Sweden is heavily favored to win against Latvia with estimated moneyline odds around 1.15, thanks to their balanced NHL-loaded roster featuring stars like William Nylander and Filip Forsberg, superior Olympic pedigree with golds in 1994 and 2006, and medal contender status despite injuries to key players like Leo Carlsson, while Latvia ranks among the lowest in IIHF standings with long gold odds of 500-1 and limited depth beyond five NHLers. DexWin - Best Odds on Your Favourite Sports.

The match starts at 11:10 AM UTC on February 17, 2026, at the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy.

The game is at a venue in Milano Cortina, Italy, host of the 2026 Winter Olympics, featuring modern ice hockey arenas like the PalaOlimpico with capacity over 12,000, set amid the stunning Italian Alps for an electric atmosphere.

Sweden is predicted to win convincingly with moneyline odds near 1.15 on DexWin, leveraging their two-way reliability, elite goaltending, and recent form edge over Latvia's spoiler potential reliant on goalies like Elvis Merzlikins but hampered by weak supporting cast and poor rankings.

In head-to-head Olympic and IIHF matchups, Sweden dominates Latvia with superior historical records, including multiple wins in recent tournaments; Sweden boasts 2 golds and consistent medals, while Latvia has none, underscoring Sweden's 6-1 edge in simulated recent encounters averaging 4.5 goals per game.