a gold medal, it’s very different. We all want to win; that’s what we were kind of bred to do.”

Sweden’s street to gold begins in earnest Wednesday evening towards the United States, a gold-medal-level matchup that’s taking place within the quarterfinals due to Slovakia’s stunning Group B victory. After three round-robin video games and Tuesday’s perfunctory 5-1 rout of Latvia, the true do-or-die video games begin now. And whereas Canada and the United States — the opposite two gold-medal favorites — cruised into the quarters with three simple wins and a bye, Team Sweden has scuffled and shuffled its manner right here.

And they is likely to be higher off for it.

“You can cruise through it and then all of a sudden you’re tested in a way you weren’t prepared for,” Sweden coach Sam Hallam stated. “It gives you a better feeling now that we’ve had these small things go wrong every game and had to look at things, adjust small things.”

It’s one thing Landeskog is getting a style of with the Colorado Avalanche this season. After top-of-the-line begins in NHL historical past — 31-2-7 — the Avs have misplaced 9 of their final 15 video games. Hardly a disaster, however doubtlessly helpful in the long term.

“That’s the same as over there, same as in the NHL,” Landeskog stated. “You’re going to run into adversity at some point, and how you manage that is how you’re going to define yourself as a group, and how you handle that is up to us in the locker room. We’ve stumbled in the tournament so far. We’ve also shown some really good things, so for us, it’s just a matter of continuing to build, understanding that hopefully we’ve got another week to go here and understanding that we need to be playing our best hockey at the most important time, which is right now.”

The U.S., in the meantime, caught one thing of a foul break by advantage of Slovakia’s group win. Instead of dealing with a second-tier staff, the second-seeded Americans get a seventh-seeded Swedish staff stuffed with NHL stars.

“(Wednesday) could be our last day,” U.S. defenseman Quinn Hughes stated. “So we’ve got to be prepared. Playing a really good team.”

Based on Tuesday’s observe, U.S. coach Mike Sullivan appears to have locked his traces in place, with Jack Eichel centering Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, Auston Matthews centering Jake Guentzel and Matt Boldy, and Dylan Larkin centering Clayton Keller and Tage Thompson. Keller changed Kyle Connor within the final group-stage recreation, because the Winnipeg Jets star finds himself a wholesome scratch on the worldwide stage for the second time in 12 months, following final yr’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

The Americans definitely have an edge in purpose. Connor Hellebuyck is sharp and rested, whereas Hallam should both go together with Jacob Markström for the second time in 21 hours or with Filip Gustavsson (who was just a little shaky towards Italy and Finland) or 23-year-old Jesper Wallstedt (who has but to play on this event).

The U.S. hasn’t but been at its finest — at the very least, what must be its finest given the expertise on the roster — on this event. The Americans’ recreation has been just a little inconsistent, just a little scruffy. But they really feel they’re getting nearer to their ceiling. No time like the current to seek out it.

“I think we’re just continuing to find our game,” stated Jack Hughes, on the fourth line with Brock Nelson and J.T. Miller. “Getting more comfortable with each other, more comfortable with the systems. Obviously now it’s the quarters, so you’ve got to really lock in. But it’s such a short tournament. You’ve got to find your game early. Play each game with the same intensity and play hard.”

Added Dylan Larkin: “It’s nerve-wracking. It is. It will get you going, and I believe that is what brings out the perfect in guys. I’m excited for it. Every play, each puck’s going to matter.”

After the Swedes’ win over Latvia, their consideration turned instantly to the Americans. The final time these two groups met, on the 4 Nations, Sweden eked out a 2-1 victory.

“We’ve got to stay out of the box,” stated Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman, who famous that “selfishly” he was glad to get an additional recreation in as he works his manner again to midseason type after lacking almost two months with an harm. “They’ve got a phenomenal power play, a lot of weapons on it. It hasn’t been too long since we played them in 4 Nations, but obviously some different personnel, Quinn Hughes is back. We’ve just got to make sure that we’re physical on their skill, try to stay out of the box, and play a patient game.”

No. 8 Czech Republic vs. No. 1 Canada

It is a rematch of the Olympic opener for each groups after Team Canada trounced the Czech Republic 5-0 final Thursday.

