N/A
The United States women's hockey team's decades-long rivalry with Canada will have a new chapter written Wednesday night when the teams face off in the gold-medal game of the 2022 Winter Olympics.
The U.S. and Canada were on a collision course for the championship match since the bracket was released prior to the start of the Beijing Games.
In the group stage, Canada gained the upper hand on the United States by way of a 4-2 victory. That result placed the North American rivals on opposite ends of the knockout-round bracket.
Canada reeled off 21 goals in its past two games to prepare for its second matchup with the Americans. The United States, meanwhile, netted four times in each of its elimination games.
Wednesday night's meeting is repeat of the past three Olympic gold-medal games. Canada won gold in 2010 and 2014, and the United States is the reigning champion.
USA vs. Canada Info
Date: Wednesday, February 16
Start Time: 11 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com and Peacock
Preview
The expected final of the women's hockey tournament was United States vs. Canada.
The North American rivals have dominated the competition for the past 12 years. Canada has two golds and the United States owns one from the past three Winter Games. In total, Canada is in possession of four gold medals, while the Americans have two. No other nation has won gold in women's hockey since it was introduced to the Olympic program in 1998.
Canada comes into the latest gold-medal showdown as the favorite since it won the Group A meeting and its offense has been on fire in Beijing.
Brianne Jenner and Sarah Fillier have combined for 17 goals in the tournament. The scoring leaderboard is loaded with Canadian players.
Jenner noted in her discussions with reporters that Canada needs to turn in a strong performance separate from the other games to win gold:
"I think we know that history, but we're going to give ourselves a blank slate. We've got to go out and have a gold-medal performance, whether it results in a gold medal (or not). We want to make sure we go out and get the best performance we possibly can."
Jamie Lee Rattay has five goals, while Sarah Nurse and Marie-Philip Poulin have four apiece for the deepest offense in the tournament.
The United States did its best to contain the Canadian goal-scorers in the first meeting. Canada scored four times, but that is a significantly lower total compared to the rest of its games. Canada has hit double figures in four of its six contests in Beijing.
The American defense must contain the Canadian attack to have any shot of repeating as the Olympic winner.
Team USA is excited for the chance to face Canada for gold once again, as captain Kendall Coyne Schofield noted, per John Wawrow of the Associated Press:
"These are the the games that we live for. Everyone's been so resilient through the pandemic with the ups and downs, the cancellations, postponements and finding ways to train, and it's for this moment. We're going to empty the tanks, and this is what we came here to do."
Coyne Schofield and Co. need to be cleaner than they were in the first two knockout-round games to match Canada's level.
The Americans did not put away the Czech Republic until the third period in the quarterfinals and they faced a fight for 40 minutes from Finland in the semifinals.
If the United States plays cleaner on both ends and can keep Canada under five goals again, it will have a shot at repeating as Olympic champion.
Canada's primary key is to pepper the American net with shots, and if it converts on a handful of those chances, it could run away with the contest.
Two powerhouses of men's hockey will square off in the final of four quarterfinal games at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Canada and Sweden rank first and fourth, respectively, in the all-time men's hockey medal standings.
Canada has the most gold medals in men's hockey, but its quest for a return to gold was detoured by a second-place finish in Group A.
The Canadians were forced to play China in the playoff round just to set up the clash with fourth-seeded Sweden on Wednesday morning.
Sweden was the best second-place finisher in the three groups. It earned seven of a possible nine points and beat out Canada in the seeding table by one point.
The winner of Wednesday's clash will take on the United States or Slovakia in the semifinals, while the loser makes an early exit from the competition.
Sweden vs. Canada Info
Date: Wednesday, February 16
Start Time: 8:30 a.m. ET
TV: USA Network
Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com and Peacock.
Odds: Available odds can be found on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Preview
Canada-Sweden is expected to be the closest of the four quarterfinals, and it is not just because of the proximity of their knockout-round seeding.
