The bad blood between USA and Canada is going to spill out onto the ice tonight, Sunday Feb 21@7:30ET, as Team Canada and Team USA battle in Men’s Olympic Hockey. The winner will finish first in their group and earn a first-round bye in the Olympic Tournament. Olympic oddsmakers at BETUS.com have Canada as -275 moneyline favorites to beat USA (+190) with the over/under set at 3.5 goals . Be sure to get your 2010 Winter Olympics: Canada vs USA Men’s Hockey Prediction in now at BETUS.com
Team Canada is 2-0 but under the new Olympic scoring system, have five points after receiving two of a possible three by defeating the Swiss in a shootout. They pounded Norway 8-0 thanks to a hat trick from Jarome Iginla. But against Switzerland the needed to go to shootouts after a 2-2 draw. Thank god for Sidney Crosby who scored in the shootout to prevent a second incomprehensible Canada loss to Switzerland in as many Winter Games. "We didn't think we were as good as we're capable of at all ," Team Canada head coach Mike Babcock told reporters after the game. "We didn't think we moved the puck like we could, we didn't think we were a good five-man unit up and down the rink, we didn't think we attacked their net with relentlessness like we could. Team Canada is suffering from a lack of chemistry. Any chemistry existing on the Canadian team is “prepackaged”, referring to Canada’s best line so far, comprised of San Jose Sharks teammates Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. After the game against Switzerland, Babcock told reporters "our San Jose line was our best line tonight”. Sidney Crosby has been one of Canada’s best players so far, but Crosby and linemate Rick Nash have been unable to develop chemistry with anyone on the right wing. Patrice Bergeron, Jarome Iginla and Jonathan Toews have all auditioned with limited success. Martin Brodeur will be between the pipes tonight.
Team USA leads Group A with six points after victories over the hapless Norwegians and pesky Swiss. The Americans were largely an afterthought when the tournament got underway; however they have been quietly and efficiently taking care of business. They beat Norway 6-1 and then beat Switzerland 5-1. Goalie Ryan Miller has been superb and will have to be at his best tonight against the sharp shooting Canadians. The Americans have supplanted the Russians as Canada’s top rivals . “A lot of (American) players will never play in a more hostile environment,” said Wilson. “This will be a great rehearsal for us. Let’s say we get to gold-medal game and are playing another country. I don’t think the atmosphere will be near what it will be tonight. “World juniors, the Olympics, World Cup. Not a lot of love there. A lot of hatred between them. It’s going to be hard hitting and loud.
Point-Spreads.com 2010 Winter Olympics: Canada vs USA Men’s Hockey Prediction
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