SportsLine hockey expert Matt Severance reveals his United States vs. Latvia picks for their Winter Olympics matchup

Team USA and Latvia meet in the Milano Cortina 2026 preliminary round, where the Olympic points system, early standings pressure and medal-round implications begin to take shape with every shift on the ice.

There are some nations competing in these Winter Olympics that are shaking off the rust of international play and others that are just happy to be there. The United States is certainly neither, seeking revenge for its overtime loss to Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off final and validation for their IIHF World Championship last year.

This year’s Olympic roster of 25 is the first in 11 years to feature NHL players, but two players on the squad are returning Olympians; Jake Sanderson and Brock Faber represented the United States in Beijing in 2022 as NCAA players. Auston Matthews will captain the team, with Charlie McAvoy and Matthew Tkachuk as alternates.

The U.S. Men's Olympic hockey team first group-stage game against Latvia kicks off its quest for gold. Stick here for live updates.

Welcome to Last Word On Hockey’s Olympic Predictions. Each day, our writers here at Last Word On Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis.

The 2026 Winter Olympics are underway, and today’s packed schedule features Team USA Hockey’s men’s squad taking on Latvia in what’s expected to be an exciting preliminary round contest. Kickoff takes place today at 12:10 p.

Team USA plays against Latvia in men's ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics today. Fans can watch this game for free online.

What time does is USA hockey play Latvia today in 2026 Winter Olympics? Here's how to watch men's hockey, including TV channel and live stream info.