They are typically two of the strongest men's hockey nations at the Olympics and they are eight years removed from the gold-medal showdown won by Canada.
Canada's loss to the United States in Group A forced it below the top four in the seeding table. That result made it play an extra game on the Beijing ice.
Canada eliminated China with ease on Tuesday morning by way of a 7-2 result. The Canadians did not gain much from the expected result. They beat China twice by a combined score of 12-2.
The high-scoring games allowed Adam Tambellini to represent Canada atop the Olympic points chart after four games.
Tambellini leads the competition with seven points from three goals and four assists. Eric O'Dell and Kent Johnson also rank in the top 10 in points.
Sweden can match that firepower with its own offensive depth. Lucas Wallmark is tied for the tournament lead in goals with four, while Jonathan Pudas and Henrik Tommernes are among six players tied with four assists.
Sweden scored on 10 occasions in Group C play, but it did give up seven tallies, including four in an overtime loss to Finland.
There could be concerns about the Canadian defense as well since it let up four goals to the United States.
Canada conceded twice in the last two games, but both of those contests were against China, who was the worst squad in the 12-team tournament.
Canada needs a strong first period to keep the deep Sweden attack at bay. If that happens, it could take advantage of the Sweden defense with its strong attackers.
The margins are expected to be thin, and it may take one or two moments of brilliance for either team to stay alive in the medal hunt.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
Finland's attempt to return to the Winter Olympics medal stand continues on Wednesday morning against Switzerland.
Finland earned a silver or bronze medal in three of the last four Winter Games. It did not earn a medal four years ago because of a quarterfinal elimination.
The Finns asserted their dominance in Group C by beating Slovakia, Latvia and fellow medal contender Sweden to earn eight of a possible nine points. They earned two points for an overtime victory over Sweden.
Switzerland was forced into the playoff round after a fourth-place finish in Group B. The Swiss were the only lower seed to move on from that round, as they beat Czech Republic, 4-2.
Finland scored 13 goals in the group stage and Switzerland put four goals past the Czechs, so those totals may give us the highest-scoring quarterfinal matchup.
Finland vs. Switzerland Info
Date: Wednesday, February 16
Start Time: 3:40 a.m. ET
TV: USA Network
Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com and Peacock
Game Odds
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Puck Line: Finland (-1.5)
Over/Under: 5
Money Line: Finland (-255; bet $255 to win $100); Switzerland (+205; bet $100 to win $205)
Preview
Finland produced the second-best goal total in the group stage behind the United States.
The 13 goals allowed the Finns to earn the No. 2 seed in the knockout round. They sit on the same side of the knockout bracket as the Russian Olympic Committee.
Sakari Manninen and Miro Aaltonen combined for five goals in the group phase, while Teemu Hartikainen is tied with a handful of players for the tournament lead with four assists.
The deep Finnish attack could cause problems for the Swiss defense that let up eight goals in the group stage.
Switzerland played well against the ROC, but it conceded five times in its group-stage finale against Denmark.
The Swiss fixed some of their defensive issues in the 4-0 win over Czech Republic, but they need to be more consistent on that end to make a surprising run to the medal rounds.
Switzerland needs to contain the Finnish power play to have a chance of pulling off the most surprising win of the quarterfinal round.
Finland leads the tournament in power-play percentage at 44.4. The Finns scored four goals on nine opportunities with the man advantage in their favor.
It is worth noting the Czech Republic was second to Finland in power-play percentage and it failed to score versus Switzerland in the playoff round.
If Finland continues to find success on the power play, and it produces scoring attempts from all angles, like it did in the group stage, it should advance with ease.
Switzerland should come into Wednesday morning with a ton of confidence after its four-goal output, and if it could score more versus a Finland defense that conceded on six occasions in the group stage.
Finland should leave the ice with a victory, and if it does, it will likely set up a blockbuster clash in the semifinals against ROC.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
The Russian Olympic Committee and Denmark face off for the second time at the 2022 Winter Olympics in the quarterfinal round of the men's hockey tournament.
