Can Slovakia and Italy pull off stunning upsets? Discover key matchups, roster strengths, and thrilling underdog stories in this Olympic hockey betting breakdown.
Wednesday’s Olympic hockey schedule features two must-watch matchups, delivering a blend of fierce rivalries, playoff-style stakes, and standout individual performances.
With the NHL back on the Olympic stage, fans can expect exciting debuts, unique head-to-head clashes, and intense contests where every game counts toward a medal run. From established powerhouses defending their legacies to hungry underdogs looking for a shock upset, the storylines are as compelling as the action on the ice.
In this breakdown, we’ll break down each team’s roster, examine players’ histories, and explore how individual performances could impact the outcome of the games.
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Slovakia vs Finland
+2.0 (-111) | -2.0 (-118)
O/U 5.5 Goals
In the tournament's opening game, both teams are expected to start fast, fueled by the excitement of players who have waited years, some over a decade, for this moment. Finland has developed into a legitimate contender over the past two to three decades, competing with hockey powerhouses like Canada and the United States despite having a population of just 5.6 million.
Slovakia will have a lot to prove. While their roster may not be as packed with NHL talent as Finland’s, the Slovaks feature rising stars like Simon Nemec and Juraj Slafkovský, along with experienced veterans such as Tomas Tatar, who has previous Olympic experience and could provide guidance to a relatively young Slovak lineup.
Slovakia will need to find ways to contain some of Finland’s top players, including Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, and Miro Heiskanen. It promises to be an intriguing opening clash.
Pick: Finland -2.5 (+115)
The biggest factor in this game will be Slovakia's goaltender Samuel Hlavaj, who plays for the Iowa Wild in the AHL. Finland has some of the best scorers in the sport and if Hlavaj has a bad game, this one may not be close.
Sweden vs Italy
-5.0 (-115) | +5.0 (-111)
O/U 6.5 Goals
The host country will face a tough challenge right from the start, taking on a gold medal contender in Sweden. The betting spread reflects the expected difficulty, as sportsbooks are not anticipating a close game. Sweden boasts a roster capable of competing for the gold medal and the title of the world’s best hockey nation, featuring stars like William Nylander, Adrian Kempe, Victor Hedman, and Rasmus Dahlin.
They are one of the most complete teams in the tournament. Italy, by contrast, will be relying on a roster with no NHL players, making this a steep uphill battle. While the Italians have surprised many in past Winter Games and even won medals on home ice, securing a medal in ice hockey this year would be nothing short of a miracle.
Pick: Sweden -4.5 (-161)
The Italians enter this contest with odds set at 1.72 to score just one goal, meaning the spread for this game will almost entirely depend on how much the Swedes can score and with their elite offense, it should be enough to cover this spread.
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