Team USA will kick off its 4 Nations Face-Off campaign with a matchup against Finland at the Bell Centre in Montreal tonight at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN).

Team USA is the heavy favorite, while Finland will face a tough battle to be the strongest team in the tournament. The Finns are already the underdogs, and there are key injuries on defense, making their task even more difficult.

After the starting goalies are confirmed, we will give our predictions for the USA vs. Finland matchup and determine how low-scoring the matchup will be.

Who will be the starting goalie in the USA vs. Finland match? 
USA: Connor Hellebuyck
Stats for 2024-25 with the Winnipeg Jets: 34-7-2, 2.07 GAA, .925 SV%, 6 SOs
Finland: Juuse Saros
Stats for 2024-25 with the Nashville Predators: 11-23-6, 2.96 GAA, .899 SV%, 4 SOs

Predictions for the USA vs Finland match on Thursday
Reliability of predictions on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.

USA vs Finland Match Prediction: USA -1,5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
USA - Finland Match Prediction: Under 5.5 goals ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Who will win the USA vs Finland match?
USA -1.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Finland was already David in this tournament until Jani Hakanpaa, Rasmus Ristolainen and Miro Heiskanen all dropped out due to injuries. Comparing their lineups to each other is like comparing the depth in a kiddie pool to the Olympic 10-meter diving.

Even though these passionate competitions are not on paper, I believe the Finns will not be able to overcome too much of a class difference. I don't think the U.S. will defeat them in a blowout. The most likely outcome is 4-1 (the last goal was an insurance goal into an empty net).  

The US has an enviable lineup, especially in goal, as I discussed in my piece.

I have no doubt that Finland's defense will make life difficult for them. However, there is only so far you can go to thwart the relentless barrage of attacks from Auston Matthews, Jack Hughes, Matthew Tkachuk, Jack Eichel, Kyle Conner, Brady Tkachuk and company.

In my article, I go into more detail about what I expect from some of these players.

A winning bet of $10 will yield a profit of $8.33. 

What will be the score in the match between USA and Finland?
Less than 5.5 goals ⭐⭐⭐⭐
What do you think of the idea of Juuse Saros vs. Connor Hellebuyck?

Two of the best goalies in the last decade will defend their respective teams, with Hellebuyck again the favorite.

Although the Finns have enough offensive power to worry the U.S., Mike Sullivan's team must dictate play to minimize the Finns' dangerous chances. 

I like Hellebuyck's chances to save just about anything he sees. And then there are the Finns, who will do everything they can to prevent the Americans from showcasing their high-octane, all-star-like offense.

They'll be dropping deep, trying to force the U.S. to take shots from the perimeter. While the favorites should dominate in terms of shots, Saros will likely be at his best while wearing his country's colors.

I like the “Under 5.5 Goal” bet on even money, which will make a $10 profit on a $10 winning bet. 

Odds for USA vs Finland

USA and Finland Rosters
Here are the rosters for Thursday's 4 Nations Face-Off between USA and Finland.

When will the USA vs Finland match take place?
When: Thursday, Feb. 13.
Puck drop: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Bell Centre (Montreal, Quebec)
How to watch: ESPN, Sportsnet
Favorite: USA