USA vs Slovakia Prediction & Picks - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
International - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
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by Taavi Pailk | in Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament Picks
The USA and Slovakia will battle for a spot in the men’s ice hockey Olympic tournament final on Friday at PalaItalia Santa Giulia in Milan.
The Americans will aim to return to the final for the first time since 2010, while Slovakia will hope to qualify for the Olympic final for the first time in the country’s history. With Juraj Slafkovsky in sensational form, Naši chlapci can be confident about their chances of upsetting Team USA.
Slafkovsky has been among the stars of the show in Milan, scoring three goals and seven points in four games. This gives him 10 goals and four assists in 11 games for his Olympic career. Mike Sullivan’s men must be wary of Slafkovsky’s threat at all times to avoid a slip-up.
Auston Matthews and Quinn Hughes have led the charge for Team USA. On Friday, the two can match an American record with a five-game point streak at the Olympics. Matthews has posted three goals and three assists during his four-game run, while Hughes has produced one goal and five assists at the tournament.
It’s the third Olympic encounter between these nations with NHL players involved. The Slovaks have already triumphed once over the U.S. on Italian soil, winning 2-1 in Turin 20 years ago. During the 2014 Sochi tournament, the Americans got their revenge in a 7-1 victory.
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USA vs Slovakia Form
USA and Slovakia Latest Matches
6/6 (100%)
0/6 (0%)
Feb 18, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 15, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 14, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 12, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
May 24, 2025 - IIHF World Championship
May 22, 2025 - IIHF World Championship
6/6 (100%)
0/6 (0%)
Feb 18, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 15, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 14, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
May 22, 2025 - IIHF World Championship
May 17, 2025 - IIHF World Championship
May 14, 2025 - IIHF World Championship
4/4 (100%)
0/4 (0%)
Feb 12, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
May 24, 2025 - IIHF World Championship
May 20, 2025 - IIHF World Championship
May 18, 2025 - IIHF World Championship
4/6 (67%)
2/6 (33%)
Feb 18, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 14, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 13, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 11, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Nov 9, 2025 - Germany Cup
Nov 8, 2025 - Germany Cup
5/5 (100%)
0/5 (0%)
Feb 18, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 11, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Nov 8, 2025 - Germany Cup
Sep 1, 2024 - Olympic Qualification, Group D
Aug 29, 2024 - Olympic Qualification, Group D
3/6 (50%)
3/6 (50%)
Feb 14, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 13, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Nov 9, 2025 - Germany Cup
Nov 6, 2025 - Germany Cup
May 17, 2025 - IIHF World Championship
Aug 30, 2024 - Olympic Qualification, Group D
Players list
J. Oettinger
C. Hellebuyck
Q. Hughes
B. Faber
J. Sanderson
C. McAvoy
J. Slavin
N. Hanifin
Z. Werenski
B. Tkachuk
M. Boldy
J. Hughes
C. Keller
T. Thompson
J. Eichel
B. Nelson
V. Trocheck
J. Miller
D. Larkin
A. Matthews
M. Tkachuk
J. Guentzel
S. Hlavaj
S. Skorvanek
M. Fehervary
S. Nemec
P. Ceresnak
M. Marincin
P. Koch
E. Cernak
M. Gernat
D. Dvorsky
M. Kelemen
M. Sukel
A. Ruzicka
O. Okuliar
A. Liska
J. Slafkovsky
P. Regenda
S. Takac
M. Pospisil
L. Cingel
L. Hudacek
T. Tatar
Most goals and assists
USA
Slovakia
J. Hughes
(4 Goals)
J. Slafkovsky
(4 Goals)
Q. Hughes
(7 Assists)
J. Slafkovsky
(4 Assists)
,
M. Fehervary
(4 Assists)
USA - Slovakia Key Points
- Slovakia has come out on top in three of their last five games against the U.S.
- The USA will feature in the semifinals at the Olympics for the fifth time overall and fourth time in six tournaments with NHL players.
- Slovakia has qualified for the semifinals at an Olympic tournament with NHL players for the second time.
- Team USA has a perfect 100 percent penalty-killing record at the tournament and has capitalized on 33.3 percent of its power plays.
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Our USA vs Slovakia Prediction
Team USA is full of firepower but hasn’t faced much resistance in Milan, facing the likes of Latvia and Denmark in the preliminary round. Sweden limited Sullivan’s side to only one regulation goal in the quarterfinals, and Slovakia also has the potential to frustrate the U.S.
Slovakia put in a great defensive display against the Finns in their tournament opener, and Vladimír Orszagh’s troops will likely try to keep it tight again on Friday. Playing an up-tempo, offensive game against the Americans could prove risky for them.
Our prediction for USA vs. Slovakia: Slovakia +2.5.
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All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
