The United States meets Sweden in a quarterfinal showdown at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena with puck drop scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Both teams enter the elimination round among the tournament’s top goal-scoring groups, tied for the second-most goals scored (16) behind Canada. Will USA knock off Sweden or is there a better bet on the board in this Wednesday Men’s Olympic Hockey matchup?

Sweden advanced after a 5-1 win over Latvia, fueled by goals from Gabriel Landeskog, Mika Zibanejad, and others, while Lucas Raymond contributed three assists.
Team USA secured its quarterfinal berth with a 5-1 victory over Germany, highlighted by captain Auston Matthews’ three-point performance.

Betting odds

• Puck line: Sweden +1.5 (-115) | USA -1.5 (-105)

• Moneyline: Sweden +215 | USA -265

• Total: Over 5.5 (-142) | Under 5.5 (+120)

Market consensus elsewhere similarly lists the U.S. as a clear favorite with totals around 6–6.5 goals, reinforcing expectations of a competitive but controlled game environment.

Team USA outlook

Key players

The American roster features elite NHL forwards including Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Jack Hughes, Kyle Connor, Matt Boldy, Jake Guentzel, Clayton Keller, and Dylan Larkin.

Matthews has already produced multiple goals in the tournament and carries the shortest anytime-goalscorer odds among Americans, underscoring his offensive importance.

Form & strengths

• Strong scoring depth across multiple lines.

• Offensive production evident in the 5-1 win over Germany.

• However, the U.S. has shown slow first-period starts at times, a potential vulnerability against elite opponents.

Team Sweden outlook

Key contributors

Sweden’s lineup includes proven NHL talent such as William Nylander, Mika Zibanejad, Gabriel Landeskog, Lucas Raymond, Filip Forsberg, and Adrian Kempe, several of whom already contributed in the Latvia victory.

Nylander holds the shortest Swedish anytime-goalscorer odds, highlighting his scoring threat.

Form & concerns

• Sweden rebounded from a disappointing group stage with the dominant 5-1 playoff win.

• The penalty kill has been excellent, allowing just one goal in 12 opponent power plays.

• Goaltending inconsistency and defensive transition issues have surfaced, potentially problematic against the U.S. attack.

Matchup analysis

Offense vs. structure

• The United States brings greater scoring depth and high-end finishing talent.

• Sweden counters with structured defense and strong special teams.

Because both teams rank near the top in scoring yet totals trends lean under, analysts widely expect a competitive, moderately paced elimination game rather than a shootout.

Final score prediction

The United States’ superior offensive depth, recent dominant win, and Matthews-led scoring edge give them the matchup advantage. Sweden’s structure and penalty kill should keep the game close early, but sustained U.S. pressure is likely to decide the outcome late.

Projection: USA 4, Sweden 2

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