The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina have reached the crucial men’s hockey qualification playoffs, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Team Sweden will face off against Team Latvia in a win-or-go-home showdown. If you are trying to find out how to catch every shift, hit, and goal, you are in the right place.
Game Time & Broadcast Channels
Puck drop is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET (which translates to 9:10 p.m. locally in Sweden and 10:10 p.m. in Latvia) at the Rho Arena in Milan. Here is how you can tune in from around the world:
- Canada: Viewers can watch the game on TSN (TSN1/4), CBC, and Sportsnet, or stream it live via CBC Gem.
- Sweden: Swedish fans can catch Tre Kronor on SVT, TV4, and stream the game on Max (Warner Bros. Discovery).
- Latvia: The national broadcast will be carried locally on LTV (Latvijas Televīzija), bringing the action directly to Latvian fans.
Regional Blackouts Explained for Olympic Hockey Live Streams
If you are trying to stream the Olympics online while traveling, you might be frustrated by regional blackouts. But what exactly are they? Broadcasting rights for the Olympic Games are negotiated and sold on a strict country-by-country basis. For instance, platforms like CBC Gem or TSN only hold the legal rights to broadcast within Canada. Streaming platforms enforce these agreements by using geolocation technology to monitor your IP address. If you are outside your home country’s geographic boundaries, the stream will be blocked to protect the rights of the local broadcaster in your current location.
Team Sweden & Team Latvia Men’s Hockey Olympic History & Records
When looking at the all-time men’s hockey Olympic records, there is a clear divide in historical pedigree. Team Sweden is a global powerhouse. Across all Winter Olympics, they have secured 9 men’s hockey medals, including two legendary Gold medals (1994, 2006), three Silvers, and four Bronzes. Their all-time Olympic win-loss-draw record sits at an incredibly dominant 86-32-12. Historically, their Olympic scoring leaders include icons like Mats Sundin and Peter Forsberg, who have etched their names into hockey lore.
In contrast, Team Latvia is still searching for its first-ever Olympic men’s hockey medal (0 medals). Entering this playoff, their all-time Olympic record is roughly 4 wins, 21 losses, and 3 draws. However, they consistently punch above their weight class. Their all-time leading Olympic scorer is Aleksandrs Ņiživijs, who racked up 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) over three Olympic tournaments, while current forward Lauris Dārziņš holds the record for most Olympic goals for the nation.
Previous Results, Key Injuries & My Prediction
At the 2026 games so far, Team Sweden went 2-1 in Group B, securing wins over Slovakia and Italy but dropping a tough game to Finland. Team Latvia went 1-2 in Group C, suffering losses to the USA and Denmark but pulling off a stunning 4-3 upset over a strong German team. Both rosters have managed to emerge from the grueling preliminary round without any major new injuries, setting the stage for a fully healthy clash. Looking at head-to-head matchups, Sweden crushed Latvia 6-0 in 2025 and 7-2 in 2024, but nobody has forgotten Latvia’s historic 3-1 upset over the Swedes in the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Championship.
In my personal opinion, while Latvian goaltender Artūrs Šilovs has the raw talent to completely steal a game, the Swedes are simply too deep this year. I’ve watched Team Sweden deploy stars like Elias Pettersson, Lucas Raymond, and Rasmus Dahlin with clinical precision. I expect Latvia to keep it close early, but Sweden’s overwhelming puck possession will eventually break them down.
My prediction: Team Sweden wins 4-1.
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