Canada vs. France Prediction, Odds & Picks: 2026 Olympic Men’s Hockey Preview

Canada looks to put the finishing touches on a near-immaculate preliminary round, with my Canada vs. France prediction, odds, and picks focusing on how they'll get the job done. 

Despite being the -10000 moneyline betting favorite for today's encounter (10:40 a.m. ET, CBC) and winning both games by a combined 10-1, Canada has everything to play for against France. That's because of how much the No. 1 seed means entering the quarterfinals, with the No. 2 seed likely facing Sweden. That's a fate Canada will want to avoid, so it needs to score as many as possible. 

🏒 Canada vs. France prediction: Olympic men's hockey

Our expert Olympic hockey picks are based on the latest betting odds at the best sports betting sites.

💰 Canada vs. France best bet: Canada -6.5 (+120)

I wouldn't like to be in France's shoes. Canada has been the most impressive team thus far, with four lines rolling and the first three almost interchangeable. 

I say almost because no line is as dominant, dynamic, or explosive as the trio of Celebrini, Connor McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon. France, the world's 14th-ranked hockey nation, won't be able to keep up with the fourth line, let alone the Hart Trophy odds front-runners, which comprise the world's best unit. 

And as I discuss below, there will be no letting up on the gas for the team with the shortest Olympic hockey odds. 

Score prediction: Canada 9, France 1 

🔥 Best Canada vs. France prop bet: Macklin Celebrini anytime goal (-125)

As McDavid said after the Switzerland game, Celebrini is like a dog on a bone, relentless in his puck pursuit and desire to score. The 19-year-old scored a goal in the first and second games, and he's playing alongside the world's two best forwards. 

While I'd back Celebrini to score no matter who he plays with, the probability, at least in my opinion, skyrockets with McDavid and MacKinnon feeding him pucks. MacKinnon and McDavid's odds to score a goal are -170 and -165, respectively, so I'm going with the -125 bargain for the San Jose Sharks megastar in the making. 

I'd play this bet to -140. 

🖐️ Canada vs. France betting analysis: Why the spread is the best bet

I won't provide the full list of details for the men's Olympic hockey tiebreakers; suffice it to say that today's meeting against France is especially meaningful for Canada. 

That's because either Canada or Team USA, whichever team finishes second overall, will be forced to face No. 7 seed Sweden in the quarterfinal. Of course, Sweden will have to win its playoff matchup against Latvia or Denmark first. 

Canada currently has a plus-9 goal differential, with Team USA at plus-7.

With goal differential acting as the tiebreaker, Canada will be highly motivated to run up the score, thereby guaranteeing it won't face Sweden, the team with the third-shortest Olympic hockey odds, in the quarterfinals. 

Team USA faces Germany at 3:10 p.m. ET.

What is the puck line for Canada vs. France? 

And here's the lineup Team Canada is rolling with this afternoon:

📺 How to watch Canada vs. France

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 15
• Puck drop: 10:40 a.m. ET
• Location: Santagiulia Arena (Milan, Italy)
• TV: CBC, CBC Gem, Peacock

💡Olympic hockey expert picks

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