USA vs. Canada Prediction, Picks & Odds Tonight: 4 Nations Face-Off Preview

Our USA vs. Canada prediction and picks analyze which of the 4 Nations Face-Off odds favorites holds a better chance of winning their round-robin game tonight.
USA vs. Canada Prediction
Team Canada forward Mitch Marner looks on against Team Sweden in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off. Photo by David Kirouac / Imagn.

As you can see by the pick'em odds at Betway, there's little separating the USA and Canada as they prepare for a massive clash on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET from Bell Centre in Montreal (ABC).

The Americans are the 4 Nations Face-Off odds favorites after a dominant 6-1 win over Finland, and Canada also held serve against Sweden while winning 4-3.

However, our USA vs. Canada prediction and picks don't anticipate the Americans' status as slight favorites to matter much when these two giants lock horns.

USA vs. Canada predictions for Tonight

Pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.

  • USA vs. Canada moneyline pick: Canada ML (-120 via Betway) ⭐⭐⭐
  • USA vs. Canada Over/Under pick: Under 6.5 goals (-130 via Betway) ⭐⭐⭐

Who will win USA vs. Canada?

Canada ML ⭐⭐⭐

You can argue about the outcome of this head-to-head until you're red, white, and blue in the face. There are two schools of thought. First, the Americans have superior goaltending, which I outlined in our early 4 Nations Face-Off predictions.

Vezina Trophy odds runaway favorite Connor Hellebuyck cruised to the victory against the Finns, giving up just one goal and finishing with 1.73 goals saved above expected—same old, same old for the indomitable American.

Meanwhile, Canada's Jordan Binnington had some uh-uh moments but conjured a few timely and game-saving stops against the Swedes.

Where does Canada have the advantage? 

While there's no arguing about who has the advantage between the pipes, Canada is at home with the last change. Having the match-up advantage can be critical for this contest. Jon Cooper will be able to mitigate, even offset, the threat provided by those he knows all too well — like the Tkachuk brothers, Jack Hughes, Jake Guentzel, and Auston Matthews — from his time coaching Tampa Bay. 

Cooper knows what is required to impede those runaway trains, whether by sending the top two lines out or using his Tampa Bay connection — Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel. While the loss of Shea Theodore will hurt the Canadians, the USA is playing without Quinn Hughes. 

I also like that Canada faced stiffer adversity in their opener against the Swedes. Though it took a while, the USA broke things open in the third against Finland. Being pushed to the brink as Canada was might help them get up to speed slightly quicker. 

If Binnington plays like he did in the latter stages of the opener, Canada should edge this one, albeit barely. A winning $10 bet will profit $8.33. 

Best odds: -120 via Betway | Implied probability: 54.55%

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What will be the score of USA vs. Canada?

Under 6.5 goals ⭐⭐⭐

Matthew Tkachuk put it perfectly when he said it would be like playing three — hopefully four — Stanley Cup Final Game 7s. No disrespect to the Finns, but they probably wouldn't even make the postseason in that metaphor. 

If Saturday's tilt transpires like a Game 7, as I'm sure it will, space will be a premium. I can't see either team taking many penalties, which means it should be decided 5-on-5, a more conducive Under 6.5 goal scenario. 

In addition, the Americans have the world's best netminder between the pipes, so Canada will understand acutely the importance of playing a flawless defensive game. Yes, both teams have more firepower than a munitions depot, but they also possess the world's best collective defenses. 

In a Game 7 scenario, defense usually prevails. A winning $10 bet will profit $7.69.

Best odds: -130 via Betway | Implied probability: 56.52%

USA vs. Canada odds

Odds via Betway.

Market USA Canada
Moneyline -120 -120
Puck line +1.5 (-300) -1.5 (+200)
Over/Under Over 6.5 (+110) Under 6.5 (-130)

USA vs. Canada rosters

Here are the rosters for Saturday's 4 Nations Face-Off USA vs. Canada matchup.

USA Canada
Matt Boldy Sam Bennett
Kyle Connor Anthony Cirelli
Jack Eichel Sidney Crosby
Jake Guentzel Brandon Hagel
Jack Hughes Seth Jarvis
Chris Kreider Travis Konecny
Dylan Larkin Nathan MacKinnon
Auston Matthews Brad Marchand
J.T. Miller Mitch Marner
Brock Nelson Connor McDavid
Matthew Tkachuk Brayden Point
Brady Tkachuk Sam Reinhart
Vincent Trocheck Mark Stone
Brock Faber Cale Makar
Adam Fox Josh Morrissey
Noah Hanifin Colton Parayko
Charlie McAvoy Travis Sanheim
Jaccob Slavin Shea Theodore
Zach Werenski Devon Toews
Jake Sanderson Drew Doughty 
Connor Hellebuyck Jordan Binnington
Jake Oettinger Adin Hill
Jeremy Swayman Samuel Montembeault

When is USA vs. Canada?

  • When: Saturday, Feb. 15
  • Puck drop: 8 p.m. ET
  • Where: Bell Centre (Montreal)
  • How to watch: ABC, Sportsnet
  • Favorite: Pick'em (-120 via Betway)

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