Canada vs. Finland Prediction and Picks-Four Nations Face-Off
It’s a win in regulation and a ticket to the Final for Canada and Finland as the two teams wrap up the four nations' faceoff round robin. Canada impressed in their first game but stumbled against the United States with a 3-1 defeat. Finland meanwhile struggled in their first game but rebounded with an impressive 4-3 overtime win to put them in a prime position to make the Final with a win. Who will win this matchup? Check out our Canada vs Finland prediction!
Canada hopes offense rebounds after falling flat
Canada is led by their offense, scoring four goals in the first but in the recent game, they struggled to generate much as they scored one goal in the first period and struggled to find the back of the net afterward. Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby have scored one goal and four assists but the rest of the offense has struggled. The hope is that Cale Makar’s return provides a spark at the point as the elite defenseman missed the recent game with illness but looks to return to the lineup for the pivotal game.
The offense fell flat in the last game but the defense has let them down throughout the tournament, allowing three goals in each game. Devon Toews and Josh Morrissey have led the top two pairings but the rest of the unit has struggled, allowing opponents to find open shots on the net at will. In addition, goaltender Jordan Binnington has struggled in the tournament, allowing five goals on only 48 shots.
Finland will look for defense to rebound
Finland has struggled on both ends of the ice in this tournament but the offense impressed in the recent game, scoring four goals in the overtime win. Mikael Granlund and Patrik Laine have combined for a goal and three assists but the rest of the offense has also stepped up. Mikko Rantanen, Aleksander Barkov, and Anton Lundell have contributed three goals while defensemen Olli Maatta and Henri Jokiharju have added a goal and two assists from the point to open up the offense.
The offense stepped up in the last game but the defense has played poorly all tournament, allowing nine goals in the two games. Esa Lindell and Niko Mikkola have led the top pairing but the rest of the unit has struggled, allowing opponents to find open shots on the net with ease. Additionally, both goaltenders have struggled and all hope rests in Kevin Lankinen, who allowed three goals on 24 shots.
Prediction Canada -1.5 (-130)
Finland looks to pull off the upset but Canada looks to bounce back and punch their ticket to the Final by taking over this game on both ends of the ice. Canada looks to rebound after scoring only one goal in their last game and pile on the goals with Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with quick passes. Canada looks to limit the Finland offense with Devon Toews, Josh Morrissey, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone while limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Jordan Binnington to make plenty of big saves. Canada should win the game and cover the spread to stamp their ticket to the Final.
Over 6.5
Both defenses have struggled and this game looks to be a high-scoring one from the opening puck drop. Finland looks to build off a four-goal game and create plenty of scoring chances against Canada, who has allowed six goals in the two games played, with Mikko Rantanen, Patrik Laine, and the rest of the forward unit controlling the puck in the offensive zone and creating open shots with quick passes. Canada, who scored four goals in the first game, should run up the score against Finland, who have allowed nine goals in the tournament, with Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and the rest of the forward unit crashing the net on the rush and creating open shots with quick passes while defenseman Cale Makar picks apart Finland from the point.