The ROC entered the competition as the favorite because of its deep roster of stars from the KHL.
ROC won its first two group games, including a 2-0 victory over Denmark, but then it fell to the Czech Republic in overtime.
The loss in the group stage finale dropped ROC to the No. 3 overall seed in the knockout round. It drew a matchup with No. 6 seed Denmark.
Denmark opened its elimination round slate with a 3-2 win over Latvia on Tuesday morning. The Danes have been a low-scoring side for most of the tournament, which means they will likely try to pull the upset with some strong defense.
ROC vs. Denmark Info
Date: Wednesday, February 16
Start Time: 1 a.m. ET
TV: USA Network
Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com or Peacock
Game Odds
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Puck Line: ROC (-1.5)
Over/Under: 5
Money Line: ROC (-475; bet $475 to win $100); Denmark (+350; bet $100 to win $350)
Preview
The Russian Olympic Committee entered China with the most talented roster on paper.
ROC jumped into the favorite role after the NHL pulled its players out of the tournament in late December.
The Group B winner looked strong in its first two games, as it shut out Switzerland and Denmark.
However, the ROC showed some signs of weakness in a 6-5 loss to Czech Republic. It gave up unanswered goal streaks of three and two in the group-stage finale.
ROC earned a point from the overtime loss, and that allowed it to top the group with seven points ahead of Denmark.
The Russian athletes should come into Wednesday morning with some extra motivation to prove the six-goal concession with more of an outlier to their defensive form.
That may hurt Denmark's chances of pulling off an upset. A ROC squad with a perfect group-stage record may have been a bit more complacent on the ice.
ROC's defense was the story of the Group B meeting between the two sides. It limited the Danes to 16 shots over 60 minutes.
Denmark stands a small chance to win if Sebastian Dahm turns in another solid game in net. He is second in the tournament in saves and owns a 93.88 save percentage.
Dahm's opposite number in goal could be even better in net. Ivan Fedotov allowed six goals on 90 shots on target and produced two shutouts in the group stage.
The play of both goalies could turn the quarterfinal clash into a low-scoring affair, and it could play out similar to the group game, where ROC's individual talent shined through on two goals to gain the win.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
The United States men's hockey team opens its knockout round action at the 2022 Winter Olympics late on Tuesday night.
The Americans will face Slovakia in the first of four quarterfinal matches set to take place over the next 24 hours.
United States topped the 12-team rankings from the group stage to earn the No. 1 seed for the knockout round.
The Americans won Group A with victories over Canada, Germany and China. They avoided a rematch with Germany after it was eliminated by Slovakia in the playoff round.
Slovakia poses a difficult threat to the Americans because of its scoring potential. It put four goals past Germany in the last round and it has one of the competition's leading scorers on its roster.
USA vs. Slovakia Info
Date: Tuesday, February 15
Start Time: 11 p.m. ET
TV: USA Network
Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com and Peacock
Game Odds
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Puck Line: United States (-1.5)
Over/Under: 5.5
Money Line: United States (-230; bet $230 to win $100); Slovakia (+185; bet $100 to win $185)
Preview
No one was sure what to expect from the United States squad without any NHL players on the roster.
The Americans were the pleasant surprise of the group stage, as they won all three games and took over the No. 1 seed in the knockout round bracket.
The United States avoided the Russian Olympic Committee and Finland on the top side of the bracket. They will only face either side in the final if they keep winning.
The easiest possible matchup was drawn for the quarterfinal round against Slovakia. For example, Sweden and Canada, two hockey powerhouses, face off in the other quarterfinal in the top half of the bracket.
Slovakia will not be a pushover, but it is an easier foe than any of the traditional powers.
Slovakia advanced to the final eight by beating Germany by a 4-0 score on Tuesday morning in the playoff round. It faces a 24-hour turnaround to play the United States.
