The NHL 4 Nations Face-Off has reached the final round, and what better way to end the tournament than with a high-stakes rematch between Canada and the United States?
The first meeting between these teams was an incredible contest. Tensions between the two squads ran high as they renewed the old rivalry between neighboring nations, and with the 4 Nations title up for grabs, their second meeting should be just as exciting.
There’s betting options aplenty for the tournament’s championship game on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here’s a look at a handful of those options.
Best bets for USA vs. Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off final
Unlike in the first meeting between these rosters, the -1.5 puck line is held by the Americans at +225 odds. As for the Canadians, they’re +1.5 on the puck line at -278 odds, so this is anticipated to be a very close contest. The game total sits at 5.5, with the under favored at -135.
The USA’s elite goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, will be back in the net after taking the previous game off. With rest on his side, he should deliver another strong performance. On the other side, Canada’s top defenseman, Cale Makar, missed the first matchup due to illness but will play in this one. On top of that, the first USA vs. Canada game was 2-1 until the final minutes when the latter team pulled goalie Jordan Binnington. Sure, it’s a bit concerning that USA defenseman Charlie McAvoy will miss the final due to a shoulder injury, but the Americans still have plenty of defensive prowess on deck. With all that said, under 5.5 total goals still feels pretty good at -135 odds.
However, the United States’ confidence may be rattled a bit after a 2-1 loss to Sweden in their last round-robin contest. To make matters worse, injury concerns are mounting. McAvoy’s absence will make a difference, but the rest of the lineup may not be fully healthy, either. Star forwards Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk missed the game against Sweden, while Brady Tkachuk exited the game due to injury. USA head coach Mike Sullivan indicated he’d expect Matthews and Brady Tkachuk to play in Thursday’s final, and Matthew Tkachuk did participate in Wednesday’s practice.
It’s more likely than not that all three players suit up for this game, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be fully healthy. Canada is listed at -108 to win on the Moneyline, which might be an appealing option for bettors who don’t expect the United States’ stars to be at full strength.
As for player props, Jack Eichel feels like a great pick to record 1+ assists at +100 odds. The American center has recorded four assists across his three tournament appearances, with at least one assist in every game. He hasn’t taken a ton of shots, but he’s distributed the puck at a high level and could be decent bet to record 2+ points at +320 odds. Another player prop worth considering is Sidney Crosby to record 1+ assists at +125 odds. He dished out three of them in Canada’s opening game, plus another against Finland. This is a massive game, so Crosby should put up his best effort for his country on the international stage. It just feels right.
Be sure to get in on the action via DraftKings Sportsbook ahead of tonight’s 8 p.m. EST puck drop.
