The tournament begins on February 11th, and ends with the gold medal game on February 22nd.
The men’s hockey tournament at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will begin Feb. 11 with Team Slovakia playing Team Finland followed by Team Sweden against host Team Italy.
The tournament, the first with NHL players since the 2014 Sochi Olympics, will feature all 12 teams playing three preliminary games in their respective groups, then all 12 moving on to a single-elimination playoff that will conclude with the gold medal game Feb. 22.
Team USA, which is in Group C, will open against Team Latvia on Feb. 12, then play Team Denmark on Feb. 14 and Team Germany on Feb. 15.
Team Canada also plays its first game on Feb. 12 against Team Czechia, faces Team Switzerland the next day and concludes preliminary play against Team France on Feb. 15.
The games will be played at either the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena or the Rho Ice Hockey Arena in Milano.
The Buffalo Sabres will be represented at the tournament by Tage Thompson (USA) and Rasmus Dahlin (Sweden). Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was called up by Finland but had to withdraw after picking up an injury leading up to February.
Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 men’s hockey schedule (all times ET):
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Group B
Slovakia vs Finland, 10:40 a.m. — Santagiulia Arena, USA Network
Sweden vs. Italy, 3:10 p.m. — Santagiulia Arena, USA Network
Thursday, Feb. 12
Group A
Switzerland vs. France, 6:10 a.m. — Santagiulia Arena, Peacock
Czechia vs. Canada, 10:40 a.m. — Santagiulia Arena, USA Network
Group C
Latvia vs. United States, 3:10 p.m. — Santagiulia Arena, USA Network
Germany vs. Denmark, 3:10 p.m. – Rho Arena, Peacock
Friday, Feb. 13
Group B
Finland vs. Sweden, 6:10 a.m. — Santaguilia Arena, USA Network
Italy vs. Slovakia, 6:10 a.m. — Rho Arena, Peacock
Group A
France vs. Czechia, 10:40 a.m. — Santagiulia Arena, Peacock
Canada vs. Switzerland, 3:10 p.m. — Santagiulia Arena, Peacock
Saturday, Feb. 14
Group B
Sweden vs Slovakia, 6:10 a.m. — Santagiulia Arena, Peacock
Finland vs. Italy, 10:40 a.m. — Santagiulia Arena, USA Network
Group C
Germany vs. Latvia, 6:10 a.m. — Rho Arena, CNBC
USA vs. Denmark, 3:10 p.m. — Santagiulia Arena, USA Network
Sunday, Feb. 15
Group A
Switzerland vs. Czechia, 6:10 a.m. — Santagiulia Arena, CNBC
Canada vs. France, 10:40 a.m. — Santagiulia Arena, USA Network
Group C
Denmark vs. Latvia, 1:10 p.m. — Rho Arena, CNBC
USA vs. Germany, 3:10 p.m. — Santagiulia Arena, USA Network
Tuesday Feb. 17
Qualification playoff, 6:10 a.m. — Santagiulia Arena, Peacock
Qualification playoff, 6:10 a.m. — Rho Arena, Peacock
Qualification playoff, 10:40 a.m. — Santagiulia Arena, Peacock
Qualification playoff, 3:10 p.m. — Santagiulia Arena, Peacock
Wednesday, Feb. 18
Quarterfinal, 6:10 a.m. — Santagiulia Arena, Peacock
Quarterfinal, 10:40 a.m. — Santagiulia Arena, USA Network
Quarterfinal, 12:10 p.m. — Rho Arena, USA Network
Quarterfinal, 3:10 p.m — Santagiulia Arena, NBC
Friday, Feb. 20
Semifinal, 10:40 a.m. — Santagiulia Arena, USA Network
Semifinal, 3:10 p.m. — Santagiulia Arena, NBC
Saturday, Feb. 21
Bronze medal game — 2:40 p.m. — Santagiulia Arena, USA Network
Sunday, Feb. 22
Gold medal game — 8:10 a.m. — Santagiulia Arena, NBC