The No. 8 seed boasts one of the top scorers in the tournament in Juraj Slafkovsky, but he did not score one of the four goals in the playoff round.
Slafkovsky was responsible for four goals in the group stage and he should be the No. 1 target of the American defense.
The Americans would likely rather contain Slafkovsky and let the other players beat them than have the joint top scorer in the competition thrive in the attacking zone.
The United States will rely on Sean Farrell and Ben Meyers to jumpstart their attacking play. Farrell finished the group stage with three goals and three assists. Meyers had two scores and a pair of handouts.
A decision needs to be made in net by the Americans. Strauss Mann started one game in the knockout round and Drew Commesso picked up two victories while earning a 1.00 goals against average.
Commesso was the better of the two goalies in the group stage and the Boston University player should be rewarded for his success.
The other question for the Americans is the status of defenseman Jake Sanderson, who was on the ice at practice on Monday, per Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press. Sanderson was injured in the second group game against Canada.
The American defense allowed just four goals in the group stage and it allowed the team to have the highest goal differential at plus-11.
As long as the United States slow down Slafkovsky and the top Slovakian attackers, they should move one step away from the gold-medal game.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
Canada is expected to produce the most lopsided result of the men's hockey playoff round at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Canada defeated China by five goals in their final Group A contest. The two sides were drawn against each other with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.
China was outmatched in all three of its group-stage contests. The host nation gave up a tournament-high 16 goals.
Canada is the largest favorite of the four-game playoff round, and barring a massive upset, it is expected to move on to play Sweden in the quarterfinals.
Canada vs. China Info
Date: Tuesday, February 15
Start Time: 8:10 a.m. ET
Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com and Peacock
Game Odds
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Puck Line: Canada (-4.5)
Over/Under: 7.5
Preview
Canada is such a large favorite that a moneyline is not offered for China at DraftKings Sportsbook.
China has been at a severe disadvantage from the time the puck dropped in Beijing.
The host nation conceded five goals to Canada in its Group A meeting. It also allowed eight tallies versus the United States, who topped Group A and won the No. 1 seed in the knockout round.
China entered the competition as the No. 32 team in the world, and the severe talent gap has been evident since its opening game.
Canada is expected to run away with the contest early to set up a quarterfinal matchup with Sweden.
Canada produced 44 shots on goal and had five different players score in the last meeting against China.
Corban Knight and Ben Street had multiple goals in the group phase for Canada, while the trio of Josh Ho-Sang, Eric O'Dell and Kent Johnson have three assists each. Knight has the lone short-handed goal of the competition.
Canada's defense was strong in its two matchups against weaker opposition. It allowed a single tally against Germany and China. The United States put four goals past the Canadians.
The goal for Canada over 60 minutes on Tuesday morning should be to tidy up its mistakes ahead of a medal quest.
Canada faces one of the toughest paths to a medal after China since Sweden and the United States reside on its part of the bracket.
But first, Canada must take care of its business against the host nation and improve its play in the process to be in the best shape to face Sweden.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.
Denmark has its eyes on a rematch with the Russian Olympic Committee.
To get there, though, it needs to beat Latvia in the playoff round of the 2022 Winter Olympics men's ice hockey tournament.
Denmark finished second to the ROC in Group B with two victories and a loss from three games, and it is expected to cruise past Latvia in the No. 6-versus-No. 11 matchup in the knockout round.
Latvia was one of two nations to not pick up a point in the group stage. It gave up 11 goals over three losses to Sweden, Finland and Slovakia.
It had the second-worst goal differential in the group stage, and its defense will be at a disadvantage against a solid Denmark squad.
Denmark vs. Latvia Info
Date: Monday, February 14
Start Time: 11:10 p.m. ET
Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com and Peacock
Game Odds
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Puck Line: Denmark (-1.5)
Over/Under: 5
Money Line: Denmark (-160; bet $160 to win $100); Latvia (+135; bet $100 to win $135)
Preview
Denmark may be the best betting favorite to take advantage of in the playoff round.
