France vs Czechia Olympic Men's Hockey Prediction - 2/13/2026
Updated July 9, 2026
The France vs Czechia men’s ice hockey preliminary round game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy features two teams that lost their tournament openers. With both teams coming off lopsided defeats in their opening games, this Group A clash at Milano’s Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena should feature two desperate teams. Before this contest begins, you can continue reading to get my France vs Czechia prediction on the ice in Italy.
Pick: Czechia -3.5 ATS PRO
Confidence: ★★★★☆
Czechia’s opener against Canada was a tough assignment as they were thoroughly outplayed and failed to score. However, that loss should spark a stronger performance against France, as the Czech side faces a less daunting opponent here. France’s first game was also a rough outing, getting shut down by the Swiss scoring depth and finishing scoreless. France’s lack of high-end talent and NHL experience was evident in its inability to convert power-play opportunities.
Czechia may go with Karel Vejmelka in net after resting him against Canada. Vejmelka has been solid this season with his NHL club and brings experience that should limit France’s goal production. France’s goaltending situation appears more vulnerable, with out NHL-level talent to try and compete with the weapons on opposing teams.
Czechia’s offense is headlined by Pastrnak, who sits among the NHL’s top scorers this season with strong goal and assist totals. Necas and Hertl provide secondary scoring threats, while Filip Hronek runs the power-play unit. France’s talent pool is thinner, with veteran forwards such as Pierre-Edouard Bellemare providing leadership but limited offensive upside compared to Czech stars.
Score Projection: France 1 – Czechia 5 ATS PRO
Win Probability: France 12%, Czechia 88% ATS PRO
This Olympic preliminary game should feature a clear edge for Czechia based on roster quality, recent form, and the gap in NHL talent level on both sides. France’s first tournament game exposed limitations on both ends of the ice, while Czechia’s loss to Canada should trigger a rebound effort against a weaker opponent. I am going to take Czechia to win and cover the puckline as a favorite here, as they should even their record at 1-1 after this game concludes.
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