Pinnacle +102 BET365 -105 Sportsinteraction -105 888Sport -105

Posted at 11:00 AM ET. Odds are subject to change.

USA +102 over Canada

Bell Centre – Montreal, QC

8:00 PM ET. OT included. Ah, USA vs. Canada. Hockey’s eternal grudge match. The game that divides families, friendships, and even beer orders. If you’ve ever wanted a reason to yell at your neighbor, this is it. Let’s start with the market. The USA opened as a slight dog at +102, and we love that number. This is a near pick’em game, and there’s an argument to be made that the Americans should be favored. Canada may have the all-time best-on-best record (14-4-1), but none of those wins are cashing you tickets in 2024. What we care about is today, and today, Team USA is built for this.

The Americans weren’t exactly shot out of a cannon in their opener against Finland, but once they found their rhythm, they left the Finns in a smoldering heap. Six unanswered goals, a two-goal third period in under a minute, and a top line of Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk, and Jack Eichel that looked like they’ve been playing together since birth. That line combined for six points in the final frame, and if they stay together against Canada, it’s going to be a problem for a defensive group that just lost Shea Theodore.

Speaking of problems, let’s talk about Connor Hellebuyck. The guy is playing out of his mind right now. He leads the NHL in wins, goals-against average, save percentage, and shutouts. Canada has an obscene amount of firepower, but they’ll need to beat a goalie who’s currently stopping everything that isn’t legally required to go in. Hellebuyck was shaky on the first goal against Finland, but after that, he slammed the door shut like a landlord on rent day.

Look, Canada is still Canada. They’re deep, they’re fast, and they have Sidney Crosby, who apparently only loses international games when he’s on a vacation cruise. Crosby set up the game-winner against Sweden, extending Canada’s winning streak with him in the lineup to 26 straight games. That is ridiculous. But let’s not forget, this team barely survived Sweden, needing overtime to pull it off. And now, without Theodore on the back end, the Canadian blue line takes a hit. Travis Sanheim steps in, but losing a smooth puck-mover against this American forecheck is no small thing.

Then there’s the goaltending. Jordan Binnington was solid, not spectacular, against Sweden. He made some key stops, but let’s not pretend he’s a world-beater. If Hellebuyck is the security system, Binnington is the door latch you forget to lock before leaving the house. Wrong side favored.

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