Sweden will face Latvia in the men’s hockey qualification playoffs of the 2026 Winter Olympics at Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, with puck drop at 3:10 p.m. ET and streaming on Peacock, and TV coverage on USA Network.
MORE: Who will Team USA men’s hockey play in Olympic quarterfinals?
How to Watch Sweden vs Latvia
Feb 14, 2026; Milan, Italy; Elias Pettersson of Sweden celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Lucas Raymond of Sweden during a Group B men’s ice hockey game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
- Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
- Time: 3:10 p.m. ET
- Location: Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (Milan, Italy)
- TV Channel: USA Network, Peacock
- Live Stream: Peacock (watch live)
Why this game matters so much for Sweden
Sweden enters the playoff round seeded seventh after the preliminary stage, leaving them with no room for error. Instead of a direct path to the quarterfinals, the Swedes now have to survive a single-elimination gauntlet, first Latvia, then potentially the United States, less than 24 hours later.
For a program with Sweden’s history and expectations, an early exit would be shocking. The Swedes have long been one of the Olympic tournament’s most consistent teams, and they’ve never been eliminated before the quarterfinal stage in an Olympics that includes NHL players. That context alone adds serious tension to Tuesday’s matchup.
Latvia arrives as a dangerous underdog
Feb 14, 2026; Milan, Italy; Renars Krastenbergs of Latvia celebrates with teammates after scoring their fourth goal during a Group C men’s ice hockey game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Latvia won’t carry the same expectations, which can make them especially dangerous in a winner-take-all game. Known for structured defensive play and relentless effort, the Latvians are comfortable playing the spoiler role and have shown in recent international tournaments that they can push bigger hockey nations when games tighten up.
Expect Latvia to lean on disciplined team defense, strong goaltending, and quick counterattacks, a formula designed to frustrate a more skilled Swedish lineup and keep the game close into the third period.
The road ahead: Team USA waiting in the quarterfinals
If Sweden advances, things only get tougher. The winner will face Team USA in Wednesday’s quarterfinal at the same arena, meaning the Swedes could be forced to play two high-intensity elimination games on back-to-back days.
This will be a great day of men’s Olympic hockey that you won’t want to miss on Tuesday. Who will face Team USA in the quarterfinals on Wednesday?
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