Welcome to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics men’s ice hockey tournament, as Last Word On Hockey presents to you our predictions for the matchup between Canada and Czechia. This is a revenge game, on a couple of fronts. First of all, Czechia will look for payback after getting pumped 5-0 by Canada to start the tournament. Meanwhile, this game marks the first time since the 1998 Nagano Olympics that Canada will play Czechia in an elimination game since the semifinal game that saw a 2-1 shootout loss for Canada. Needless to say, Wednesday’s matchup does have tons at stake. So, let’s discuss.
Canada and Czechia Quarterfinals of the Olympics Ice Hockey Predictions
Puck Drop: 10:40 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, Wednesday, February 18th, 2026
How to Watch: CBC, CBC Gem, TSN, ICI Télé, USA TV Network
Venue: Milan Santaguila Arena in Milan, Italy
Canada freight trained its way to this point in the tournament. They are 3-0, and have a goal differential that led the way at +17. In contrast, Czechia struggled its way through to this point. Including Tuesday’s qualification round game against Denmark, they have two wins in four games and a total goal differential of -2. But in a single-game elimination, anything can, and usually will happen.
Some News and Notes from Team Canada
There are a couple lineup notes, based on head coach Jon Cooper’s alignment from practice Tuesday. The best guess is that Josh Morrissey will draw in. Moreover, Morrissey played a regular shift alongside Colton Parayko in practice held Tuesday. He hasn’t played since leaving the first game of the tournament with a leg injury. Canada will look forward to him pushing the pace of play as he is accustomed to doing from the backend.
Also of note, after likewise not playing in the previous two contests, winger Brad Marchand was taking line rushes within the four lines of the forwards. He was slotting in with Bo Horvat and Seth Jarvis. However, that isn’t a tell-tale sign necessarily of who will play where. Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Bennett both skipped practice, for what was referred to as a maintenance day for both players. So technically, either one of them could slot in the four lines.
One line for Canada that has mostly stuck together is the line of Mark Stone, Sidney Crosby, and Mitch Marner. The trio can do it all. Cooper said of the line, “They’re checking a lot of boxes. Smart players. There’s a calmness about that line. And I’m not breaking them up.” Combined they have four goals and ten assists. As a second line in three games, can you say dominant? It is true what Cooper says of them. They all have a confidence in their own game, and can perform at the highest level, under the most intense pressure. They all carry the been there, done that swag, to their on-ice presence. The ultimate leaders among men.
Credit Image: © Mike Langish/Cal Sport Media
The Story from Czechia in Italy
Czechia did manage to get past Denmark in yesterday’s qualification round. However, the 3-2 victory was none too convincing. They’ve had troubles getting on a roll all tournament. Their game before that, they narrowly edged Switzerland 4-3 in overtime. Prior to that, it was a 6-3 win against a weaker team representing France.
Of course their tournament opener was the 5-0 loss to Canada. This sparked a welcomed off the cuff Martin Necas quote from Tuesday, “We let them win the first one because we knew we were not going to win two in a row against Canada.” Now, we can say he was doing it for some comic relief. However, his play needs to do the talking if they are to beat Canada. He leads Czechia, and is tied for third in the entire tournament, with seven points through four games.
However, beyond him and someone like David Pastrnak, it just seems that Czechia isn’t quite at Canada’s level of eliteness. David Kampf plays a big role on their team, and he was a guy cut earlier this season by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Another part of their offence is 40-year-old captain Roman Cervenka. He has had a long professional hockey career, but these are examples why we like Canada’s matchup game advantage. As a note, of his pro career dating back to the 2003-04, he only managed one NHL campaign. That was in 2012-13 with the Calgary Flames, playing 39 games and picking up 17 points. But that is in the past, we only care about the now.
One of the big X-Factors for Czechia in this game, and as playoff games often have, is goaltending. We have seen this in the past, too. However, Lukas Dostal is a guy who can steal games. Despite is lacklustre .879 save percentage in the tournament so far, Canada needs to be weary of his abilities. They can’t let themselves get frustrated if he starts stringing together saves. Just keep up the speed on the attack, throwing pucks on net, and crash the crease. Eventually their attack should breakthrough.
This Matchup for our Edition of Hockey Predictions for the 2026 Olympics Quarterfinals
Canada is just so much deeper. They have been playing at such a high level all tournament, and all season long for most of their players. We can quickly mention another line for Canada that will stick together, due to its superiority over its opposition. The Connor McDavid, Macklin Celebrini, and Tom Wilson line is a speedy and physical line, with all-world offensive talent. Those three have combined for seven goals and 11 assists. In three games. For Czechia’s defence, yikes.
Olympic Connor McDavid in his prime…🤯 pic.twitter.com/Xx2cNIJnf3
— Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyNHL) February 16, 2026
We would assume that Canada sticks with Jordan Binnington in net. He has been solid whenever he has strapped up the pads for Canada at best-on-best going back to the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
One more final note on the rest of the tournament. Due to the reseeding that takes place, Team USA and Slovakia can’t face Canada in the semifinals, but all other teams could.
Prediction: Canada 4 – Czechia 2 (and one further, no empty netter for Canada).
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – Imagn Images
We must add our lineup disclaimer to please check social media to confirm the latest of who’s in and who’s out.
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Canada Lineup Changes, Big Line Emerges at Olympics Men’s Ice Hockey
Canada 🇨🇦 and Czechia 🇨🇿 are set to faceoff in the Olympic knockout stages for the first time since 1998 semis which is widely viewed as one of the best Olympic Hockey Games EVER. 🔥
Czechia (then Czech Republic) beat Canada 2-1 in a shootout en route to gold. 🇨🇿🥇 pic.twitter.com/1zwBksTwRE
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 17, 2026
Necas had quite the quote about the upcoming rematch vs Canada in the quarters 😂
(Via @drosennhl) pic.twitter.com/SDsQSSKo3H
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 17, 2026
