MILAN — NHL players are back in the Winter Olympics, and the competition gets underway today with two preliminary round games.
Finland takes on Slovakia in the early game at Santaguilia Ice Hockey Arena. In evening action, host Italy takes on Sweden.
Finland is the defending champion after winning the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Canada leads the NHL era (1998 to 2014) with gold medals in 2002, 2010 and 2014. Czechia won in 1998 (Nagano) and Sweden in 2006 (Torino).
The USA won silver medals in 2002 and 2010. It last won a gold medal in 1980 at the Lake Placid Olympics. The Americans begin their preliminary round Thursday against Latvia.
Here are scores from today as games wrap up.
Watch Olympics figure skating on Peacock
Olympic men’s hockey schedule today
All times Eastern.
10:40 a.m.: Slovakia vs. Finalnd
3:10 p.m.: Sweden vs. Italy
Where to watch Olympic men’s hockey
How the Olympics men’s hockey tournament works
The 12 teams are divided into three groups. They are:
Group A: Canada, Switzerland, Czechia, France
Group B: Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, Italy
Group C: USA, Germany, Latvia, Denmark
Teams play one game each against the other three teams in their group. Countries get three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime win, one for an overtime/shootout loss and zero for a regulation loss.
After the preliminary round is complete, teams are seeded 1 through 12 under the following criteria:
Higher position in the group
Higher number of points
Better goal difference
Higher number of goals scored for
Better IIHF world ranking
Why are there no fights in Olympic hockey?
International Ice Hockey Federation prohibits fighting, and it could lead to an ejection and a suspension.
‘Fighting is not part of international ice hockey’s DNA,’ the organization states in Rule 46 of the IIHF rulebook.
‘Players who willingly, participate in a ‘brawl/fight’ so-called ‘willing combatants,’ shall be penalized accordingly by the referee(s) and may be ejected from the game,’ the rulebook says. ‘Further supplementary discipline may be imposed.’
How long is NHL Olympic break? Key remaining dates in 2025-26 season
The NHL will take a break from Feb. 6-24 for the 2026 Winter Olympics. There are seven games on the schedule on Feb. 5. No trades can take place during the Olympic break.
When is the Olympic men’s hockey tournament?
The tournament starts Feb. 11 with two games. The USA opens play Feb. 12 against Latvia. All teams will play three games during the round robin, which runs through Feb. 15. The top four teams get byes to the quarterfinals.
Playoff qualification games are on Feb. 17 for teams ranked fifth through 12th, quarterfinals are Feb. 18 and semifinals are Feb. 20.
The bronze medal game is Feb. 21 and the gold medal game is Sunday, Feb. 22.