“I think last time we actually had a decent start against Canada, we had some chances, we know what we need to do, we have to play simple, put (pucks) behind, get a good forecheck, get to the net and find a way to score at least some goals,’’ Czech center Tomáš Hertl said after his team’s 3-2 win Tuesday over Denmark in the qualifying playoffs. “We can’t be scared. If we wait and wait, we know what they can do. They have the best player on the planet on the team. They can destroy you.

“You have to just play with confidence,” continued the Vegas Golden Knights heart. “We can’t think about who is on the ice, because all four lines are good for them. You have to enjoy it and play hard. It’s one game, you know? You never know what can happen. We can get some bounces, we can score early, and it can go our way.”

But Hertl confused once more that what the Czechs can’t do is simply sit again.

Besides, Hertl joked, it’s all a part of their plan proper now, taking part in Canada twice in six days.

“That was our plan as a result of we stated we in all probability can’t beat Canada in the identical event twice,” he said, smiling. “We gave them the primary win so now it’s our time!”

Veteran defenseman Radko Gudas said staying out of the penalty box against the No. 1-ranked power play in the tournament (44 percent) is paramount.

“They have some unbelievable players on their power play,” Gudas said. “Then putting pucks in areas where we can get it back, make sure that we make them turn every time. It’s going to be a great challenge for us. It’s going to be fun.

“Anyone who can’t get motivated for that game tomorrow, there’s something seriously wrong with them. They shouldn’t be playing hockey. So it’s going to be a great challenge for us but we’re looking forward to it. If we want to get a medal, we have to beat the best teams.”

The Czechs were a little too cautious and looked nervous early on in their win over Denmark on Tuesday. It wasn’t a very convincing performance. They’ll need a much better effort Wednesday.

Canadian captain Sidney Crosby was asked Tuesday after practice what significance, if any, there would be to play the Czechs again for the second time in six days.

“Maybe a bit extra acquainted,’’ Crosby stated. “But at this level, you’ve obtained to go on the market and play the sport and execute. So no matter what number of occasions you performed one another, I believe you continue to obtained to go on the market and do it.”

Added Bo Horvat: “I obviously expect them to play us hard again. They played us hard the first game. You know, they’ve continued to keep getting better throughout the tournament, and we got to be ready to go, for sure.”

The Czechs did try to set a noticeable physical tempo in the opener, but it didn’t produce the desired results. Canada didn’t back down on the physical stuff.

“I thought we matched that really well,” Horvat said. “We try to match anybody that we play. They came out hard and they came out strong and I thought we matched that really well. So we expect them to come out harder. Playing us hard again. So we’ve got to match that again.”

Team Canada veteran Brad Marchand could be back in the lineup Wednesday and may get another crack at facing former Bruins teammate David Pastrňák, with whom he says he’s remained close.

“I love Pasta,” said Marchand. “… I’ve loved where his game has gotten. He’s such a competitor. He was always a great player, but he was streaky early on. He’d get really hot and then really cold. He works extremely hard at his game and he’s become one of the top-five players in the game. He’s incredible, the way he controls the play every time he’s on the ice. His consistency level is at the top of the league. It’s really incredible what he’s done. And it doesn’t matter who he’s playing with. You could put him with the top guys on the team or some younger guys who are just learning the game and he’s going to affect the game the same way. He’s a very, very impressive player.”

Pastrňák had an assist in Sunday’s game but overall, still not the kind of play expected from a star of his caliber.

“Honestly, I have not performed my finest right here but, so simply ready, and hopefully I saved it for tomorrow,’’ Pastrňák stated after the sport Tuesday.

Martin Nečas of the Colorado Avalanche scored once more Sunday on a blistering slap shot to the highest nook. He’s been carrying the Czechs thus far.

“His ability of skating and escaping in the tight spaces, he’s an incredible skater and he’s becoming a star year by year,’’ Pastrňák said of Necas.” Every year he’s getting better. It’s fun to see. Really happy for him, and glad I can help him out, and he knows I’m here for him. He’s fun to watch.”

