The biggest game on 4 Nations Face-Off schedule shows succinctly how the hockey landscape has changed. For years, the must-see interational hockey showdown was Canada vs Russia. For most of the 2000s, the game that everyone wants to see when NHL players compete in best on best interational hockey competition is Canada vs USA.
Canada beat the USA in the gold-medal games at the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympic Games. In fact, you have to go back to the 1996 World Cup of Hockey to find a signficant US victory over Canada.
As these two hockey powerhouses clash again, it’s Canada that oddsmakers are leaning toward as ever so slight favorites. The Canadians are set with odds of -115. You’ll get a -105 betting line if you opt to back the USA.
Let’s look at the latest betting line on this game. Remember odds are subject to change.
One of two games on Saturday’s 4 Nations Face-Off schedule, after checking the current NHL odds, we’re choosing to select this Canada vs USA contest as being the best bet worth taking in the 4 Nations NHL picks. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s jump right into our betting prediction.
When checking the NHL betting lines at any of the leading Vegas sports betting sites, you might want to get the latest updates on which teams are viewed as contenders in the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup odds. Canada has won six of the last seven best on best international hockey tournaments.
When Canada beat the USA to win the gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympiad in Vancouver, it was current Canadian captain Sidney Crosby who netted the game winner in overtime. Crosby, 37, is the only player from either side in that game who will also be playing in this game.
If you think Sid The Kid is slowing down, you’d be mistaken. In Canada’s 4-3 overtime win over Sweden to open the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain was named player of the game.
Crosby drew the primary assist on three of Canada’s four goals, including the OT winner. Something to think about in the NHL picks – all-time, Canada is 26-0 straight up with Crosby in the lineup. Canadian coach Jon Cooper described him as the greatest player to ever wear the storied Canada jersey.
While they did take their opener, the Canadians didn’t exactly resemble world beaters in their opening-night win over Sweden. Canada squandered a 3-1 lead and needed to work the 3-on-3 extra session to gain the victory.
Crosby set up goals by Nathan MacKinnon, Mark Stone and Mitch Marner’s OT winning tally. Brad Marchand also scored for Canada. That was leaving Montreal hockey fans in the uncomfortable position of cheering for a member of the hated Boston Bruins.
Jordan Binnington made 23 saves in net to gain the victory for Canada. The Canadians lost defenseman Shea Theodore to injury in the game. He’s out for the tournament. Theodore suffered an upper-body injury when checked into the boards by Swedish forward Adrian Kempe.
A four-goal third period outburst broke open a tight 2-1 game and powered the USA to a 6-1 rout of Finland in the tournament opener for both countries. The Americans scored twice in the first 26 seconds of the third period to take control of the game.
It was the Tkachuk brothers who were leading the American assault. Both Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers and Bray Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators were scoring two goals apiece. It was the first time in their careers that the brothers were suting up for the same USA squad.
Matt Boldy of the Minnesota Wild and Jake Guentzel of the Tampa Bay Lightning each counted a goal and an assist. Defenseman Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets dished out three assists.
In goal, Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets was only required to make 20 saves to earn the win. The USA was 2-for-4 on the power play.
The Canadians are slight favorites both to win this game and in the future book line on which country will win the tournament. However, in both instances, it just feels as though this time, it will be the Americans that are winning both the day and the event.
The collection of players brought to this event by the USA just might be the best hockey team in the world. From top to bottom, it’s a deeper squad than Canada. That’s especially true in goal, where Hellebucyk is the favorite to win the Vezina Trophy. Take the USA to defeat Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off NHL picks.