It was clearly the better side in the group stage but is only a -160 favorite against the 11th-seeded Latvians.
The Danes put up seven goals in their wins over Czech Republic and Switzerland, and they held the ROC to two tallies.
The second-place side from Group B scored five times on 31 shots on goal in its last trip to the ice. The 5-3 win over Switzerland handed Denmark one of the more favorable matchups in the playoff round.
Denmark needs to be more efficient on the power play to make a surprising push deep into the knockout phase. It went 1-for-6 on the man advantage versus Switzerland.
Frederik Storm is the Danish player to watch on Monday night. He is coming off a two-goal, one-assist outing.
The 32-year-old and the rest of the Danish attack should play with more confidence than Latvia because of their five-goal output versus Switzerland.
Latvia scored as many goals in three group-stage contests as Denmark did in a single contest versus Switzerland.
However, it may struggle to score on Monday night against one of the best goalies in the tournament. Denmark's Sebastian Dahm ranks third in save percentage in the tournament.
The 34-year-old has a 94.37 save percentage, a 2.00 goals against average and has faced the third-most shots in the competition.
Latvia's Janis Kalnins made 63 saves in Group C, but he left the first phase of the tournament with a 3.55 GAA.
As long as Denmark plays at its level from the group stage, it should land a rematch with the third-seeded ROC in the quarterfinal round.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
Czech Republic and Switzerland face off on Tuesday morning in one of two rematches in the 2022 Winter Olympics men's hockey playoff round.
The Czechs and Swiss played in one of the closest games of the group stage. Czech Republic won the Group B clash by a 2-1 score in a shootout.
The close nature of their first meeting suggests that the No. 7-versus-No. 10 showdown could be the tightest of the four playoff-round matchups.
Switzerland dropped to fourth place in Group C after it lost to Denmark to close out group play. It had the best goal differential of the three last-place sides.
Czech Republic should come into Tuesday with a world of confidence after it defeated the Russian Olympic Committee 6-5 in overtime in its last game.
The Czechs' knack for winning close games in the group stage could help it get through the playoff round to set up a quarterfinal clash with No. 2 seed Finland.
Czech Republic vs. Switzerland Info
Date: Tuesday, February 15
Start Time: 3:40 a.m. ET
Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com and Peacock
Game Odds
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Puck Line: Czech Republic (-1.5)
Over/Under: 5
Money Line: Czech Republic (-175; bet $175 to win $100); Switzerland (+145; bet $100 to win $145)
Preview
Czech Republic turned in the most clutch set of results in the group stage.
The Czechs earned an edge over Switzerland with a shootout victory, and it beat the Russian Olympic Committee in overtime behind a goal from Libor Sulak.
The No. 7 seed netted six of its nine group-stage goals in its last contest against the ROC, who entered the tournament as the gold-medal favorite.
Czech Republic does not have a player at the top of the individual scoring charts, but it does lead the competition in shots on goal with 117. The United States and Canada are second and third in that category.
Former Boston Bruins forward David Krejci and Roman Cervenka headline the experienced Czech roster.
Krejci was the only player to score in the shootout against Switzerland. The Swiss did not score on any of their five attempts.
Both teams have been the most effective on the power play. Czech Republic netted four goals with the man advantage against ROC. Switzerland scored twice on the power play in the group stage.
Cervenka and Krejci could be the difference-makers in the Group B rematch. They produced assists on four of the six goals against the ROC.
The two oldest players on the Czech roster will set up scoring opportunities at even strength, or on the power play, and they could wear down the Swiss defense.
Switzerland's defense held up in the first two Group B contests, but its five-goal concession to Denmark is cause for concern going into the knockout round.
The winner of Tuesday's clash faces a tough defensive assignment on a quick turnaround against a Finland squad that won Group C by scoring 13 goals.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.
