* Eight countries are set to take to the ice Tuesday during the Qualification Playoffs of the men’s hockey tournament at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.
* NHL teammates, now international rivals, will be on full display when Team Sweden and Team Latvia cap a four-game schedule as current Panthers, Penguins and Lightning players clash for a date against No. 2 seed Team USA.
* Team Sweden and Team Czechia look to join the likes of Team Canada, Team USA and Team Finland with six appearances in the quarterfinals during Olympic Games with NHL involvement.
* Milano Cortina 2026 is the third straight Olympic Winter Games featuring NHL players with a Qualification Playoffs round. Of the previous two tournaments, one team has advanced to the quarterfinals as the No. 10 seed or lower.
MEN’S HOCKEY TOURNAMENT SET FOR KNOCKOUT STAGE AT MILANO CORTINA
After 18 games and 122 goals during round robin play, eight countries are in action Tuesday during the Qualification Playoffs of the men’s hockey tournament at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line: Team Germany vs. Team France; Team Switzerland vs. Team Italy; Team Czechia vs. Team Denmark; and Team Sweden vs. Team Latvia.
* Team Sweden and Team Czechia have qualified for the quarterfinals in each of their previous five Olympic Winter Games with NHL involvement. A sixth berth would tie Team Canada, Team Finland and Team USA – who have each already clinched a spot in that knockout round in Milan – for the most among all countries.
* Milano Cortina 2026 are the third consecutive Olympic Winter Games featuring NHL players to include a Qualification Playoffs, following 2014 and 2010. Only one team has advanced to the quarterfinals in that scenario after entering the round ranked 10 or lower: Latvia (No. 11; 2014 vs. SUI).
Qualification Playoffs Quick Hits
An overview of single-game highs during the Qualification Playoffs at Olympic Winter Games featuring NHL players:
Most goals
2 – Alexander Radulov (RUS, 2014)
– Lauris Darzins (LAT, 2014)
– Marian Hossa (SVK, 2014)
– Roman Cervenka (CZE, 2014)
– Jarome Iginla (CAN, 2010)
Most assists
3 – Pavel Datsyuk (RUS, 2014)
– Eric Staal (CAN, 2010)
Most points
3 – Alexander Radulov (RUS, 2014)
– Pavel Datsyuk (RUS, 2014)
– Eric Staal (CAN, 2010)
Most saves
47 – Edgars Masalskis (LAT, 2010)
41 – Andrei Mezin (BLR, 2010)
36 – Pat Grotnes (NOR, 2010)
32 – Edgars Masalskis (LAT, 2014)
TEAMMATES, NOW RIVALS: SWEDEN MEETS LATVIA IN WIN-OR-GO-HOME OUTING
Team Sweden finished atop the podium the last time the men’s hockey tournament at the Olympic Winter Games were held in Italy, capturing gold in Torino in 2006, and now have a date with Team Latvia to determine which country will go head-to head with No. 2 seed Team USA in the quarterfinals. Tuesday, the third-ever meeting between the two countries at Olympic Games featuring NHL players and first beyond the round robin (2014 RR & 2006 RR), features a handful of NHL teammates on opposing sides.
* Erik Karlsson (0-3—3) is one of three Swedish players who competed in the last head-to-head meeting between the two countries in Olympic Games featuring NHL players (also Gabriel Landeskog and Oliver Ekman-Larsson). The Penguins defenseman, with 4-7—11 in nine career Olympic outings, needs one assist to tie Chris Pronger (1-8—9 in 25 GP), Marek Zidlicky (6-8—14 in 17 GP) and Tomas Kaberle (3-8—11 in 22 GP) for the third-most assists by a blueliner in Olympic tournaments with NHL participation. Kimmo Timonen (3-10—13 in 30 GP) and fellow countryman Nicklas Lidstrom (4-10—14 in 20 GP) top the list.
* Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons (0-4—4) suited up for Latvia during the 2014 Winter Olympics – a tournament that witnessed his country enter the Qualification Playoffs as the No. 11 seed en route to a victory against Team Switzerland (Girgensons had 0-1—1). His five career assists (1-5—6 in 8 GP) in Olympic Games with NHL involvement are the third most by a Latvian skater, behind Aleksandrs Nizivijs (4-8—12 in 13 GP) and 1995-96 Stanley Cup champion Sandis Ozolinsh (1-7—8 in 11 GP).
