Olympic Hockey 2026 Schedule, Previews for Gold, Bronze-Medal Games on Men's Bracket

Team USA and Canada confirmed their third-ever meeting in the men's hockey gold-medal game at the Winter Olympics with their victories on Friday.

The Americans were far more dominant in their win over Slovakia than Canada was in its one-goal win over Finland.

Canada has the best top-tier talent on its roster in the form of Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Macklin Celebrini.

However, the Americans put together a better semifinal performance.

Before Sunday's gold-medal game, Finland and Slovakia face off in the bronze-medal game on Saturday afternoon.

Gold-Medal Game: USA vs. Canada

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Sunday, 8 a.m. ET, NBC

The Americans will go into Sunday's gold-medal game with a world of confidence after their comprehensive victory over Slovakia.

Dylan Larkin, Jack Hughes and Tage Thompson scored four of the six goals scored by the Americans on Friday.

The third line was easily the best unit on the ice for the Americans, but it may not look the same on Sunday due to the injury suffered by Thompson.

If Thompson can't play, the USA will lose a huge scoring threat at even strength and on the power play.

The Auston Matthews-led top line will have to do more regardless of Thompson's injury to match what Canada can throw at the Americans.

The Jack Eichel line with the Tkachuk brothers has been the best unit of the tournament, but more needs to come from Matthews, Jake Guentzel and Matt Boldy.

One of those two lines should be matched up with Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini, who have played with Tom Wilson and on a super line with Nathan MacKinnon throughout the tournament.

Canada might opt to go with the super line of McDavid, Celebrini and MacKinnon right away to avoid another slow start.

The Canadians have had to come from behind in both of their knockout-round games against Czechia and Finland.

Jordan Binnington was excellent after those slow starts, but he needs to be better in net in the first period for Canada to avoid another first-period deficit.

Canada's dealing with a big injury of its own with Sidney Crosby. If the 2010 gold-medal winner is able to play, Canada will receive a huge emotional boost, one that might be needed in a game with such tight margins.

Bronze-Medal Game: Slovakia vs. Finland

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Saturday, 2:40 p.m. ET, Peacock

Slovakia and Finland will start and end the tournament against each other.

Slovakia's 4-1 winner in the group-stage opener over Finland sent shockwaves through the hockey community.

Juraj Slafkovsky and Co. were viewed as the third-best team in their group with Sweden and Finland, but they ended up as the group winner.

Slovakia was clearly outmatched against Team USA on Friday, but that doesn't mean it won't be competitive on Saturday. After all, Slovakia already has a win over Finland.

The Finns beat Sweden, Italy and Switzerland to work its way into the semifinals.

With Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho and others on the roster, Finland has far more NHL experience in its squad.

Look for Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola to be important depth pieces on Saturday for Finland. All three have won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers and can bring big-game experience to a matchup with a medal on the line.

Samuel Hlavaj was pulled against Team USA, but the Slovakia goalie has been one of the surprises of the tournament. He will be Slovakia's X-factor on Saturday.