The USA vs. Canada match will be this Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Bell Centre in Montreal. It will be broadcast on ABC and streamed on ESPN+.
Now that every team in the 4 Nations Face-Off has played, we trade dance partners.
This time, we see the battle between USA and Canada. Canada has had the upper hand for decades, winning Olympic gold against the Americans in 2002 and 2010. But have the tides turned since then?
Check out my pick and prediction for USA vs. Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
| USA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +225 | 6.5 +110o / -130u | -115 |
| Canada Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -278 | 6.5 +110o / -130u | -105 |
- USA vs. Canada puck line: USA -1.5, Canada +1.5
- USA vs. Canada over/under: 6.5
- USA vs. Canada moneyline: USA ML -115, Canada ML -105
USA Preview
The first 40 minutes of USA’s game against Finland went just as I expected. USA dominated, but Juuse Saros kept his team alive.
And if it weren’t for a fluke goal from Henri Jokiharju, I’d be on a one-way trip to Curaçao with my +650 shutout bet.
Alas, once the third period hit, it was game over for the Finns. Matthew Tkachuk scored a power play goal that Saros should’ve stopped just 15 seconds in, followed by a Jake Guentzel goal 11 seconds later.
The Americans threw the kitchen sink at a seemingly unmatched Finland squad. They wore the Finns down in the first 40 minutes and then had their way with them in the final 20.
The game was taken over by the Tkachuk brothers, though, as Matthew and Brady each registered two goals against Saros. For two players who play incredibly gritty games, that’ll be something to look out for with other netminders—especially the one north of the border.
Connor Hellebuyck looked like a beauty on Thursday and proved exactly why he’s the best goalie in the world. He played an incredibly steady game, but it didn’t seem hard for him. Out of all four goalies who played, he owns the top GSAx.
Canada Preview
Wednesday was just a sign of what this Canadian team is capable of.
In the first minute against Sweden—on the power play, no less—Nathan MacKinnon scored a goal assisted by Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid. A sequence that hockey fans worldwide had dreamt of watching.
It was pure domination for the first 40 minutes by the red shirts, who added goals from Brad Marchand and Mark Stone to enter the third period with a seemingly comfortable 3-1 lead—only for Sweden to come back and tie it up as we headed into overtime.
While Canada’s offensive depth stood out on the first night of the tournament, its weaknesses also seeped in. Jordan Binnington started the game and made some key saves to keep the Canadians alive. The question is—can he sustain it?
We saw how Binnington can crumble, as the second goal he allowed to Adrian Kempe was one he should’ve stopped—a ripper from the point between two Canadian defenders. Perhaps this opens the door for Adin Hill to step in.
Additionally, Canada’s blue line took a hit as defenseman Shea Theodore went down with an upper-body injury. In his place, Thomas Harley from the Dallas Stars will suit up.
Canada vs. USA Prediction and Pick
I’m still trying to figure out what we saw on Thursday. Was the USA that good, or was Finland just that bad?
It could be a little bit of both. I had a feeling the USA would walk all over Finland’s defense, with the Finns hanging Saros out to dry.
I’m curious to see how Canada will respond to the Americans. Sweden pushed the Canadians to the limit, especially in the third period—which was just when the USA got red hot.
Odds for this matchup are much more even, but I’m going to lean on goaltending once again. Canada may have the big guns, but I’ve always thought the USA had the better overall team, so I’m sticking with America.
Canada may have a better chance to win if Hill starts over Binnington, but I still favor the USA. Take the Stars and Stripes to win outright in Montreal.
Picks: USA ML (-115)
