Canada and Finland will face off on Monday in a must-win game at TD Garden in Boston (1 p.m. ET, TNT).
Canada, which is one of the favorites in the tournament, should be on the lookout for a Finland team that beat the Swedes.
Canada has three Canadians on the roster - Connor McDavid, Mark Stone and Nathan MacKinnon. Our predictions for the Canada vs Finland match suggest that John Cooper's team will dictate the game.
Canada vs. Finland pick for the best player in the game
Connor McDavid Over 1.5 points.
This is the kind of “pressure cooker” that is tailor-made for McDavid. He's playing against a slower and less mobile Finnish defense.
The Edmonton Oilers captain contender should find more space than he did against the Americans, utilizing his speed in the neutral zone.
Yes, Aleksander Barkov will be thrown at him as a fifth-stage clincher, but McDavid was successful against the center from Games 3 through 5 of last year's Stanley Cup Final, scoring 10 points. Plus, Barkov doesn't have the same depth around him that Florida has, especially at the arc line.
McDavid thrives in do-or-die situations.
He's a big-play player who not only raises his level in those situations, but takes the entire contest by the throat. While the Finnish defense is tireless, relentless and ultra-competitive, it won't be able to contain the best player in the world. In my prediction, he's one of the main reasons I'm backing Cooper's team to win by at least two goals.
A winning bet of $10 will make a profit of $15.
Player Predictions for Canada vs. Finland
Mark Stone Over 1.5 shots.
I expect Stone to continue to play alongside Sidney Crosby and MacKinnon. He's put six shots on goal in the first two games - three in each - and has benefited from playing with two top passers. Stone has a knack for finding the “soft spot” in the defense, allowing opportunities to break free. He can't be described as a high-scoring shooter, but a lower total makes the pendulum swing.
Prior to the tournament, he had scored in five of his last six games for the Vegas Golden Knights, and it's now seven of his last eight games in all competitions. A winning bet of $10 will yield a profit of $7.41.
Nathan MacKinnon's goal anytime.
It's time for MacKinnon to show his best qualities in the 5-on-5 game. While we see him on the power play and during 3-on-3 overtime, there's no way he can find his full power play.
As an aside, I support the Crosby assist pick, but the -135 odds have me showing this more valuable, albeit less likely, pick.
At full strength, MacKinnon could put a nightmare on the Finnish defense. Like McDavid, he usually saves his best for must-win situations. If he lights the lamp, a $10 bet will yield a $13 profit.
Odds for Canada vs Finland
| Market | Canada | Finland |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -400 | +300 |
| Puck line | -1.5 (-140) | +1.5 (+110) |
| Over/Under | Over 5.5 (-140) | Under 5.5 (+110) |
When will the Canada vs Finland match take place?
When: Monday, Feb. 17.
Scoring: 1:00 p.m. ET
Where: TD Garden (Boston)
How to watch: TNT, Sportsnet
Favorite: Canada
