Welcome to Last Word On Hockey’s Olympic Predictions. Each day, our writers here at Last Word On Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis.

MILAN (AP) — Gabriel Landeskog stood on his couch as the clock ticked down to Sweden beating archrival Finland to win the gold medal at the 2006 Turin Olympics. The 13-year-old jumped up and down at the buzzer.

Try this on for size: Between Finland and Sweden, the two combined for 100 shots in their opening games of the 2026 Winter Olympics preliminary round. One lost, 4-1, and the other failed to cover its 5.

Slovakia opened the 2026 Winter Olympics with a decisive 4–1 victory over defending champion Finland, powered by two goals from Juraj Slafkovský and a 38-save performance from Samuel Hlavaj.

Mikko Lehtonen has been here before. Finland is counting on that being a huge plus for their men's hockey team at the 2026 Winter Olympics. After all, Lehtonen won a gold medal in Beijing in 2022. That's right -- the Finnish squad is the reigning gold medalist.

If Sweden and Finland aren't at the top of Group B at the conclusion of the preliminary round, then the Olympics will have turned upside down.

The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 men's hockey tournament starts Wednesday. The tournament, the first with NHL players since the 2014 Sochi Olympics, will feature all 12 teams playing three preliminary games in their respective groups,

A pivotal Group A matchup is set for Sunday night in Milan, as Czechia prepares to take on Finland in women’s ice hockey action at the 2026 Winter Olympics.