Olympic Ice Hockey Betting: Canada vs. United States of America
 Canada (1-0-1-0, 5 pts) |
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 United States of America (2-0-0-0, 6 pts) |
Olympic hockey betting will be on display on Sunday afternoon in Vancouver, where the United States and Canada will duke it out for the right to win Group A and clinch a berth into the quarterfinals of the tournament. Depending on how the games between the Czech Republic and Russia and Finland and Sweden go, the USA may still be able to qualify with a defeat in regulation. An overtime loss or better paired with a Finland/Sweden game that doesn’t go to overtime will also get the job done for the stars and stripes. Canada can backdoor its way into the quarterfinals with an overtime loss, a Russia loss, and a non-overtime Finland/Sweden game as well. A regulation loss will put Canada in the qualification round.
Team Canada wasn’t expected to struggle at all in these Olympics until at least the quarterfinals, if not the semifinals of this tournament. Instead, their star-studded lineup chalk full of NHLers had to fight tooth and nail with Switzerland just to salvage two points in their most recent game. C Sidney Crosby failed in his first effort in the shootout, but came back and netted the game-winner to earn that second point for the Canadians. The host nation has outscored its first two foes 11-2, which is the most goals and tied for the high average margin of victory of any team in the field. F Dany Heatley is the only player on the team to have scored in both games, but Jerome Iginla is tied with Heatley for the team lead in goals with three.
Had you asked any American hockey fan what they were hoping for coming into these Olympics, an automatic berth into the quarterfinals and a point against Canada would’ve been fantastic. To win the group highlighted by the heavily favored host nation seemed like a bit of a pipe dream, but that dream can become a reality with a win. F Ryan Malone of the Tampa Bay Lightning has a goal in each of the victories for Team USA, but G Ryan Miller has really been the story, stopping 23 of his 25 shots faced.
If you’re talking about the puck line, the Canadians are favored by a goal and a half. A 60-minute tie seems like a very possible option in this one, and though the hosts will probably ultimately walk away with the extra points for coming up with the victory, the Americans should take a strong point into the quarterfinals.
Selection: United States of America
You can find the United States lined at +1.5 (-130) right now at Bookmaker Sportsbook!
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