POINT PRODUCERS ON FULL DISPLAY FOR CZECHIA VS. DENMARK
Avalanche forward Martin Necas (2-3—5) and Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers (1-2—3) spotlight the third game of the qualification playoffs round, with the winner of this matchup facing No. 1 seed Team Canada in the quarterfinals. Tuesday’s contest marks Team Czechia and Team Denmark’s third all-time meeting at the Olympics but first with NHL participation and first in the knockout stage.
* Ehlers (1-2—3), the highest scoring Danish player in NHL history in terms of goals, points and assists, is fresh off a game-winning goal for his country in the final game of Group C action – Team Denmark’s first-ever victory in Olympic Winter Games featuring NHL players. Ehlers’ current teammates, Morten Poulsen and Markus Lauridsen were crucial for the country during the 2022 Winter Olympics as each forward helped the country advance to the quarterfinals with goals against Team Latvia.
* Necas (2-3—5), featured in the NHL’s YouTube series, “My World,” which highlights some of the game’s brightest international stars, entered the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 averaging the highest points-per-game pace in his career (1.19 P/GP) and has continued his offensive production with Team Czechia. He needs one point to tie Vinny Prospal (4-2—6 in 2006) for the third most by a Czechia player in a single Olympic tournament featuring NHL players, trailing only Martin Straka (2-6—8 in 2006) and Jaromir Jagr (2-5—7 in 2006).
SWITZERLAND EYES MORE OFFENSE FROM THE DEFENSE AGAINST HOST ITALY
Devils teammates Timo Meier (3-1—4) and Nico Hischier (0-1—1), as well as Predators captain Roman Josi (1-2—3) lead their club into a showdown with the host country as Team Switzerland and Team Italy collide for an opportunity to face No. 4 seed Team Finland in the quarterfinals. This will be their second meeting at an Olympics with NHL participation after the two countries skated to a 3-3 draw in the round robin of the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics.
* Josi, featured in the NHL’s YouTube series, “My World,” which highlights some of the game’s brightest international stars, has his sights on guiding Switzerland to its third-ever appearance in the quarterfinals of an Olympic Games featuring NHL players following 2010 and 2006. The Predators captain has helped Team Switzerland produce 3-8—11 from their defensemen at Milano Cortina – their most in a single Olympic tournament with NHL involvement.
* Team Italy goaltender and Ducks prospect Damian Clara has faced a tournament-high 95 shots as he looks to backstop the home country to their second-ever win in Olympic Games featuring NHL players after the Azzurri defeated Austria during the 1998 preliminary round. Team Italy looks to become the fourth host country to advance to at least the quarterfinals of a tournament that featured NHL skaters following Team Russia (2014), Team Canada (2010) and Team USA (2002).
GERMAN STARS LEAD CLUB INTO SECOND HEAD-TO-HEAD CLASH WITH TEAM FRANCE
Senators forward Tim Stützle (4-0—4), who shares the tournament lead in goals, and Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (1-2—3) headline a matchup between Team Germany and Team France in the Qualification Playoffs – the second-ever meeting between the two countries in Olympic Winter Games featuring NHL players (also 1998 PRLM). Team France eyes its first quarterfinals berth including NHL involvement, while Team Germany has its sights on its second (2002 at USA). The winner of this contest will face No. 3 seed Team Slovakia in the quarterfinals.
* Louis Boudon (2-1—3 in 3 GP) has been a regular contributor to France’s offense throughout the tournament and can become the country’s third different skater to score three or more goals in a single Olympic competition featuring NHL players. He would join Philippe Bozon (5 in 1998 & 3 in 2002) and Maurice Rozenthal (4 in 2002).
* Stützle, featured in the NHL’s YouTube series, “My World,” which highlights some of the game’s brightest international stars, has found the back of the net for Team Germany in every contest to begin the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. He can become the fourth player to score in four straight Olympic games involving NHL players, alongside Slovakia’s Marian Hossa (4 GP in 2006), Finland’s Teemu Selanne (4 GP in 2006) andSweden’s Mats Sundin (4 GP in 2002). Of note: Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini can also do so with Canada.
QUICK CLICKS
* Olympic qualifying playoffs discussed by NHL.com staff
* Team USA played smart to earn Olympic quarterfinal bye
* Tom Wilson has been ‘outstanding’ on, off ice at Olympics for Team Canada
* Juraj Slafkovsky evolves into ‘grown man’ for Team Slovakia in 2nd Olympic appearance
* Leonardo Genoni thriving for Team Switzerland at Olympics despite never reaching NHL
