Olympic Men’s Hockey: Bruins Players, Bracket Chaos, and What’s at Stake as Group Play Wraps Up in Milan
The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are heating up, and men’s hockey is delivering everything fans could hope for-tight battles, surprise upsets, and a playoff picture that’s anything but straightforward. As the preliminary round wraps up today, we’ve got a clearer look at how the bracket could shake out, but don’t get too comfortable-there’s still plenty of chaos on the table.
For players with Boston ties, it’s been a mixed run through the group stage. Some have stepped up.
Others are still looking to make their mark. Let’s break down where things stand heading into the final slate of games and what it could mean for the elimination rounds.
Bruins Players at the Olympics: The Good, The Quiet, and The Waiting Game
Sweden’s Lineup Shuffle
Elias Lindholm found himself scratched for Sweden’s final group game after going scoreless in their first two outings. It’s a tough look for a player expected to contribute offensively. On the blue line, Hampus Lindholm dressed but didn’t see much ice time, serving as Sweden’s seventh defenseman-essentially an insurance policy if needed.
Finland Leans on Steady Play
Joonas Korpisalo hasn’t seen game action yet, backing up as expected. But Henri Jokiharju has been a steady presence for Finland, playing a key role in their win over Sweden and helping them secure second place in their group. It’s not flashy, but it’s been effective.
Pastrnak’s Czechia Off to a Rocky Start
David Pastrnak has one goal and two assists so far-not bad, but not quite the fireworks fans are used to. Czechia opened with a lopsided loss to Canada, bounced back against France, and then dropped a heartbreaker in overtime to Switzerland after tying it late. It’s been an up-and-down ride, and they’ll need more from their stars if they want to make a deep run.
Latvia’s Breakout Star
Dans Locmelis has been one of Latvia’s best players so far, putting up two goals and three points through two games. Latvia dropped their opener to the U.S. but bounced back with a stunning win over Germany-their first Olympic victory since 2014. Locmelis has been at the center of it all, and today’s matchup against Denmark could swing Latvia’s seeding dramatically.
Team USA: McAvoy Steady, Swayman Shaky
Charlie McAvoy has been exactly what Team USA needed on the back end-calm, poised, and smart with the puck. His chemistry with Quinn Hughes has been a highlight, letting Hughes take the offensive reins while McAvoy holds things down defensively.
Jeremy Swayman, on the other hand, had a rough outing against Denmark. He let in a goal from center ice-a moment he’ll want back-but settled in afterward, stopping 16 of the final 17 shots. Still, that early damage could cost the U.S. in seeding, especially with a potential quarterfinal matchup against Sweden looming.
What’s Locked In, What’s Still Up for Grabs
With just a few games left in group play, here’s what we know:
- Canada, Slovakia, and Finland have clinched byes to the quarterfinals.
- USA has already won Group C and is playing for overall seeding.
- Sweden is locked into the 7th seed.
- Italy and France are slotted into the 11th and 12th seeds, depending on goal differential.
But beyond that? It’s a bracket built on tiebreakers, goal differentials, and a whole lot of “if this, then that.”
The Seeding Scenarios: A Closer Look
Let’s unpack the possibilities, especially in Group C, where the final standings could flip with just a goal or two in either direction.
If Latvia Beats Denmark in Regulation:
- Latvia grabs the #5 seed, setting up a favorable matchup against the 12th seed (France or Italy).
- Switzerland would fall to the #6 seed and face the 11th seed.
- Denmark drops to 10th, while Germany finishes second in the group and lands the #6 overall seed.
If Latvia Wins in OT/Shootout or Loses in OT/Shootout:
- Latvia drops to the #6 seed, Denmark stays at 10th.
- Germany still finishes second in the group, seeded #6 overall.
If Denmark Wins in Regulation:
Now it gets interesting.
- A 1-goal win: Denmark stays 10th, Latvia moves to 9th, Germany remains 6th.
- A 2-3 goal win: Denmark moves up to 9th, Latvia falls to 10th, Germany still 6th.
- A 4+ goal win: Denmark leapfrogs Germany for second in the group and grabs the #6 seed, pushing Germany down.
This all hinges on the tiebreaker system, which prioritizes goal differential in games between tied teams. So far, it looks like this:
- Latvia: +1 (win over Germany)
- Germany: +1 (win over Denmark)
- Denmark: -2 (loss to Germany)
So, every goal Denmark scores today matters. A lot.
The Big One: USA vs. Germany
The final game of the day pits the United States against Germany. The U.S. is heavily favored, but if Germany pulls off the upset-and does it decisively-it could flip the entire bracket.
If Germany Beats the U.S. in Regulation by 2+ Goals:
- Germany could jump all the way to the #2 overall seed, bumping the U.S. to the elimination round.
- If Latvia also beats Denmark, Latvia could still fall to the #8 seed due to the same group tie-breaker logic.
If Germany Wins by 3+ Goals and Latvia Wins:
- Germany wins Group C, grabs the #2 overall seed.
- USA drops into the single-elimination round as the #5 seed, facing the 12th seed (likely France).
- Latvia, despite beating Denmark, drops to #8, facing Czechia.
So yes, Germany could go from a shaky group-stage performance to a quarterfinal bye with one big win.
Projected Bracket (If Favorites Win Today):
Quarterfinal Byes:
Canada
2.
USA
3.
Slovakia
4.
Finland
Knockout Round:
- #5 Switzerland vs.
#12 France
- #6 Germany vs.
#11 Italy
- #7 Sweden vs.
#10 Denmark
- #8 Czechia vs.
#9 Latvia
Alternate Bracket (If Latvia Beats Denmark in Regulation):
- #5 Latvia vs. #12 France
- #6 Switzerland vs. #11 Italy
- #7 Sweden vs. #10 Denmark
- #8 Czechia vs. #9 Germany
The Wild Card Scenario:
Let’s say Germany stuns the U.S. with a 3+ goal win, and Latvia takes care of Denmark. That would shake things up dramatically:
Quarterfinal Byes:
Canada
2.
Germany
3.
Slovakia
4.
Finland
Knockout Round:
- #5 USA vs.
#12 France
- #6 Switzerland vs.
#11 Italy
- #7 Sweden vs.
#10 Denmark
- #8 Latvia vs.
#9 Czechia
Bottom Line
The final day of group play isn’t just about closing out the schedule-it’s about setting the stage for what could be one of the most unpredictable Olympic knockout rounds we’ve seen in years. With so many moving parts, every goal, every shift, and every save could be the difference between a quarterfinal bye and a do-or-die elimination game.
For the Bruins players overseas, there’s still plenty to play for. And for fans?
Buckle up. This bracket’s about to get wild.