Olympic Hockey Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are my picks for Tuesday’s Olympic Hockey action.
Canada vs. Czechia
7:40 am ET
Canada (-3.5, +120) vs. Czechia (+3.5, -142) — Total 6.5 (Under -122)
It’s a rematch after Canada blanked Czechia 5-0 in a preliminary-round opener. Czech forward Martin Necas has a simple explanation for the loss to Canada six days earlier. “We let them win the first one because we knew we were not going to win two in a row against Canada.” Not sure why Necas (Colorado) would want to “poke the bear” and give Canada any bulletin-board material heading into their quarterfinal matchup, but he and his teammates will need to be at their very best as they take on the No. 1 seed.
Necas has carried Czechia offensively with three goals and six points, while David Pastrnak (Boston) appears to be dealing with an injury and has just one goal through four games. If the Czechs are going to pull the upset, goalie Lukas Dostal (Anaheim) is going to have to steal this game and pull off an effort like he did earlier this season when he turned away 40 of 41 Avalanche shots in the Ducks’ 2-1 shootout victory.
I don’t believe it will be a close game as I expect Canada to impose its will and overpower Czechia with its depth. When it comes to finding value on Canada props, let’s start with Macklin Celebrini (San Jose). Canada’s leading goal scorer is still available at “plus money” at FanDuel. You may recall that Celebrini opened the scoring for Canada against Czechia and Dostal. Connor McDavid (Edmonton) has had at least two assists in all three games, and Mitch Marner (Vegas) has picked up an assist in all three games. I will take a shot at the two being able to continue their offensive exploits. I do like Canada to match its goal total of five from the first meeting and will also bite on the Puck Line (-3.5) for Canada. I just don’t see the Czechs scoring two goals against Canada in this game.
Olympic Hockey Predictions and Best Bets:
Macklin Celebrini anytime goal (+105) – .50
Mitch Marner Over ½ assist/Connor McDavid 2+ assists (+252) – .25
Canada -3.5 (+120) – .50
Canada Team Total Over 4.5 (-135) – 1 unit
Canada first-period ML/Canada first-period TT Over 1.5 (+135) – .25
Canada -1.5/Sweden ML (+254) – .50
United States vs. Sweden
United States (-1.5, +100) vs. Sweden (+1.5, -120) — Total 6.5 (Over -105)
12:10 pm ET
A loss to Finland in the preliminary round put Sweden in the position of having to earn a spot in the quarterfinal round, and the Swedes looked dominant in dispatching Latvia 5-1 on Tuesday. They have scored five goals in each of their three wins.
The U.S. men’s team has been underwhelming through its three preliminary-round games with wins over Germany, Denmark and Latvia, twice holding the opposition to one goal. One of my concerns heading into the preliminary round was that Team USA had the easiest path to the quarterfinals, with none of the countries in their group likely to make them feel uncomfortable in any of the games. My feelings were confirmed after watching their three games.
Sweden has gotten better as the games have gone on, and goalie Jacob Markstrom (New Jersey) has taken over the role of No. 1 goalie after Filip Gustavsson started the opening game of the tournament for Sweden. Maybe I have eaten too many Swedish meatballs at Ikea the past few days, but I think we see an upset and I am going with Sweden for the win and to win this game in regulation. Check my Twitter (X) feed after 9 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday for player props from this game and others.
Olympic Hockey Predictions and Best Bets:
Sweden ML +180 – .25
Sweden to win in regulation +300 – .25
(In pocket) – USA to be eliminated in the quarterfinals (+175) – .25
(In pocket) – Sweden to be eliminated in the semifinals (+300) – .25
