How to Bet the Men's Olympic Hockey Tournament: Odds, Strategies, Predictions
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina is set to be a historic event for hockey fans. For the first time since 2014, NHL players are returning to the Olympic stage, bringing stars like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Nathan MacKinnon into the fold.
With the tournament running from Feb. 11 to Feb. 22, 2026, money will be pouring in on the tournament. Whether you're a seasoned sharp or a casual fan, this guide covers everything you need to know about how to bet on the Menโs Olympic Hockey tournament.
๐๏ธ How to bet men's Olympic hockey: tournament structure
Before placing any type of wager, it's important to understand the tournament structure and its three-point system.
| Group A | Group B | Group C |
|---|---|---|
| ๐จ๐ฆ Canada | ๐ซ๐ฎ Finland | ๐บ๐ธ USA |
| ๐จ๐ฟ Czechia | ๐ธ๐ฐ Slovakia | ๐ฉ๐ช Germany |
| ๐จ๐ญ Switzerland | ๐ธ๐ช Sweden | ๐ฉ๐ฐ Denmark |
| ๐ซ๐ท France | ๐ฎ๐น Italy | ๐ฑ๐ป Latvia |
- Preliminary round: 12 teams are split into three groups (A, B, and C). They play a round-robin within their group.
- The points system: 3 points for a regulation win; 2 for an OT/Shootout win; 1 for an OT/Shootout loss.
- The playoff bye: The three group winners and the best second-place team advance directly to the Quarterfinals. The remaining eight teams play a qualification playoff game to join them.
๐ฐ Men's Olympic hockey: popular bets
Now that we've got the structure down, let's take a look at some of the most popular bets for the tournament. If you're familiar with NHL betting, you'll notice plenty of similarities.
Moneyline
A straight bet on who wins the game. Because Olympic talent gaps can be huge (e.g., Canada vs. Italy), moneylines on favorites are often very expensive (e.g., -500 or higher).
Puck line
In hockey, the standard spread is 1.5 goals. However, you can always use alternate lines to your advantage to get a better return on your wager.
- If you bet Canada -1.5 (-120), they must win by two or more. An alternate line of -2.5 (+105) and Canada would have to win by three or more.
- If you bet Switzerland +1.5, they must win outright or lose by only one goal.
Futures: Gold medal winner
This is a bet on which country will stand on top of the podium at the end of the tournament with a gold medal. These futures can often turn into juicy returns if your team wins the tournament. Here are the odds to take home the gold medal this year.
| Team | Odds | Implied probability | Profit ($10 bet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | +130 | 43.48% | $13 |
| USA | +190 | 34.48% | $19 |
| Sweden | +500 | 16.67% | $50 |
| Finland | +1000 | 9.09% | $100 |
| Czechia | +2000 | 4.76% | $200 |
| Switzerland | +2700 | 3.57% | $270 |
| Slovakia | +8000 | 1.23% | $800 |
| Germany | +10000 | 0.99% | $1,000 |
| Latvia | +70000 | 0.14% | $7,000 |
| Denmark | +100000 | 0.10% | $10,000 |
| France | +100000 | 0.10% | $10,000 |
| Italy | +100000 | 0.10% | $10,000 |
Betting tip: Diversify your portfolio. With plus-money odds, you can sprinkle a .5u across two or three teams and still net a solid profit if one of those teams were to win the tournament. For me, I'm taking Canada for a full unit, and wagering a .5u on Sweden and Finland. Yes, USA is a strong team, but at +190 betting odds, I'm steering clear in favor of Canada.
๐ข Men's olympic hockey: Popular player props
Anytime goal scorer
This is the most popular prop in hockey betting. You are simply wagering that a specific player will score at least one goal during the 60 minutes of regulation (or OT).
🥅 Anytime goal scorer strategy
Look for "power play specialists." In the Olympics, international refs tend to call games tighter than NHL refs, leading to more man-advantage opportunities for snipers like Auston Matthews (USA) or Nathan MacKinnon (Canada).
Over/Under total shots on goal
Oddsmakers will set a line (usually 2.5 or 3.5) for how many shots a player will record. Tips count for shots on goal, so it's never a bad idea to bet on a net-front presence.
🏒 Shots strategy
Focus on high-volume shooters on teams facing lower-tier opponents. In a lopsided matchup (e.g., Canada vs. Italy), a top-line defenseman like Cale Makar might rack up a high volume of shots from the point as his team owns offensive zone pressure for the majority of the game. Note: these player props won't be available for every game.
Player points
Another popular prop is betting on a player to record a point. Oddsmakers usually set the line at 1+ or 2+ points depending on the caliber of skater.
🚨 Player points strategy
In the Olympics, "line stacking" is common. If you think Connor McDavid is going to have a big game, you might find better value betting on his linemates to record a point, as they will likely be the beneficiaries of his playmaking. Right now, Macklin Celebrini and Tom Wilson are on his line.
๐ค How does Olympic hockey compare to the NHL?
NHL players will be returning to the Winter Olympics for the first time since the 2014 Games in Sochi. While both Olympic and NHL games feature three 20-minute periods, several notable differences exist between NHL rules and the IIHF.
Rink size: Historically, ice dimensions have been one of the biggest distinctions. Olympic rinks are typically wider, measuring 197 feet by 98.5 feet, while NHL rinks are slightly longer but much narrower at 200 feet by 85 feet. However, this yearโs Olympic tournament will be played on NHL-sized ice, only the third time this has occurred (previously in 2010 and 2022).
Overtime rules: In preliminary rounds, tied games will be decided by a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime followed by a five-round shootout. Starting in the quarterfinals, teams will play a 10-minute 3-on-3 overtime before moving to a shootout if needed. The gold medal game mirrors NHL playoff rules, with continuous 5-on-5 overtime periods until a sudden-death goal is scored.
Fighting: Unlike the NHL, fighting is not allowed in international competition and can result in penalties ranging from a minor infraction to immediate ejection.
โ 2026 Winter Olympics hockey FAQs
Who is the betting favorite to win 2026 Winter Olympics?
With +130 odds at FanDuel, Canada is the betting favorite to win the 2026 Winter Olympics. Those odds imply a 43.48% probability, according to our odds calculator.
Who has won the most Olympic medals in hockey?
Canada has won the most medals in men's hockey with 16, while the United States has the second-most medals with 11.
Who won the last Olympic hockey tournament?
Finland won the Beijing 2022 Olympic tournament. However, it wasn't a best-on-best tournament, with NHL players prohibited from participating.
When is the 2026 Winter Olympic hockey tournament?
The 2026 Winter Olympic hockey tournament takes place from Feb. 11 to Feb. 22.
When is the 2026 Winter Olympic hockey gold medal game?
The gold medal game occurs on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 7:10 a.m. ET.
Who won the last best-on-best Olympic hockey tournament?
Canada won the last best-on-best Olympic hockey tournament in 2014 at the Sochi Olympics.
How many players are on an Olympic hockey roster?
The maximum number of players on an Olympic men's hockey roster is 25, and the maximum number for an Olympic women's hockey roster is 23. However, each team can only dress 20 skaters and two goaltenders for each game.
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