With three fights in the first nine seconds of their round-robin meeting, it’s safe to say Canada and the U.S. got the attention of all sports fans on Saturday night. Now the teams will face each other in the final, with the Canadians looking to avenge their earlier 3-1 loss.

This game is a pure pick’em on the moneyline, with Canada sitting at +1.5 on the puckline. The total is pegged at 5.5 on the 4 Nations Face-Off odds.

Team Canada vs. Team USA NHL Betting Odds

This is a direct message to any Canadian fans who are panicking or any Americans fans who are overly cocky. Let’s rewind to the last few times these countries met in best-on-best tournaments with NHL participation.

When it mattered most at in the semifinals of the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Canada pulled away with a 1-0 victory. An even more direct comparison is the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The U.S. beat Canada 5-3 in the preliminary round only to have Sidney Crosby score the famous OT golden goal in the final. Remember, breathe Canada…and stop getting so cocky, ‘Merica, this ain’t over yet.

The tournament MVP race has Connor Hellebuyck entering the final as a +250 favourite on the 4 Nations Face-Off futures board, followed by Connor McDavid at +275. My value pick, however, is Crosby at +500. Crosby is tied with Zach Werenski for the tournament lead in points at five and the Penguins aren’t making the playoffs so this is Crosby’s Cup Final. Plus, you have to think tie goes to a legend like Crosby, so if he bangs in a goal and Canada wins, he’s a no-brainer MVP.

Team Canada

Canada came through when it mattered most, punching their ticket to the 4 Nations Face-Off final with a 5-3 must-win victory over Finland in the last preliminary game. The big guns showed up, with Nathan MacKinnon scoring twice, while Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Brayden Point also found the back of the net.

The scary thing for Canadian fans is the question mark that is Jordan Binnington in net. Canada was up 4-0 before Finland scored three questionably weak goals with less than 10 minutes left in regulation. Binnginton has been far from impressive in this tournament, posting a 2.60 goals-against average and .897 save percentage, although Jon Cooper is sticking with him in the final. You can at least point out the fact that Binnington won Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden, so he’s come through in the biggest moments before.

There will also be a major addition to the lineup in the final that Canada didn’t have in the first game against the Americans. No. 1 defenceman Cale Makar was forced to miss the U.S. game due to illness, but he returned against Finland and the blue line looked much better. Makar’s ability to be a mobile threat from the point was sorely missed against the Americans and it should make a significant difference in the rematch.

Team USA

The U.S. clinched their spot in the final after two games, so they were able to go on cruise control in a meaningless 2-1 loss against Sweden on Monday. The Americans were extremely cautious as they played Jake Oettinger over Connor Hellebuyck and they held out Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk. They also pulled Brady Tkachuk out after he went hard into the net, but Hellebuyck, Matthews and both Tkachuks will all suit up on Thursday.

The big question surrounding the Americans is who will come up with a mysterious illness that allows superstar Vancouver defenceman Quinn Hughes to play? Much like the situation with Makar and Thomas Harley, Hughes was added to the American roster but is only allowed to play if a player is sick or hurt. While Hughes is skating with the Canucks in Vancouver, I would be shocked if the U.S. doesn’t find a way to get him into Thursday’s final.

Of course, the reason Hughes was added to the roster is because of the loss of Charlie McAvoy, who suffered a shoulder injury that later developed into an infection. It’s a significant hit to the roster, but adding Hughes would be an upgrade. Another change to the roster is the addition of Chris Kredier, who was scratched the first two games of the tournament before scoring the lone goal against Sweden.

4 Nations Face-Off Prediction: Who Will Win Team Canada vs. Team USA?

Injuries

Team Canada

Anthony Cirelli (C)

Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 23 / 04 / 25

Seth Jarvis (C)

Out Thurs Rest - 17 / 04 / 25

Drew Doughty (D)

Out Thurs Rest - 17 / 04 / 25

Nathan MacKinnon (C)

Ques Sun Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 25

Alex Pietrangelo (D)

Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 09 / 04 / 25

Sam Bennett (C)

out of season Upper Body - 08 / 04 / 25

Drew Doughty (D)

Ques Mon Ankle - 06 / 04 / 25

Alex Pietrangelo (D)

Ques Sun Lower Body - 26 / 03 / 25

Seth Jarvis (C)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 22 / 03 / 25

Connor McDavid (C)

Out Wed Lower Body - 21 / 03 / 25

Team USA

Jaccob Slavin (D)

Out Thurs Rest - 17 / 04 / 25

Brady Tkachuk (LW)

Ques Sun Undisclosed - 17 / 04 / 25

Jack Eichel (C)

Ques Wed Upper Body - 09 / 04 / 25

Jake Guentzel (C)

