Category: NHL

Canada and Finland meet up on Monday for what will likely lead to a spot in the 4 Nations Face-Off final.

The pregame narrative: The moment is big for both nations and I’m anticipating a pair of veterans to come through for Canada. Brad Marchand and Sidney Crosby have plenty of experience in pivotal moments, and I expect both to deliver against Finland.

Check out the latest Canada vs. Finland 4 Nations Face-Off props for Feb. 17.

Canada vs. Finland props

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Best Bet: Marchand anytime goal (+290)

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The margins are slim in a tournament like this.

There were several takeaways from Canada’s 3-1 loss to the USA. One of them is that Marchand should be seeing more ice time.

The Boston Bruins captain totalled a minuscule 8:23 of game action in Saturday’s loss but still found a way to be one of Canada’s most impactful forwards. Marchand was able to skate through Team USA’s defensive front on several occasions and create chances for the Canadians.

I expect Marchand’s role on the team to increase significantly with the team needing results immediately.

Luckily for head coach Jon Cooper, Marchand already has chemistry with a pair of Canada’s top-six forwards.

Marchand trains with Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon in the offseason, making him a natural choice to slide onto their line.

The alternate captain already has a goal in this tournament despite playing fewer than 20 minutes in total. Even a slight increase in opportunity will provide value on this number.

Key stat: Only Connor McDavid, Mark Stone and Sam Bennett had more shots than Marchand (two) against Team USA.

Quick picks

Crosby to score (+200): Crosby is serving as a playmaker for the Canadians but his opportunities remain appealing when scoping out players in this market.

The captain is playing on the team’s first line and top power-play unit. Seeing the ice with MacKinnon and McDavid, among other top players, usually has Crosby spending most of his shift in the offensive zone.

Crosby also has a reputation for scoring monumental goals on the international stage. Keep an eye on the veteran superstar with Canada needing a win to advance to the final.

4 Nations Face-Off picks made at 11:14 a.m. ET on 02/16/2025.

Hockey fans across North America will be tuning in for Saturday’s battle between Canada and the United States of America.

The pregame narrative: Tensions are high between the neighbouring countries, which only adds another layer to this classic hockey rivalry. I’m picking three players — Sam Reinhart, Jack Eichel and Mark Stone — to score in a game with no shortage of star power.

Check out my Canada vs. USA anytime goal picks for Feb. 15.

Canada vs. USA anytime goal picks

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Best Bet: Reinhart to score (+185)

Opportunity is the name of the game when scoping out goalscorers, and Reinhart is seeing some favourable deployment.

The Florida Panthers superstar is skating on Canada’s first line and top power-play unit, putting him in some offensively friendly situations.

The calibre of players he’s skating alongside can’t be ignored, either. Reinhart plays with Connor McDavid and Mitch Marner at even strength. On the power play, he shares the ice with McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby and Cale Makar.

It’s hard to find a better collection of players on any roster in this tournament.

Reinhart didn’t register a point in Canada’s thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over Sweden, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. He totalled three shots in the game.

The winger is a consistent shooter, ranking 43rd in the NHL in shots this season (149). Expect Reinhart to be a scoring threat all game long.

Key stat: Reinhart is tied for third in the NHL in goals (31).

Other picks

Eichel to score a goal (+240): This is a good price for Eichel to tickle twine.

The Vegas Golden Knights centre is thriving as a playmaker, as his 50 assists are the fourth-most in the NHL. Eichel is coming off the second 30-goal campaign of his career, however, and is more than capable of being a goalscorer.

It’s hard not to like the opportunities he’s receiving on Team USA. Eichel is skating on the first line, between Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, and on the top power-play unit alongside Matthew Tkachuk, Jake Guentzel, Auston Matthews and Zach Werenski.

Eichel was heating up as a goalscorer before this tournament, tallying seven goals in eight games.

Go to Canada vs. USA hockey betting markets

Stone to score a goal (+310): Stone only has 14 goals for Vegas this season, but he delivered for Canada against Sweden.

The Golden Knights captain scored in the team’s 4-3 victory. The reason why I’m coming back to him is his spot in Canada’s lineup.

Stone is skating on a stacked second line alongside Crosby and MacKinnon, two of the NHL’s absolute best forwards.

Crosby demonstrated against Sweden that he’s more than capable of dishing it to his linemates. He registered three assists in the contest, including a feed on the game-winner.

Look for Stone to cash in with his star-studded support crew.

Picks made at 10:26 a.m. ET 02/15/2025.

Canada and USA meet at the Bell Centre in Montreal for an epic 4 Nations Face-Off showdown on Saturday.

The pregame narrative: It’s been ages since we’ve seen these squads play in a best-on-best format so you won’t want to miss this. Both countries won their opening games and I expect Canada to keep this one close, at worst. Bet on Connor McDavid to score and an alternate under as well.

Check out my Canada vs. USA same-game parlay predictions for Feb. 15.

Canada vs. USA predictions

Parlay: Canada +1.5 | McDavid to score | Under 7.5 goals (+375)

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Canada +1.5 (-278): Canadian hockey fans got a little bit of everything in its opener against Sweden.

The Canucks lept out to an early lead with a Nathan MacKinnon power-play goal assisted by Sidney Crosby and McDavid and kept pressing through the first period.

They took a 2-0 lead into the break and held Sweden to just three shots.

But the Swedes gave some pushback and Canada ultimately won 4-3 in overtime thanks to Mitch Marner. We saw how good Canada could be in the opening frame and I expect more of that and less of the rest against the USA.

Canada has won 26 straight games with Crosby in the lineup so I can’t picture them losing by margin against the Americans.

The U.S. handed Finland a 6-1 beatdown on Thursday but that game was also close heading into the dying minutes of the second period.

Finland’s defensive corps is easily the worst in the tournament, though, and the Canadians should keep things much tighter while edging out the puck possession battle with McDavid, MacKinnon and Brayden Point down the middle of the ice.

Canada has a 14-4-1 all-time record against the U.S. but most of these players weren’t involved in those matchups. Still, I’ll give the edge to the Canadians on home ice.

SGP legs

McDavid to score (+175): McDavid had just one assist in Canada’s opener and I think it’s time for the world’s best player to arrive in style.

The Edmonton Oilers superstar led all Canadian forwards in ice time and is playing alongside Marner and Sam Reinhart.

He was also double-shifted with Crosby and MacKinnon at points.

And most importantly, he’s on an absolutely lethal power-play. The Americans took three penalties against Finland and I expect there to be more PP opportunities in what should be a physical game.

McDavid has 118 goals over the last three NHL seasons.

Under 7.5 goals (-335): Adding this alternate under boosts our SGP from +230 to +375, which seems pretty nice to me.

Both Canada and USA went under this total in their openers, landing on exactly seven goals in a pair of high-event games.

Connor Hellebuyck (2.07 GAA, .925 SV%) has been the best goaltender in the league this season and is getting Hart Trophy attention. He was solid after letting in a cheap one on Friday.

It seems Jordan Binnington will get the crease for Canada and, while his numbers aren’t on Hellebuyck’s level, the Stanley Cup winner made some timely overtime saves and I expect his confidence to grow as the tournament goes on.

The U.S. was physical in its debut against Finland and I expect a tight-checking game rather than an open-ice track meet.

Picks made at 12:15 p.m. ET 02/15/2025.