USA vs. Denmark: Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey Preview and Prediction
Team USA began its 2026 Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament with a 5-1 win over Latvia on Thursday. The victory gave the Americans an ideal statement win as they search for their first hockey Gold medal since 1980. Team Denmark fell to Germany by a score of 3-1 in their opening game of the tournament.
In what should be an entertaining matchup to watch unfold, who has the edge in this contest?
How to Watch USA vs. Denmark: Start Time and TV/Streaming in Canada
Puck drop for USA vs. Denmark in the 2026 Olympic men’s hockey tournament is set for Saturday at 3:10 ET from Milan.
In Canada, the game will air live on CBC and stream free on CBC Gem. Coverage of the full Olympic men’s hockey schedule is available through CBC’s broadcast and digital platforms.
USA vs. Denmark Olympic Men’s Hockey Odds and Betting
Team USA’s well-rounded performance in the opener has the Americans sitting right behind Team Canada in the tournament odds boards. USA has a chance to improve those odds with another strong performance in this matchup against Denmark. After beginning the tournament with odds of +25000 to win Gold, Denmark’s odds have only gotten longer following a 3-1 loss to Germany.
It’s not surprising to see Team USA listed as heavy favourites in this matchup. The Americans have overwhelming odds of -2858 on the money line, while Denmark has odds of +1300 to pull off what would be a shocking upset. When it comes to the puck line, USA -3.5 has odds of -143, while Denmark +3.5 carries a +120 price. The total is 6.5 with the Over carrying -106 odds and the Under sits at -118.
Team USA
While the Americans defeated Latvia convincingly, the score could have been even more lopsided if a few bounces had gone the other way. Team USA had two goals called back after lengthy reviews and hit the post multiple times in the opening period. They managed to overcome the unlucky breaks by controlling puck possession and shots on goal while taking advantage of their power play chances.
Brock Nelson was the star of Game 1 for Team USA, as he potted two goals and would have netted a hat trick if his first goal of the game wasn’t taken off the board due to a goaltender interference call. Nelson showed incredible chemistry with Jack Hughes playing on USA’s fourth line, which shows the extreme depth this team possesses.
Connor Hellebuyck was rock solid in the net, turning aside 17 of the 18 shots he faced. Hellebuyck is the NHL’s reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner, and started three of USA’s four games in the Four Nations Face Off last February. It’s clear he is Team USA’s No. 1 netminder for this tournament, and his solid performance in the opener should give the Americans plenty of confidence heading into this matchup against Denmark.
Team Denmark
Team Denmark was playing from behind early on against Germany, as Leon Draisaitl netted the game’s opening goal just 23 seconds into the 1st period. Denmark was able to tie things up later in the 1st, but a pair of goals from Tim Stutzle proved to be too much for the Danes to overcome.
Denmark has had 19 players appear in the NHL throughout its history, and six of those players are on this 2026 Olympic team. The forward group is led by seasoned veterans Oliver Bjorkstrand, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Lars Eller, while 13-year NHL veteran Frederik Andersen is the team’s No. 1 goaltender.
They sustained some offensive pressure against Germany, as the Danes outshot the Germans 38-26. However, Denmark couldn’t finish on their chances, which could be a common theme for this team throughout this tournament. Bjorkstrand and Ehlers are effective scorers, but they are more complementary depth scoring pieces on their respective NHL teams. They are not accustomed to taking on top-scoring roles, and the pieces behind them don’t provide Denmark with the same depth as Team USA heading into this matchup.
Olympics Prediction: Who Will Win USA vs Denmark?
Team USA has plenty of confidence and momentum following its four-goal win over Latvia. The Americans can score with all four lines, and the defensive group they possess is arguably the greatest ever assembled. That lethal combination gives Team USA a major advantage over Denmark in this one, and the Danes will have a tough time keeping up.
I expect Team USA to win this matchup by a score of 6-2.