Canada vs. Czechia Prediction & Odds: Olympic Men's Hockey Quarterfinal Preview
Canada enters the knockout phase of the Olympic hockey tournament with a rematch against Czechia. Can the Czechs keep this quarterfinal matchup closer than the 5-0 drubbing they suffered to Canada last week?
My Canada vs. Czechia prediction projects how dominant a victory we can expect from the Canadians while identifying my top goal scorer pick. Puck drop is at 10:40 a.m. ET on Wednesday from Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (CBC, CBC Gem, Peacock), with Canada a -3.5 betting favorite.
🏒 Canada vs. Czechia picks & odds: Feb. 18
Our expert Olympic hockey picks are based on the latest betting odds at the best sports betting sites.
| Bet type | Prediction | Units | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game prediction | Canada -3.5 (+125) | 1u -> 1.25u | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Over/Under total | Under 6.5 (-120) | 0.5u -> 0.42u | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Player prop bet | Connor McDavid anytime goal (-110) | 1u -> 0.91u | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Total wagered: 2.5 units | Max profit: 2.6 units
💰 Canada vs. Czechia prediction & best bet
Canada -3.5 (+125)
A second crack at Canada won't grant Czechia any new opportunities to attack the field's most talented team. Canada has won every game this tournament by at least four goals, including a 5-0 victory over Czechia in the opener.
Look for the Canadians to roll the Czechs in a blowout once again to advance. BetMGM's puck line already moved from Canada -2.5 to -3.5 at plus-money odds. I still don't think that spread is big enough for the Czechs to cover here.
Score prediction: Canada 5, Czechia 1
🔥 Best Canada vs. Czechia player prop bet
Connor McDavid anytime goal (-110)
The 2026 Winter Olympics are Connor McDavid's stage - why would I bet my money on anyone else to score? The world's best player has scored in two straight games and barely missed on multiple excellent opportunities against the Czechs the first time around.
While his passing ability hasn't dropped off one bit (he leads the tournament in assists), he's been noticeably more aggressive as a shooter than he was in his first taste of best-on-best hockey at the 4 Nations Face-Off last year. McDavid leads Canada in shots on goal, showing he will look for his own shot at crucial moments as Canada enters the elimination phase of the tournament.
As of this writing, FanDuel is the only one of our best sports betting sites offering player props for the matchup. I placed my bet at -110 odds, but there's value up to -120.
💡 How I'm betting Canada vs. Czechia
I bet 2.5 units from my bankroll for this matchup based on my confidence level for the three wagers, including a bet on the puck line. There's no value in betting on Canada's moneyline, with -1100 odds that translate to an implied probability over 90%.
The Over/Under bet is where I only laid 0.5u on the line, given that the total for this matchup is more difficult to project. While Czechia was shut out in their tournament opener against Canada, they've scored at least three goals in every game since.
🥅 Who will start in goal for Canada vs. Czechia?
It will almost certainly be Jordan Binnington in net for Canada versus Czechia after he started two of the team's three preliminary games, allowing two goals total. Logan Thompson started the lone exception against Switzerland, allowing one goal.
While Thompson has been by far the superior NHL goalie this season, Binnington's clutch performance at the 4 Nations Face-Off has earned him the top role with Canada until he proves he isn't the best goaltending option.
Other lineup question marks for Canada include whether or not defenseman Josh Morrissey will play after suffering an injury in the tournament opener and which forward (Sam Bennett, Seth Jarvis, etc.) will leave the lineup to make room for Brad Marchand, who sat out the last two games for rest purposes.
📊 What is the puck line for Canada vs. Czechia?
| Team | Puck line |
|---|---|
| Canada | -3.5 (+125) |
| Czechia | +3.5 (-175) |
📺 How to watch Canada vs. Czechia
- Date: Wednesday, Feb. 18
- Puck drop: 10:40 a.m. ET
- Location: Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (Milan, Italy)
- TV: CBC, CBC Gem, Peacock
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