Olympics Men’s Hockey: Czechia vs Canada Odds, Analysis, & Picks

Canada’s quest for gold in Olympic Men’s Hockey begins on Thursday, February 12, as they face Czechia in their opening preliminary round game. The puck drop is scheduled for 10:40 a.m. ET in Milan, Italy. The Canadians head into the tournament as a heavy favorite after winning the 4 Nations Face Off last year. The Czechs are no pushover though, and they have all the ability to keep this one competitive. Read on for the Czechia vs Canada picks.

Odds courtesy of TonyBet.

Czechia vs Canada Odds

By no surprise, Team Canada is a massive -715 favorite at hockey betting sportsbooks. The Czechs return at +459. The puck line is also favoring Canada by 2.5 goals, with -125 odds.

Czechia vs Canada Analysis

Czechia is seen as one of the dark horses in this tournament, and it’s understandable why. Their roster is full of lots of NHL talent. We’re talking the likes of David Pastrnak, Martin Necas, Tomas Hertl, and others. Pastrnak is currently one of the best players in the National Hockey League, and Necas continues to serve as an irreplaceable piece for the Colorado Avalanche. In net, Lukas Dostal of the Anaheim Ducks will be the main man. He was the Goaltender of the Tournament in the 2024 Worlds, and he’s also played for his country in two World Juniors earlier in his international career.

The Czechs have Dostal heading into this tournament in very good shape. He barely lost a game over his final 10 games for the Ducks before the Olympic break, and Dostal will undoubtedly need to be at his best against a stacked Canada roster full of future Hockey Hall of Famers. 12 players in the Czechia squad play in the NHL, while the remaining play across Europe. They could make things difficult for Canada in the opening contest.

Canada has been the class of international hockey for many years, but Olympic Hockey hasn’t actually allowed NHL players again until 2026. That adds a whole different feel to this tournament, and the Canucks proved their worth in the 4 Nations last year. After losing to Team USA in the group stages, Canada got revenge in the Golde Medal Game, with Connor McDavid scoring a dramatic OT winner in Boston nearly a year ago to the day.

When you look up and down Canada’s roster, it’s legitimately scary to see just how many superstars are joining forces. McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Sam Reinhart, Macklin Celebrini. That’s just a handful. We also can’t forget legend Sidney Crosby, who was a bright spot for his country in the 4 Nations. Team Canada has an impressive blend of youth and experience, and anything less than gold would be considered a disappointment. While that’s the goal, getting started on the right foot against Czechia is the No. 1 focus right now.

Czechia vs Canada Picks

The moneyline offers little value here. Instead, I’m eyeing a specific prop. Canada has no issues scoring, but Czechia also has some weapons who could create some havoc. I see this one being a high-scoring affair, so I’ll take Team Canada to win, with Over 5.5 goals.

Pick: Canada & Over 5.5 goals (-117)/TonyBet