Welcome to our Olympics coverage at Last Word On Hockey, as we bring you predictions for the opening men’s ice hockey match for each of Team Canada and Czechia. Let’s break down some key storylines and stats, and make our best guess at how the game might play out. Be sure to check us out for our complete coverage for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics right up to the Gold Medal game.
Milano Cortina Olympics Ice Hockey Predictions with Canada and Czechia
Puck Drop: 10:40 a.m. Eastern Standard Time
How to Watch: CBC, CBC Gem, ICI Télé, RDS2, USA TV Network
Venue: Milana Santaguila Arena in Milan, Italy
The rivalry between Czechia and Canada has a long and storied history. In the inaugural Olympic games featuring ice hockey, the 1920 Summer Olympics from Antwerp, Belgium, Canada played Czechoslovakia in the first ever Olympic game for each team. Canada won that one 15-0.
The team from Czechia worked on improving their ice hockey fortunes. Moreover, they would develop into a hockey power, especially early on in the European scene. In 1948, the Olympic games from St. Moritz, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia would earn a 0-0 tie with Canada. Canada would go on to win gold that tournament, but Czechoslovakia would claim silver. At the time, it was their eighth European championship. As the years passed, the team now going by Czechia would continue to prove they were among the elite of the hockey world.
Then come the 1998 Winter Olympics from Nagano, Japan. A team led by Jaromir Jagr and backstopped by what could very well be regarded as the best goalie at the time, Dominik Hasek, would come up against Canada in the semifinals. We don’t have to remind Canadian Olympic and hockey fans what happened next. The Czech Republic team played a smart game, eventually forcing it to a shootout. With Wayne Gretzky waiting on the bench, and Brendan Shanahan failing to find twine, Canada would be eliminated.
One more interesting point is that Czechia has even emerged in the junior game. Just these past World Junior Championships seen them become only the second team ever (besides Russia) to knock out Canada three years in a row. Needless to say, this rivalry is on. Canada does have no intention on taking them lightly, in any way, shape, or form.
Overall, in head-to-head Olympic matchups, Canada is 13-5-2, combining the record when they played as Czechoslovakia. In fact, Canada didn’t suffer its first loss to them in Olympic competition until the 1964 games. Their respective all-time Olympic men’s ice hockey medal count, Canada has nine gold medals, four silvers, and three bronzes, compared to Czechia’s one gold, four silvers, and five bronzes.
The 2026 Canada Olympic Lineup
Where to start with Canada, but with the best. Canada is led by two of the best players in the world in Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. They are currently one-two in the NHL’s Art Ross Trophy race as league’s top scorer (96 and 93 points, respectively).
Having two of the best scorers on the planet, on the same team together, is a decided advantage. Even the youngster, Macklin Celebrini isn’t too far off their pace. Currently, he’s fourth in NHL scoring with 81. He’s only in his second year in the NHL. For comparison, Czechia does have a top scorer, as David Pastrnak is sixth in the NHL at 71 points. But it just goes to show, that when it comes down to high-end, offensive talent, no one can match Canada.
The Story for the Olympic Team from Czechia
We all know that Pastrnak will be the offensive leader for the team from Czechia. In 2022-23 he netted a career-high 61 goals for the NHL’s Boston Bruins. (If you are wondering, Connor McDavid‘s 64-goal season won the Maurice Richard Trophy for league’s top goal scorer that year.) Moreover, Pastrnak did win the Rocket Richard scoring title one year, in 2019-20, when he tied with Alex Ovechkin with 48.
However, we would like to draw the fan’s attention elsewhere. After all, one guy cannot beat a team, right? One guy to watch out for Canada is Martin Necas. Conversely, it is possible between Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, the Canadians have him figured out, and should be able to shut him down, if needed. But Necas has speed to burn and amazing puck skills, he can strike at any moment. The Canadian defenders will have to have their head on a literal swivel.
One area that is a bit of an unknown for Czechia is their defence. They are led by Radko Gudas and Filip Hronek, two very solid NHL defencemen. However, beyond that, they don’t have much for top-end defencemen, unlike some of the other tournament favourites. One familiar name for NHL fans is Jan Rutta. Although never a big name, he twice won a Stanley Cup Championship with the Tampa Bay Lightning (2020, 2021). He currently plays in the Swiss League with Geneve.
Olympics Hockey Predictions
Canada is on a mission, and it begins with this game. In terms of best-on-best competition, Canada has been unstoppable, claiming the last four consecutive titles. You have to go back to the 2006 Torino games, when Team Sweden claimed the Gold Medal to find that last time Canada lost. But hey, worry not oh fellow Canucks, those guys didn’t have Sidney Crosby. This team has him at captain.
The Tenders
It does sounds like Jordan Binnington will be getting the nod for Canada. He was solo in a net yesterday at practice. That was opposed to the other two, Darcy Kuemper and Logan Thompson, who apparently shared the other goal.
One wild card for the Czechia team, is their goaltending. If they play the way they are more than capable of playing, it could be a boost for them.
Lukas Dostal, Karel Vejmelka, and Dan Vladar are all have decent NHL seasons. We think Dostal gets the start, as he is the number on tender, if all things are equal.
We will add our roster disclaimer to please check social media for the latest updates to know for certainty.
Our thoughts are that Canada is too strong. Their players will come out at the highest pace imaginable. You know head coach Jon Cooper. Czechia will prove a worthy opponent in the end, but Canada is too fast and skilled.
Prediction: Canada 5 – Czechia 2
It's still unclear who will start for Canada in Game 1 against Czechia on Thursday. But where do Team Canada's Olympic goalies rank? @martybiron43 & @KevinWeekes join @DominosCanada That's Hockey to discuss: https://t.co/eefFargzgS#DominosThatsHockey pic.twitter.com/iqaQqeks4d
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) February 11, 2026
