Women’s hockey Olympics: Italy clinches quarters as U.S., Canada stay unbeaten

The women’s hockey Olympics tournament in Milan tightened up Monday night, Feb. 9, 2026 (ET), with host Italy booking a quarterfinal berth and the United States and Canada continuing unbeaten runs that set up a high-stakes group finale. The biggest competitive headline is the bracket coming into focus; the biggest medical storyline is Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin leaving a game after an early hit, creating uncertainty for the knockout rounds.

With group play running through midweek, positioning matters: seeding will determine which contenders avoid each other early and which underdogs can draw a more favorable quarterfinal.

Italy punches ticket, Group B gets tense

Italy secured its place in the quarterfinals with a 3–2 win over Japan, surviving a late push after building an early cushion. The result moved Italy into a strong position in Group B behind Sweden, and it kept Japan in the fight for one of the remaining advancement spots.

Elsewhere in the group, Germany edged France 2–1 in overtime, a result that mattered less for style points than for the standings math. Overtime points can be decisive in a short group stage, and Germany’s extra point keeps it within range as the final round of games approaches.

U.S. shuts out Switzerland; Canada rolls but watches Poulin

In Group A, the United States posted a 5–0 shutout over Switzerland, a game that reinforced a clear theme: depth scoring and structured defending are traveling well for the Americans in Milan. The scoreline also helped the U.S. in the seeding race, where goal differential can become a tiebreaker if teams finish level on points.

Canada, the defending Olympic champion, beat the Czech Republic 5–1 in a result that looked routine on the scoreboard but came with a major caveat. Poulin exited after being hit in the opening period, and her status is unclear at this time. Any absence would ripple through Canada’s special teams and late-game matchups, especially with the U.S. game looming.

Where the standings sit right now

The tournament format creates two different pressures: all Group A teams advance to the knockout round, while Group B teams must finish high enough to move on. That means Group A games are largely about seeding, while Group B games are about survival.

Here’s a snapshot of the most important recent results and what they mean as of Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 (ET):

The matchup everyone’s circling: U.S. vs Canada

A U.S.–Canada meeting is always the tournament’s gravitational center, and this edition is no different. With both unbeaten, the next game isn’t just about bragging rights; it can determine who earns the cleaner path through the quarterfinals and avoids a dangerous opponent earlier than necessary.

Tactically, both teams are showing familiar strengths so far—Canada’s pace and finishing, the U.S.’s layered defense and transition speed—but health may be the swing factor if Poulin’s availability is limited.

What to watch over the next 48 hours

The final group games will decide who enters the knockouts with momentum and who limps in with questions.

Key things to track:

• Poulin’s status: any confirmation on availability will reshape expectations for Canada’s run.

• Group B’s final advancement spots: overtime points and goal differential could decide the last quarterfinal ticket.

• Seeding in Group A: even with automatic advancement, ranking matters because it affects quarterfinal pairings.

The early pattern is clear: the U.S. and Canada are building toward another collision course, Sweden has placed itself in a strong Group B position, and Italy’s home run has already delivered a knockout-round storyline the host nation can rally around.

Sources consulted: Reuters, Associated Press, Olympics, International Ice Hockey Federation