Ques Fri Personal - 09 / 04 / 25

Brady Tkachuk (LW)

Ques Thurs Upper Body - 01 / 04 / 25

Jack Hughes (C)

out of season Undisclosed - 03 / 03 / 25

Quinn Hughes (D)

Ques Wed Undisclosed - 02 / 03 / 25

Jake Sanderson (D)

Ques Mon Neck - 01 / 03 / 25

Adam Fox (D)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 26 / 02 / 25

Chris Kreider (LW)

Ques Sat Upper Body - 23 / 02 / 25

Injuries

Team Canada

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Anthony Cirelli (C)	Ques Thurs	Undisclosed - 23 / 04 / 25	-	-	+ -
Cirelli is dealing with a Undisclosed injury, and it is unclear if he will suit up against the Panthers for Game 2 on Thursday.
Seth Jarvis (C)	Out Thurs	Rest - 17 / 04 / 25	-	-	+ -
Jarvis will not take the ice on Thursday against the Senators, he will be out of the lineup to rest.
Drew Doughty (D)	Out Thurs	Rest - 17 / 04 / 25	-	-	+ -
Doughty will be out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Flames to rest.
Nathan MacKinnon (C)	Ques Sun	Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 25	-	-	+ -
MacKinnon is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it is unclear if he will suit up against the Ducks on Sunday.
Alex Pietrangelo (D)	Out indefinitely	Undisclosed - 09 / 04 / 25	-	-	+ -
Pietrangelo is out of commission due to an undisclosed injury, and there is no timetable for return.
Sam Bennett (C)	out of season	Upper Body - 08 / 04 / 25	-	-	+ -
Bennett is sidelined due to an upper body injury, and he is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Drew Doughty (D)	Ques Mon	Ankle - 06 / 04 / 25	-	-	+ -
Doughty is managing an ankle injury, and it has yet to be established if he will be in Monday's clash against the Oilers.
Alex Pietrangelo (D)	Ques Sun	Lower Body - 26 / 03 / 25	-	-	+ -
Pietrangelo is managing a lower body injury, and it is uncertain if he will be active against the Canucks on Sunday.
Seth Jarvis (C)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 22 / 03 / 25	-	-	+ -
Jarvis suffered an undisclosed injury, and it remains to be seen if he will play against the Predators on Tuesday.
Connor McDavid (C)	Out Wed	Lower Body - 21 / 03 / 25	-	-	+ -
McDavid is managing with a lower-body injury, and he is not expected to kit up against the Blues on Wednesday.

Team USA

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jaccob Slavin (D)	Out Thurs	Rest - 17 / 04 / 25	-	-	+ -
Slavin will sit out of Thursday's tilt with the Senators to rest.
Brady Tkachuk (LW)	Ques Sun	Undisclosed - 17 / 04 / 25	-	-	+ -
Tkachuk left the game due to an undisclosed injury, and it is unknown if he will play Game 1 of playoff against Maple Leafs on Sunday.
Jack Eichel (C)	Ques Wed	Upper Body - 09 / 04 / 25	-	-	+ -
Eicher is dealing with an upper body injury, and it is unclear if he will play against the Canucks on Wednesday.
Jake Guentzel (C)	Ques Fri	Personal - 09 / 04 / 25	-	-	+ -
Guentzel is dealing with some personal reasons, and it remains to be seen if he will get back on the ice against the Red Wings on Friday.
Brady Tkachuk (LW)	Ques Thurs	Upper Body - 01 / 04 / 25	-	-	+ -
Tkachuk is dealing with an upper body injury, and it is unclear if he will play against the Hurricanes on Thursday.
Jack Hughes (C)	out of season	Undisclosed - 03 / 03 / 25	-	-	+ -
Hughes has landed on the injury reserve list undergoing surgery on his shoulder, and he has been shut down for the remainder of the season.
Quinn Hughes (D)	Ques Wed	Undisclosed - 02 / 03 / 25	-	-	+ -
Hughes is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it is uncertain if he will get back on the ice against the Flames on Wednesday.
Jake Sanderson (D)	Ques Mon	Neck - 01 / 03 / 25	-	-	+ -
Sanderson left the game after he took a hit to the neck, and it has yet to be determined if he will be active against the Capitals on Monday.
Adam Fox (D)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 26 / 02 / 25	-	-	+ -
Fox is placed on the injured reserve list with an upper body injury, and it is unknown how long he will be debilitated.
Chris Kreider (LW)	Ques Sat	Upper Body - 23 / 02 / 25	-	-	+ -
Kreider is battling an upper body injury, and it is undetermined if he will suit up against the Senators on Saturday.