NHL 4 Nations Face-Off Predictions: Canada vs. Finland (Monday)
All four 4 Nations Face-Off teams play on Monday. The results of these games could shift the perception of who the best teams are. Here’s our to picks and predictions for Monday’s NHL 4 Nations Face-Off game Canada vs. Finland.
Monday's 4 Nations Face-Off Best Bets: Canada vs. Finland
(4 Nations Face-Off odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Canada vs. Finland
This game will set the tone for the final day of the round-robin tournament. If either Canada or Finland wins in regulation, they will go to the finals.
Canada suffered the ultimate heartbreak of losing to the USA in their home country. This puts them in a difficult position, as they were the early favorites to win the tournament and may not make it to the finals.
Canada’s biggest question is who to put between the pipes. Jordan Binnington has proven unreliable by allowing five goals on a .821 save percentage in the two previous games. They could go with Adin Hill (2.64 GAA, .900 SV%) or Sam Montembeault (3.00 GAA, .897 SV%).
Canada's offense will need to be the driving force in this game. Although they scored only one goal in the last game, this is still one of the better forward groups that include Hart Trophy, Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe winners.
The Canadians could put up goals against a shaky Finnish blueline. They could not stop the USA’s high-powered offense in the first game and allowed six goals and eight high-danger shots. Canada has eight high-danger shots through the first two games, including five against an excellent USA blueline.
Like Canada, Finland's best attribute is its offense. Mikko Rantanen and Aleksander Barkov scored in the last game, and those two need to play a big part in this one. Finland also needs its other stars, like Sebastian Aho and Roope Hintz, who have just one point between them, to start contributing.
With so much on the line, it could go either way. Canada's offense should be much better, but they will rely more on that defensive unit. Finland played much better on defense against Sweden and the defense could help them in this game. We could see a low-scoring game.
Pick: Under 6.5 Goals (-130)