Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA

IIHF sets schedule for men’s Olympic hockey playoff round

Steven Ellis
Feb 15, 2026, 19:53 EST
IIHF sets schedule for men’s Olympic hockey playoff round
Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The round robin is done and dusted. Now it’s time for the real fun.

Four teams have already advanced to Wednesday’s men’s Olympic hockey quarterfinal in Milano. Canada, Slovakia and the United States moved on after winning their respective groups in the preliminary round. Finland was the highest-ranked team in the round-robin based on points and goal differential, earning the fourth and final bye to the second day of playoff action.

Once the quarterfinals are complete, the teams will be reseeded after the quarterfinal games conclude on Wednesday. The seedings will be based on how teams were ranked during the tournament, based on points, goal differential and other tiebreakers. Unlike other international tournaments, including the women’s Olympic hockey event, no teams were eliminated after the round-robin stage.

Here is a look at how the 12 teams were placed after three games apiece:

1. Canada
2. United States
3. Slovakia
4. Finland
5. Switzerland
6. Germany
7. Sweden
8. Czechia
9. Demark
10. Latvia
11. France
12. Italy

And here’s the full playoff schedule up to the championship game on Sunday, February 22:

                Qualification Round Schedule (Tuesday, Feb. 17)

                Germany vs. France: 6:10 AM ET
                Italy vs. Switzerland: 6:10 AM ET
                Czechia vs. Denmark: 10:40 AM ET
                Sweden vs. Latvia: 3:10 PM ET

                Quarterfinal Round Schedule (Wednesday, Feb. 18)

                Slovakia vs. Germany/France: 6:10 AM ET
                Canada vs. Czechia/Denmark: 10:10 AM ET
                Finland vs. Switzerland/Italy: 12:10 PM ET
                USA vs. Sweden/Latvia: 3:10 PM ET

                Semifinal Round Schedule (Friday, Feb. 20)

                Semifinal 1: 10:40 AM ET
                Semifinal 2: 3:10 PM ET

                Bronze Medal Game (Saturday, Feb. 21)

                Bronze Medal Game: 2:40 PM ET

                Gold Medal Game (Sunday, Feb. 22)

                Gold Medal Game: 8:10 AM ET


                PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE

                Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!