Italy vs. Sweden Prediction, Odds for Men’s Olympic Hockey Group B

NHL players are back at the Olympics for the first time in 12 years, and Team Sweden is eyeing another medal. They earned silver back in 2014, and open up the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics against the host country.

Team Italy is understandably a huge underdog against a tough Team Sweden squad. One side would be thrilled with one win in the tournament, while Sweden is hoping to break through with another medal.

Let’s take a look at the odds and my prediction for Italy vs. Sweden in Men’s Olympic Hockey Group B.

Italy vs. Sweden Men’s Olympic Hockey Odds

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Puck Line

Italy: +5.5 (-142)
Sweden: -5.5 (+120)

Moneyline

Italy: +4000
Sweden: -50000

Total

6.5 (Over -112/Under -108)

Italy vs. Sweden How to Watch

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 11
Time: 3:10 p.m. ET
Venue: Milano Santagiulia IHO
How to Watch (TV): USA Network
Italy record: 0-0
Sweden record: 0-0

Italy vs. Sweden Prediction and Pick

The question for this game is how you can back Sweden. There is no value in betting on Italy in any way, unfortunately, as the host team is just happy to be there. Italy decided to focus on homegrown talent, filling the roster with long-term players for the national squad.

Sweden is a team built to go far in this tournament. They have four strong lines at forward, and the blue line is stacked with the likes of Rasmus Dahlin, Victor Hedman, Rasmus Andersson, and Erik Karlsson.

Defense is where Sweden really shines, with plenty of defensive forwards as well, like Joel Eriksson Ek and Elias Lindholm, and they have their leader in Gabriel Landeskog wearing the C.

But I’m not sure if Sweden can put up the six-plus goals needed to cover the -5.5, to be honest. Perhaps they run up the score, but I’m more confident in fading Italy.

If I had to play a spread, it would be the -5.5 at +120, and that might be the smart play at plus odds, but I’ll fade Italy and take Sweden in a shutout.

Pick: Sweden to Win with a Shutout (-105)

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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