How to Watch Free Streams, Czechia Leads 2-1

Top-seeded Canada faces an early deficit against Czechia in a high-stakes men’s ice hockey quarterfinal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, with Czechia leading 2-1 after the first period in a winner-advances, loser-goes-home matchup Wednesday at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

The game, which began at 10:40 a.m. ET (16:40 CET), pits a dominant Canadian squad — undefeated in group play with a 20-3 goal differential — against a resilient Czechia team that fell 5-0 to Canada in their tournament opener but advanced through the qualification round with a 3-2 win over Denmark on Tuesday. Sidney Crosby appeared to suffer an injury after a hit from Radko Gudas, limping off, adding urgency for Canada to rally.

Macklin Celebrini scored Canada’s lone first-period goal, his fifth of the tournament, but Czechia responded with two quick tallies to take the lead into the intermission. The winner advances to Friday’s semifinals, while the loser ends its medal pursuit.

Fans worldwide can catch the action through official broadcasters and streaming platforms, with several free or low-cost options available depending on location.

In the United States The game airs exclusively on Peacock, the primary streaming home for the 2026 Winter Olympics, with live coverage also on USA Network. Peacock requires a subscription starting at $10.99/month (with ads) or $5.99 for a limited-time promotional rate in some offers. Free trials may be available through partners like DIRECTV Stream, which offers a trial period for new users to access USA Network channels without immediate cost. NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app provide authenticated streams for cable/satellite subscribers.

In Canada CBC, TSN and Sportsnet hold rights, with free streaming on CBC Gem — the public broadcaster’s ad-supported platform accessible without a subscription. CBC Gem offers live coverage and on-demand replays. TSN and Sportsnet+ require subscriptions or cable login, but CBC Gem serves as the primary free option for Canadian viewers.

International Viewing Rights vary by country: In many regions, the Olympic Channel on Olympics.com streams select events subject to geo-restrictions. Broadcasters include Nine in Australia, TV Globo/CazéTV in Brazil, and others. Check local listings or the official Milano Cortina 2026 site for rights holders. VPNs may enable access to free streams like CBC Gem from abroad, though compliance with terms is advised.

Key Viewing Details

• Time: 10:40 a.m. ET / 7:40 a.m. PT / 16:40 CET
• Venue: Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, Milan
• Primary U.S. Stream: Peacock (subscription; potential free trial via partners)
• Free U.S. Option: DIRECTV Stream trial for USA Network
• Free Canadian Option: CBC Gem
• Additional: NBCOlympics.com (authenticated), Olympics.com (select regions)

This rematch carries extra weight after Canada’s commanding group-stage win, but Czechia has shown fight with strong goaltending from Lukas Dostal and physical play. Live updates and highlights are available on NHL.com, ESPN, CBC Sports and Olympics.com.

The quarterfinals continue with Finland vs. Switzerland (12:10 p.m. ET), U.S. vs. Sweden (3:10 p.m. ET) and earlier Slovakia’s 6-2 win over Germany. Semifinals follow Thursday, with the gold-medal game Sunday, Feb. 22.

As the second period approaches, Canada looks to erase the deficit and keep its gold-medal hopes alive in a tournament featuring NHL stars for the first time since 2014.