The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 have officially commenced, and the men’s hockey tournament, featuring NHL players for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Olympics, has progressed to the quarterfinals. The tournament will culminate with the gold medal game on Sunday. In the quarterfinals, the top four seeds from the preliminary round, who received automatic byes, will face off against the winners of the four qualification playoff games.
On Wednesday, the spotlight will be on an exciting match between Team Finland and Team Switzerland, scheduled for 12:10 p.m. ET. Fans can catch the action on Peacock, ICI Télé, CBC Gem, and SN.
Both teams have made impressive journeys to this stage. Switzerland, boasting a record of 2 wins and 1 shootout loss (2-1-1-0), secured second place in Group A. Their path included a strong 4-0 victory over Team France, a setback against Team Canada (5-1), an overtime win against Team Czechia (4-3), and a convincing 3-0 win against Team Italy in the qualification playoffs.
Finland, with a record of 2 wins and 1 loss (2-0-1-0), claimed the second spot in Group B. Their tournament narrative began with a loss to Team Slovakia (4-1), followed by an impressive 4-1 win against Team Sweden and a staggering 11-0 victory over Team Italy in the group stage.
Key players are expected to shine in this matchup. Nico Hischier, a forward for Switzerland, has been a standout with one goal and two assists in the recent win against Italy, totaling four points throughout the tournament. Hischier, the first overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils, has had a productive NHL season with 42 points in 57 games.
For Finland, Mikko Rantanen headlines a roster filled with NHL talent. He has also amassed four points in three games, including three assists in their dominant win against Italy. Rantanen’s impressive NHL season includes 69 points from 20 goals and 49 assists in 54 games.
As both teams prepare for this critical face-off, Switzerland will rely heavily on their goalie Leonardo Genoni, who has recorded an impressive 0.99 goals-against average and a .962 save percentage. For Finland, a repeat of their strong performance against Sweden is essential, emphasizing the need for early goals to stifle Switzerland’s chances.
With a wealth of NHL talent on both rosters, this quarterfinal clash promises to be pivotal in determining the semifinals lineup. While Finland is favored due to their impressive depth, Switzerland’s potential for an upset adds an element of excitement to the match, underscoring the unpredictable nature of tournament play.