USA men’s hockey’s quest for gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics continues on Friday, Feb. 20, when the Americans take on Slovakia at the Milano Santagiulia Arena. Puck drop for this semifinal matchup is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET, with live TV coverage on NBC.
The U.S. needed overtime to beat Sweden 2-1 in its quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday, while Slovakia dispatched Germany 6-2.
To prepare for this men’s hockey semifinal, let’s dive into the betting odds before making my USA vs Slovakia predictions.
USA vs Slovakia Odds
All hockey odds used for these USA vs Slovakia best bets are current as of Friday, Feb. 20, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: USA (-800) vs Slovakia (+550)
- Puck Line: USA -2.5 (-142) vs Slovakia +2.5 (+120)
- Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-148) / Under 5.5 (+124)
USA vs Slovakia Predictions
USA -2.5 (-142)
Slovakia entered the tournament with the fifth-longest odds to win gold, so Juraj Slafkovsky and Co. have exceeded expectations by winning Group B and qualifying for the semifinals.
However, that run stops here.
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The U.S. should be confident following the overtime win over the Swedes, who beat Slovakia 5-3 in the final game of Group B play.
I think the Americans pounce on a Slovakian side that features just seven active NHL players, so I’m taking them to cover this puck line as one of my best hockey betting picks today.
USA vs Slovakia: Over 5.5 Goals (-148)
After a tense quarterfinal, I expect the U.S. to play with more freedom on Friday, which should lead to more offense.
Plus, the Americans won’t face an active NHL goaltender after firing 40 shots on goal against Sweden’s Jacob Markstrom on Wednesday.
The Slovaks have scored at least three goals in every game thus far, so I expect them to contribute to this total, even with Connor Hellebuyck regaining top form between the pipes.
Consider this wager with our top sportsbook promotions for 2026.
