For the first time since 2014, NHL players will compete in men’s ice hockey at the Winter Olympics.
The upcoming Winter Games in Milan-Cortina will showcase the best players in the sport, most of whom have never played in the Olympics before.
That includes nine players/prospects from the Boston Bruins.
Canada won the last Olympic gold medal that featured NHL players when it defeated Sweden 12 years ago. Bruins center Patrice Bergeron took home his second Olympic gold medal that year.
The Bruins have actually had a player win Olympic gold in each of the last three tournaments that included NHL players:
2014 in Sochi: Patrice Bergeron, Canada
2010 in Vancouver: Patrice Bergeron, Canada
2006 in Turin: P.J. Axelsson, Sweden
Will another Bruins player(s) win gold this time?
Here’s everything Bruins fans need to know about the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
Bruins players competing
The Bruins will have eight players (plus prospect Dans Locmelis) competing at the Olympics. Only the Tampa Bay Lightning (nine), Minnesota Wild (nine) and Florida Panthers (10) will have more NHL players in Milan-Cortina.
United States
Jeremy Swayman, Goaltender
Charlie McAvoy, Defenseman
Czechia
David Pastrnak, Right wing
Pavel Zacha, Center/wing
Sweden
Elias Lindholm, Center
Hampus Lindholm, Defenseman
Finland
Henri Jokiharju, Defenseman
Joonas Korpisalo, Goaltender
Latvia
Key format details
Teams will receive three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime or shootout win, one point for an OT or shootout loss and zero for a regulation loss.
In the preliminary rounds, overtime periods are 3-on-3 for five minutes. If the score is tied after OT, a shootout will determine the winner.
If the score is tied after regulation in a qualification playoff, quarterfinal, semifinal or bronze medal game, there will be a 10-minute 3-on-3 OT period. If neither team scores in OT, a shootout will determine the winner.
If the gold medal game is tied after regulation, 20-minute 3-on-3 overtime periods are played until there is a winner. There is no shootout in the gold medal matchup.
Preliminary round games involving Bruins players
Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty ImagesPhoto by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images
David Pastrnak will be aiming for Olympic gold with Czechia.
Each of the 12 teams will play three preliminary round games from Feb. 11 through Feb. 15. Every team advances to the single-elimination tournament, with the top four teams receiving a bye to the quarterfinals.
(All times ET. All games also available on Peacock).
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Slovakia vs. Finland, 10:40 a.m. on USA Network
Sweden vs. Italy, 3:10 p.m. on USA Network
Thursday, Feb. 12
Czechia vs. Canada, 10:40 a.m. on USA Network
Latvia vs. United States, 3:10 p.m. on USA Network
Friday, Feb. 13
Finland vs. Sweden, 6:10 a.m., USA Network
France vs. Czechia, 10:40 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 14
Sweden vs. Slovakia, 6:10 a.m.
Germany vs. Latvia, 6:10 a.m. on CNBC
Finland vs. Italy, 10:40 a.m. on USA Network
United States vs. Denmark, 3:10 p.m. on USA Network
Sunday, Feb. 15
Switzerland vs. Czechia, 6:10 a.m. on CNBC
Denmark vs. Latvia, 1:10 p.m. on CNBC
United States vs. Germany, 3:10 p.m. on USA Network
When is the medal round?
Minas Panagiotakis/Getty ImagesMinas Panagiotakis/Getty Images
Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy will play a key role on Team USA.
There will be four qualification playoff games on Tuesday, Feb. 17. The four quarterfinal games will be played on Wednesday, Feb. 18. The two semifinal matchups are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 20. The bronze medal game is Saturday, Feb. 21 and the gold medal game is set for Sunday, Feb. 22.
The gold medal game will start at 8:10 a.m. ET on NBC.
Other important info to know
–Olympic hockey typically has been played on a larger rink than the standard NHL size, but the 2026 Olympics will use NHL rink dimensions.
–Fighting is not allowed at the Olympics, so don’t expect the fireworks we saw from the USA-Canada group stage matchup at the 4 Nations Face-off last February.
–Bruins right wing David Pastrnak is playing for Czechia. He also will be one of Czechia’s flag bearers during the Opening Ceremony on Friday.