The 2026 Winter Olympics ice hockey semi-finals are here. Four teams are left and two games will decide who plays for gold. The action takes place at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Italy. The matchups are Canada vs Finland and United States vs Slovakia. Both games will be played on Friday, February 20 (local time in Italy). Fans in India, the U.S., the U.K., and Canada can watch live on official broadcasters.
This round comes after a dramatic quarter-final stage. Three of the four games went into overtime. Canada survived a tight contest. The United States needed a late winner. Finland and Slovakia also showed strong form. Now, with a place in the gold medal game at stake, the pressure is real. Big names like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Sidney Crosby, and Quinn Hughes are in focus.
Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Auston Matthews and Quinn Hughes lead 2026 Winter Olympics ice hockey semi-finals
The first semi-final is Canada vs Finland.
Canada reached this stage after beating Czechia 4-3 in overtime. The winning goal came late, and it kept their medal hopes alive. However, captain Sidney Crosby left that game with a lower-body injury. His status is being closely watched.
Finland, the defending Olympic champions, also needed overtime in their quarter-final.
They edged past Switzerland in a tight defensive battle. Finland is known for its calm structure and strong defense.
Canada vs Finland – Global Timings
India (IST): 9:10 PM, Friday, February 20
Italy (CET): 4:40 PM, Friday, February 20
United States (ET): 10:40 AM, Friday, February 20
United Kingdom (GMT): 3:40 PM, Friday, February 20
The second semi-final is United States vs Slovakia.
Team USA defeated Sweden 2-1 in overtime. Defenseman Quinn Hughes scored the game-winning goal. The Americans are chasing their first men’s Olympic gold medal since 1980.
Slovakia, on the other hand, beat Germany 6-2 in the quarter-finals. They have already shown they can surprise strong teams. Their speed and attack have impressed many fans.
United States vs Slovakia – Global Timings
India (IST): 1:40 AM, Saturday, February 21
Italy (CET): 9:10 PM, Friday, February 20
United States (ET): 3:10 PM, Friday, February 20
United Kingdom (GMT): 8:10 PM, Friday, February 20
Medal Games Schedule
Bronze Medal Game: Saturday, February 21
Gold Medal Final: Sunday, February 22
Venue: Santagiulia Arena, Milan
How to Watch 2026 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey
India: JioHotstar app and website; updates on Olympics.com
United States: Peacock and NBCUniversal networks including USA Network and CNBC
United Kingdom: BBC iPlayer and Warner Bros. Discovery platforms
Canada: CBC Gem
Now everything comes down to these two games, where one mistake or one big moment can change the story of the tournament. By the end of the night, the gold medal matchup at Milano Cortina 2026 will finally be set.
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