Canada vs. USA Prediction, Picks & Odds: 4 Nations Face-Off Championship
The rematch that just about every hockey fan was hoping for is finally upon us with Team USA taking on Team Canada for the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship. The new tournament has not disappointed, and with the final puck-drop looming, we’ve got our best Canada vs. USA prediction for tonight.
To make the rivalry even sweeter, we’ve also shared a guaranteed $150 DraftKings Sportsbook sign up bonus for you!
Canada vs. USA Prediction & Game Preview For 4 Nations Face-Off Championship, 2/20
In terms of a rematch, that could be taken in all types of different ways depending on how long you’ve been a hockey fan, as there have been some epic games between these rival nations. Of course, we’re referring to last Saturday’s 3-1 USA win where we saw three fights in nine seconds immediately following the puck-drop.
While those fights stole the storylines, as did the Canadians booing the National Anthem, for many Americans, it was them getting their revenge from the 2010 Winter Olympic loss in overtime to the Canadians. Now they’ll need to do the same with more on the line, which is the first-ever 4 Nations Face-Off Championship.
Not in terms of fights, but it will indeed be physicality that will be the deciding factor for most Canada vs. USA predictions.
Canada: Cruising With Cale
The biggest storylines for both Canada and the US have a similar theme. That would be the fact that they are both injury-related and involving defenseman. It’s on the positive end for the Canadians, which was the return of Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche.
He may have a baby face, but the young superstar has set franchise records for defensemen already, including points in a season during the Stanley Cup run not long ago. Makar is hands down one of the best in the NHL, and he wasn’t on the ice when they fell to Team USA a week ago.
USA: Missing McAvoy
On the flip side, the US will not have Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins. He too is among the best defensemen in the NHL, and it will be even more difficult of a pill for him to swallow with tonight’s game being in his home arena of TD Garden in Boston.
This will be some foreshadowing in terms of our Canada vs. USA prediction, but fortunately for the Americans, missing a top-tier defenseman isn’t as detrimental given that goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has been an absolute stud. That’s also in part why the Canada vs. USA odds have a low total tonight.
Canada vs. USA 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
Speaking of that low total, you can see the latest odds for the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship at DraftKings Sportsbook here:
- Puck Line: Team Canada -1.5 (-278) vs. Team USA -1.5 (+225)
- Money Line: Team Canada (-112) vs Team USA (-108)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 5.5 (+110) vs Under 5.5 (-130)
Canada vs. USA Best Bet: USA Team Total Over 2.5 Goals (-130 At DraftKings Sportsbook)
If you want to stick with one of the standard markets above, we would absolutely lock in our Canada vs. USA prediction on the USA money line. There’s no denying that it’s difficult to beat a team twice in a week, but with home ice and advantage and what we consider to be a significant goaltender advantage, we believe in the Americans.
USA’s Hellebuyck hasn’t just been standing on his head this tournament, he has been throughout his career. He’s been arguably the most under-the-radar netminder the past several seasons. Until last season, Hellebuyck led the entire NHL in saves made for four straight seasons!
This year, his 34-7 record is by far the best in the league; he has six more wins than the next-closest goalie. So, it’s no surprise that he has his Winnipeg Jets not only atop a loaded Central Division, not only the Western Conference, but the entire NHL! On the flip side, the Canadians are relying on Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues.
Frankly, banking on Binnington is something that not even the Blues have wanted to do throughout his career, let alone an entire nation. Sure, he’s coming off his best season last year, but even that was a 28-21 record. This season, he’s just 15-19 with a sub-.900 save percentage.
Prior to his “breakout” season last year, he had back-to-back seasons allowing over three goals per game, so in our eyes, he’s simply being overvalued here. The return of Makar is great, but he’s a point-producing defenseman, such as him setting the aforementioned Avs’ record.
So, while you could take the USA money line as well, we’re going to isolate our best Canada vs. USA prediction on their team total over 2.5 goals (-130 at DraftKings Sportsbook).
Canada vs. USA Injury Report & Starting Lineup
The goaltenders and specific defenseman were a major part of our Canada vs. USA prediction and also covered the significant injury news of the matchup. So, here’s the expected starting lines for tonight:
Canada:
- Brayden Point - LW
- Connor McDavid - C
- Mark Stone - RW
- Devon Toews, Cale Makar - D
- Jordan Binnington - G
USA:
- Jake Guentzel - LW
- Auston Matthews - C
- Jack Hughes - RW
- Jaccob Slavin, Brock Faber - D
- Connor Hellebuyck - G
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Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.