It’s the Winter Olympics women’s Ice Hockey final we all hoped for, so with just hours left to go here is our Canada v USA Ice Hockey Women’s Gold Medal match picks.
Women’s Ice Hockey was first held at the Winter Olympics in 1998, with the USA beating Canada in that final.
Every year the competition has been in existence it’s been won by either Canada (4) or the USA (2).
Such is the pair’s domination, Sweden’s appearance in the final of the 2006 Turin games is the only time both nations haven’t reached the final. On that occasion, Canada won the final, and Team USA took bronze.
2022 in Beijing has been no different, as both sides have again dominated. Team Canada arrives at the final unbeaten, while the USA has lost just once……..to Canada in the preliminary round.
Great news for all in the Eastern Time zone, the Women’s Ice Hockey gold medal match is kicking off at 11.10 pm tonight.
Yes, that means a late night, but it’s better than some of the god-forsaken hours most of the Winter Olympics events have been held at.
The Beijing time zone listing says the match is on Thursday, February 17th. So now you know it’s Wednesday ET, you have no excuse for missing it!
The Canadians are the betting favorites for tonight’s match. On the Moneyline, they are -220, with the USA at +175.
In the handicap market, or puck line as it’s also known, Canada’s women are the outsiders at +135, but that’s starting from -1.5 points.
Team USA with a +1.5 points start on the puck line are -130 favorites.
In the Total Points market, the spread is set at 5.5 or 5, depending on where you bet.
Over 5.5 is a nice-looking +135 with some of the top Las Vegas online betting sites, and I’m happy to go with them. Under 5.5 total points is a touch short at -160.
For more information about betting on Ice Hockey, check out our Las Vegas NHL Odds page. The page is a great guide to betting on Ice Hockey and will explain the above betting markets in far more detail.
Right, I’m having a bet on all three markets in this event, starting with the Moneyline.
Team Canada has demolished all opponents en route to the final.
They finished the preliminary round ranked the number 1 team. Winning Group A with four wins from four matches played.
They beat Team USA 4-2 in their head-to-head preliminary match-up, and just destroyed their other group members.
They defeat Switzerland 12-1, Finland 11-1, ROC 6-1, and the USA 4-2.
In their quarter-final, things got better, as they thrashed Sweden 11-0. They did suffer somewhat of a setback in their semi-final, as they only beat Switzerland 10-3.
Imagine, they let in three goals!!
Put simply, the Canadians looks head and shoulders above everybody else, and I have no hesitation in making Team Canada my gold medal pick on the Moneyline.
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Now, onto the handicap market, also known as the puck line.
I can’t see the Canadians getting beat, but can Team USA get close enough to only lose by one point and win on the puck line?
Looking at the USA team’s results, they have been pretty good.
In the preliminary Group A, Team USA defeated Finland 5-2, ROC 5-0, and Switzerland 8-0. They did lose to Canada, and overall finished ranked 2.
In the quarter-final, the Czech Republic did give the Stars and Stripes a scare. After the end of the 2nd Period, the match was all square at 1-1.
Team USA played a strong 3rd Period though and came through 4-1 winners.
Their semi-final was comfortable. It also finished 4-1, but Team USA was 3-0 up going into the 60th minute and was never in any danger.
Has the USA been convincing enough to get within 1 point of Canada in the final? I don’t think they have, and therefore make Canada my betting pick to win the gold medal match on the puck line.
In every Canada match so far at these Olympics, there have been over 5.5 goals. Sometimes, a lot more!
Team USA’s matches beat the 5.5 goals spread three times, and on the three occasions they didn’t, their matches had 5 goals.
I don’t expect a totally one-sided final, but I can see Canada being the dominant side.
As Canada’s matches have been goals-heavy, and the odds are better on over 5.5, I think over 5.5 goals has to be the pick in the Canada v USA gold medal match.
