The U.S. men’s hockey team will clinch the Group C title at the Winter Olympics if it defeats Germany on Sunday, Feb. 15.
The Germans can also clinch the title on a tiebreaker if they beat the Americans in regulation.
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Winning the title is important because the three group winners and the best second-place team earn a bye to the quarterfinals, meaning one less game played and another day of rest.
Canada has won Group A and Slovakia has won Group B. The USA is 2-0 after beating Latvia and Denmark. Germany is 1-1. Considering that 2-1 Finland has a goal differential of plus-11, the USA (currently plus-7) would drop to the qualifying round if it loses in regulation and finishes 2-1.
Who will win Sunday’s USA-Germany showdown? USA TODAY Network staffers offer their predictions:
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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle
Jeremy Swayman #1 of Team United States reacts after giving up a goal scored by Nick Olesen #95 (not pictured) of Team Denmark in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle
Jeremy Swayman #1 of Team United States reacts after giving up a goal scored by Nick Olesen #95 (not pictured) of Team Denmark in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle
Brady Tkachuk of United States clashes with Oliver Lauridsen of Denmark.
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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle
Lars Eller #20 of Team Denmark and Charlie McAvoy #25 of Team United States compete for the puck in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle
Charlie McAvoy #25 of Team United States shoots the puck against Nikolaj Ehlers #24 of Team Denmark in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle
Matthew Tkachuk of United States and Brady Tkachuk of United States in action with Mads Sogaard of Denmark.
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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle
Nikolaj Ehlers #24 of Team Denmark runs into the goal in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle
Christian Wejse of Denmark and Jack Eichel of United States in action during a face off in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle
Spectators supporting both Denmark and United States with flags in the stands before the match in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle
Jeremy Swayman #1 of Team United States looks on in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle
Nikolaj Ehlers #24 of Team Denmark slides into the post in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle
Nikolaj Ehlers #24 of Team Denmark slides into the post in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle
Nicholas B Jensen of Denmark celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates.
Mike Brehm, USA TODAY
USA 6, Germany 3: Germany has top-end talent that can put up goals, but the all-NHL USA is deeper and showed in its first two games that it can overcome adversity. The Americans will do so again.
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Jace Evans, USA TODAY
USA 7, Germany 2: Slow starts have been a problem for Team USA so far in these Games, so you’d think entering its third contest it will make starting on time a point of emphasis. I expect the Americans to come out flying as they fight to get that quarterfinal bye and Germany just doesn’t have enough talent to keep up.
Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press
USA 5, Germany 1: The Americans shouldn’t have any problems handling the Germans, who, while they won, were outplayed by the Danes in their first game and lost to Latvia in their second game. It’s the most talented Group C team the U.S. faces, what with Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stützle and Moritz Seider, but the U.S. will ride to victory having much more NHL depth.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA-Germany predictions: Picks for men’s hockey clash at Olympics
