Bruins Fan Guide To Hockey At 2026 Winter Olympics In Milan-cortina

Bruins fan guide to hockey at 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

For the first time since 2014, NHL players will compete in men’s ice hockey at the Winter Olympics.

The upcoming Winter Games in Milan-Cortina will showcase the best players in the sport, most of whom have never played in the Olympics before.

That includes nine players/prospects from the Boston Bruins.

Canada won the last Olympic gold medal that featured NHL players when it defeated Sweden 12 years ago. Bruins center Patrice Bergeron took home his second Olympic gold medal that year.

The Bruins have actually had a player win Olympic gold in each of the last three tournaments that included NHL players:

• 2014 in Sochi: Patrice Bergeron, Canada
• 2010 in Vancouver: Patrice Bergeron, Canada
• 2006 in Turin: P.J. Axelsson, Sweden

Will another Bruins player(s) win gold this time?

Here’s everything Bruins fans need to know about the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Bruins players competing

The Bruins will have eight players (plus prospect Dans Locmelis) competing at the Olympics. Only the Tampa Bay Lightning (nine), Minnesota Wild (nine) and Florida Panthers (10) will have more NHL players in Milan-Cortina.

United States

• Jeremy Swayman, Goaltender
• Charlie McAvoy, Defenseman

Czechia

• David Pastrnak, Right wing
• Pavel Zacha, Center/wing

Sweden

• Elias Lindholm, Center
• Hampus Lindholm, Defenseman

Finland

• Henri Jokiharju, Defenseman
• Joonas Korpisalo, Goaltender

Latvia

• Dans Locmelis, Center

Key format details

Teams will receive three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime or shootout win, one point for an OT or shootout loss and zero for a regulation loss.

In the preliminary rounds, overtime periods are 3-on-3 for five minutes. If the score is tied after OT, a shootout will determine the winner.

If the score is tied after regulation in a qualification playoff, quarterfinal, semifinal or bronze medal game, there will be a 10-minute 3-on-3 OT period. If neither team scores in OT, a shootout will determine the winner.

If the gold medal game is tied after regulation, 20-minute 3-on-3 overtime periods are played until there is a winner. There is no shootout in the gold medal matchup.

Preliminary round games involving Bruins players

Each of the 12 teams will play three preliminary round games from Feb. 11 through Feb. 15. Every team advances to the single-elimination tournament, with the top four teams receiving a bye to the quarterfinals.

(All times ET. All games also available on Peacock).

Wednesday, Feb. 11

• Slovakia vs. Finland, 10:40 a.m. on USA Network
• Sweden vs. Italy, 3:10 p.m. on USA Network

Thursday, Feb. 12

• Czechia vs. Canada, 10:40 a.m. on USA Network
• Latvia vs. United States, 3:10 p.m. on USA Network

Friday, Feb. 13

• Finland vs. Sweden, 6:10 a.m., USA Network
• France vs. Czechia, 10:40 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 14

• Sweden vs. Slovakia, 6:10 a.m.
• Germany vs. Latvia, 6:10 a.m. on CNBC
• Finland vs. Italy, 10:40 a.m. on USA Network
• United States vs. Denmark, 3:10 p.m. on USA Network

Sunday, Feb. 15

• Switzerland vs. Czechia, 6:10 a.m. on CNBC
• Denmark vs. Latvia, 1:10 p.m. on CNBC
• United States vs. Germany, 3:10 p.m. on USA Network

When is the medal round?

There will be four qualification playoff games on Tuesday, Feb. 17. The four quarterfinal games will be played on Wednesday, Feb. 18. The two semifinal matchups are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 20. The bronze medal game is Saturday, Feb. 21 and the gold medal game is set for Sunday, Feb. 22.

The gold medal game will start at 8:10 a.m. ET on NBC.

Other important info to know

–Olympic hockey typically has been played on a larger rink than the standard NHL size, but the 2026 Olympics will use NHL rink dimensions.

–Fighting is not allowed at the Olympics, so don’t expect the fireworks we saw from the USA-Canada group stage matchup at the 4 Nations Face-off last February.

–Bruins right wing David Pastrnak is playing for Czechia. He also will be one of Czechia’s flag bearers during the Opening Ceremony on Friday.