Face-off: 2310 ET, 11/02/2022
Venue: Beijing National Indoor Stadium
Canada and the USA both got off to flying starts at the Winter Olympics and now meet up in what should prove a Group A decider.
A young American side looked exciting when routing China but will face far more formidable opposition in Team Canada, who cruised past Germany.
We just feel the 2018 bronze medalists have a better blend of youth and experience, so 1.75 they win in regular time heads our Canada vs USA predictions.
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Canada Odds
After claiming gold in 2010 and 2014, Canada lost out to Germany in the semis four years ago, but gained some revenge in Beijing.
Three goals in the first period set the tone for a dominant display and Canada eventually enjoyed a comfortable 5-1 victory.
All the scores came from different players, while Lokomotiv Yaroslavl goalie Edward Pasquale made 23 saves.
Coach Jeremy Colliton had Team Canada fully focused when filling in for Claude Julien, who was late arriving in China due to a rib injury.
“They didn’t take us by surprise,” said Colliton. “We were ready. We knew it was going to be a challenge. They block a lot, but we stayed patient.”
Finland-based Alex Grant, who opened the scoring, added: “Anytime you get a start like that it is nice. It was overall a solid performance.”
Julien will now be back in charge and Canada impressed with their physical presence first up.
Looking at the Canada vs USA odds, we like 6.5 for the nine-time Olympic champions to prevail by exactly two goals here.
United States Odds
USA burst the bubble of hosts China in ruthless fashion when romping to an 8-0 triumph, with Sean Farrell hitting a hat-trick and adding two assists.
“It was unbelievable,” beamed the 20-year-old Harvard left-winger, who was picked 124th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft by Montreal.
“Playing in the Olympics has been a dream of mine forever and to finally be on this stage and open up with something like that is incredible.”
University of Michigan starlet Brendan Brisson broke the deadlock halfway through a scrappy first period.
Noah Cates, Brian O’Neill, the only player brought back from their 2018 campaign, and Farrell added goals in the middle stanza before a late flurry.
Ben Meyers and 19-year-old Matty Beniers, who went second in last year’s NHL Entry Draft, also hit the target.
“From day one, we’ve always been talking about our team being on the attack,” added Farrell.
“We had a lot of chances in the first, some that maybe could have gone in, but we just stayed with it and eventually the goals came.”
There are definitely some hot prospects in this squad, but we still believe Canada’s proven performers with high-level experience in Europe are a percentage pick.
Let’s finish off our Canada vs USA betting tips by taking 16.5 for a 4-2 scoreline.
Additional stats
Last result:
CANADA 5-1 Germany
USA 8-0 China