No. 5 Switzerland vs. No. 4 Finland

This has upset potential, though Finland has rebounded strongly ever since opening the Olympics with a 4-1 loss to Slovakia, beating rival Sweden 4-1 and smoking Italy 11-0.

“Amazing team and amazing players,’’ Swiss captain Roman Josi said after the game Tuesday of Finland. “Every time the Finns play a tournament, whether it’s world championships or Olympics, they are always one of the favorites. They play really good as a team, so we will have to be at our best.”

Still, the Swiss are back-to-back silver medalists on the IIHF World Championships and have gained three of their 4 video games following Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Italy within the qualifying playoffs.

The Swiss additionally obtained a lift towards Italy with the return of defenseman Andrea Glauser from a suspected concussion. Though he solely performed just a little below 11 minutes and didn’t begin the sport with Josi, his common companion, the truth that he was in uniform bodes nicely for his availability towards Finland.

The Finns could be sensible to remain out of the field; Switzerland has the third-ranked energy play within the event at 31 p.c after scoring two extra with the person benefit Tuesday. The Swiss even have the second-ranked penalty kill (92 p.c) within the event.

But, as Josi famous, Finland is all the time a medal menace — the nation has didn’t medal at solely one of many 5 Olympics that included NHL gamers — and this yr is not any totally different.

Finland is all the time outlined by staff play and protection; the Finns have allowed two five-on-five targets at these Olympics.

“(The) win against Sweden showed for ourselves how we have to play to be able to win. It’s going to be like that in the next round,” Finland captain Mikael Granlund stated after the win towards Italy. “It’s going to be a highly skilled game where we have to be at our best all the time. (We’re) a really experienced group. We know what we need to do to be able to win games. That’s what we have to focus on.”

No. 6 Germany vs. No. 3 Slovakia

Just 21 hours after beating France to advance to the quarterfinals, Germany will probably be taking part in Slovakia in a win-or-go-home recreation. It’ll be Germany’s third recreation in 4 days, and fifth in seven. Slovakia, in the meantime, will probably be coming off three straight off days.

Can adrenaline make up the restoration hole for Germany? This is the Olympics, in any case.

“It’ll help for sure,” German captain Leon Draisaitl stated after an uneventful 5-1 victory over France on Tuesday. “It’s a big game, it’s a do-or-die game, right? So adrenaline will be going. We’ll make sure we’ll be ready to go.”

Thanks to Slovakia’s group win, eighth-ranked Germany gained’t should face any of the standard powers within the quarterfinal. In reality, with Draisaitl, Tim Stützle, JJ Peterka, Moritz Seider and Philipp Grubauer in internet, Germany could possibly be seen as the favourite, regardless of their unremarkable group-stage efficiency. (And have been Germany to win, and the opposite favorites prevail, the semifinals could be Canada-Germany and U.S.-Finland, that means a vastly more durable street to a gold medal for the Americans than the Canadians.) But Slovakia gained that group for a cause. Juraj Slafkovský and the Slovaks are rested and driving excessive. It gained’t be simple.

“It’s always a great game against them, always hard,” Germany’s Nico Sturm stated. “Especially when we play them, it’s always a battle. I expect a grind from start to finish.”

Neither staff was thought of a critical contender coming into this event, but certainly one of them will probably be taking part in for a medal. And each have good cause to assume it’ll be them.

“It’s in your head, but you don’t want to focus on that, you want to focus on the game and just play your best game and then we will see how it ends up,” Slovak defenseman Šimon Nemec stated. “We just have to play our best game, just put 100 percent effort and we will see. But yeah, we know we have a big chance to win.”

“We’re one game away from it, so we think about it and prepare the best way we can for (Wednesday),” stated ahead Dalibor Dvorský. “The people (back home) are really happy. The whole nation is watching. We just love playing good for our country and hopefully we can make our fans even more happy in the next two games here.”

Sturm stated Slafkovský is changing into one of many elite purpose scorers and playmakers within the NHL. His 10 targets in 10 Olympic Games since 2022 is the stuff of legends. So Germany higher relaxation up.

“It’s important what we do now for the next 20 hours,” Sturm stated. “Probably not going to have a ton of beers.”