World Cup Of Hockey Betting Picks: Canada Versus USA

The biggest game of the World Cup of Hockey preliminary round – at least as far as Canadians are concerned – takes place Tuesday night in Toronto as Canada faces off against the United States in a matchup of the past two World Cup champions.

Canada was dominant in a 6-0 win over the Czech Republic Saturday, firing 50 shots on net and allowing 27 (only 20 while the teams were playing even strength). Sidney Crosby led the way with a goal and two assists as Canada jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the end of the first period, quieting any concerns about starting the tournament slowly like they did at the 2014 Olympics.

The United States was the team to start the World Cup slowly, laying an egg in a 3-0 loss to Team Europe Saturday. The US outshot Europe 35-17 but American coach John Tortorella admitted his team didn’t generate many good scoring chances.

Canada vs USA Betting Odds

Moneyline:
Canada -271 (to win $100, you’d have to risk $271)
USA +240 (if you risked $100, you could win $240)

Puck Line:
Canada -1.5 -123 (Canada must win game by 2 or more goals)
USA +1.5 +111 (US must win game or not lose by 2 or more goals)

Over/Under:
Over 6.5 +180 (7 or more goals scored in the game)
Under 6.5 -201 (6 or less goals scored in the game)

Betting Odds from Pinnacle.com

Canada Vs USA Betting Pick

The USA might have replaced Russia as Canada’s biggest hockey rival. The United States dealt Canada a crushing loss in the 1996 World Cup final in Montreal, but Canada returned the favour with wins over the U.S. in both the 2002 and 2010 Olympic men’s hockey finals.

These teams flat out don’t like each other. That was obvious in their two pre-tournament games, with the USA winning the first one 4-2 (when Ryan Kesler was ejected for boarding Canada’s Shea Weber) and the Canadians responding the next night with a 5-2 win. “It was definitely chippy out there. I definitely thought there were a few things that crossed the line. I’m not going to mention them,” Canadian goalie Carey Price said after the first exhibition game.


After their opening-game loss, the United States is in desperation mode. A loss here and they almost certainly won’t advance to the semifinals, especially since they’re already -3 in goal differential. However, the Americans haven’t been able to create much offence in recent international play, having been shut out in their past 3 games (dating back to the 2014 Olympics).

Canada could be a bit looser for this one, which could work for them and could also work against them. The point is that this really looks like anyone’s game, and isn’t quite the mismatch that the odds suggest they are. Be honest, would you be stunned if the U.S. won this game? Next to Canada, the U.S. was one of the favourites before the World Cup began, and one bad performance doesn’t make the Americans any less dangerous in this contest.

We expect a hard-fought, intense and entertaining affair that should be up for grabs til the end. We’ll take the U.S. +1.5 +111 and hope for a 1-goal Canadian victory.

Pick: United States +1.5 +111 (Pinnacle)