The Czech Republic's national ice hockey team is set to compete against Denmark in the pre-round of the men's Olympic tournament, taking place in Milan. Denmark solidified its position by defeating Latvia 4:2 in a preceding match, placing them third in Group C and ninth overall, which means they will now face the eighth-seeded Czech team. The outcome of the ongoing match between the United States and Germany will not alter this matchup.

The Czechs are considered the favorites against Denmark, despite past challenges in international championships. This upcoming game is crucial, as a victory would propel the Czech team further into the tournament, where they are likely to encounter one of the top ice hockey nations, most probably Canada, who previously defeated them 0:5 in group play. Although there is a slim chance that they may face the USA instead, this would require a significant win against Germany by a sizeable margin.

In addition to the notable Czech-Denmark match, another guaranteed pre-round pairing involves Sweden and Latvia. The results of the final group stage game between the USA and Germany will determine the remaining pre-round matchups, adding an element of uncertainty and anticipation leading up to these pivotal games in the tournament.