The stage is set: it’s the matchup we’ve all been waiting for.
Team USA takes on Team Canada for the gold medal in men’s hockey on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 8:10 a.m. ET from Santagiulia Arena in Milan, Italy.
It’s the much-anticipated rematch of the Four Nations from last year, when Connor McDavid secured a win for Team Canada in overtime.
This matchup is as close as it gets. The biggest questions are: can Team USA build on its blowout win over Slovakia? Will Team Canada put forth a better effort than what we’ve seen in the knockout rounds so far?
Let’s find out as we dive into men’s hockey odds for the gold medal game and make our USA vs Canada predictions.
USA vs Canada Odds
All men’s hockey odds used for these USA vs Canada best bets are current as of Saturday, Feb. 21, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Canada (-120) vs USA (+100)
- Puck Line: Canada -1.5 (+215) vs USA +1.5 (-265)
- Over/Under: Over 5.5 (+130) / Under 5.5 (-155)
USA vs Canada Prediction
Score Prediction: Canada 2, USA 1
This game is going to be as intense as it gets. Team USA is highly motivated to finally knock off Canada, while Canada will have to make sure they don’t fall behind.
The Canadians narrowly escaped Czechia and Finland, needing dramatic comebacks to get it done. After a dominant group stage, Canada hasn’t been nearly as impressive in the knockout round.
With that in mind, I’m expecting a closely-contested game where goals are hard to come by. Both teams will be uptight, hoping not to make a costly mistake that leads to a goal.
While the U.S. is coming off a dominant win over Slovakia, let’s face it: that was a team that didn’t belong here; they just had a nice run. When the Americans faced a tough Swedish team, they were nearly ousted in overtime.
That’s not to say that I don’t expect a close game; it’s just important context to consider.
Even if Sidney Crosby is unable to return for this one, this is a Canadian team that knows how to get it done when it matters most. We’ve seen it time and time again, not only in this tournament but also in the Four Nations.
Considering these circumstances, I’ll take Canada to win in a nail-biter, with a game-winning goal from 19-year-old superstar Macklin Celebrini.
USA vs Canada Best Bets
USA vs Canada: Under 5.5 Goals (-155)
This line is highly juiced for good reason. These teams are going to play a tightly-contested game in their quest for gold.
What’s most notable here is how dominant the Americans have been on the penalty kill. They are 15-for-15 in killing penalties throughout this tournament.
Now, granted, they haven’t faced this murderer’s row of a power play that Canada boasts. A star-studded lineup with Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Macklin Celebrini, and Cale Makar is hard to stop.
But it’s still a noteworthy factor that can help this game stay under the number.
Ride with the USA-Canada under 5.5 goals in our hockey bet of the day.
USA vs Canada 1st Period: Under 1.5 Goals (-140)
I’m doubling down on the full-game under by focusing on the first period as well, for all the same reasons why I like the under for the entire game.
Both teams are likely to adopt a conservative approach in this game. As mentioned above, no one wants to make a mistake that leads to a costly goal.
Even at -140 odds, two goals is a high bar for an evenly matched game like this.
With that in mind, we’ll ride with under 1.5 goals in the first period.
