USA Olympic Hockey Team 2026 Final Odds, Bracket Predictions for Men's Squad

The United States men's hockey team will try to win its first Winter Olympics gold medal since 1980 at the Milan Cortina Games.

The Americans are viewed as the second favorite behind Canada, but with a handful of NHL stars on the roster, they can go head-to-head with their North American rival.

Team USA plays three group-stage games, all of which it is expected to win, before it hits the knockout round, where it has to win three more times to claim gold.

Men's Hockey Olympics Odds

Canada (+115; bet $100 to win $115)

United States (+175)

Sweden (+650)

Finland (+1000)

Switzerland (+2500)

Czech Republic (+2500)

Germany (+5000)

Slovakia (+6000)

Denmark (+25000)

Latvia (+50000)

France (+80000)

Italy (+100000)

Team USA Schedule

Thursday, February 12: vs. Latvia (3:10 p.m. ET)

Saturday, February 14: vs. Denmark (3:10 p.m. ET)

Sunday, February 15: vs. Germany (3:10 p.m. ET)

Three wins are expected from the United States in the group stage.

A pair of overwhelming wins should take place against Latvia and Denmark, both of whom would be lucky just to get out of the group stage.

Germany presents the biggest test to the Americans in Group C. The German squad, led by Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers, has some top-end talent that will be difficult to deal with.

However, no team in Group C has the all-around depth that Team USA possesses.

Auston Matthews, Jake Guentzel and Matt Boldy, all of whom rank in the top 25 in goals this season in the NHL, will play one of the top two American lines. The other top American trio will be Brady and Matthew Tkachuk playing with Jack Eichel.

Zach Werenski and Quinn Hughes, who rank in the top five in points by defensemen in the NHL, headline the defensive core.

If the Americans top Group C, there is a good chance they avoid Canada until the gold medal game.

Canada is the other top contender for gold, but Sweden and Finland also pose formidable threats. There's a good chance Canada, USA, Sweden and Finland all feature in the semifinals.

The minimum expectation is a semifinal berth for Team USA, but the real hope is that the Americans play for a gold and come home from Milan with a tournament victory.