With the preliminary round complete and seeding finalized, the focus shifts to elimination hockey. John Shannon is joined by Scotty Bowman and John Davidson to preview the Olympic quarterfinal matchups and assess the teams best positioned to contend for gold.

The panel examines Canada’s disciplined, professional approach through the early stages of the tournament, and why their structure and consistency make them a difficult opponent in elimination play. They also analyze the strengths of the United States, particularly their defensive mobility and roster balance, along with Sweden’s improved form and ability to challenge top teams.

They also discuss:

- Key strengths and vulnerabilities across the quarterfinal field
- How elimination games change coaching strategy and player usage
- The impact of officiating and game management in tight contests
- The Olympic reseeding format and how it shapes the path forward
- Why experience, composure, and defensive structure become decisive factors