Olympic Hockey Gold Medal Betting Picks: USA vs. Canada Predictions

The Olympic men’s hockey gold medal matchup takes place on Sunday at 8:10 a.m. ET in Milan between the United States and Canada.

The top two seeds needed overtime to win in the quarterfinals, while Canada rallied from a 2-0 deficit to edge Finland, 3-2 in the semifinals. The United States cruised past Slovakia, 6-2 behind two goals from Jack Hughes.

We’ll break down three plays for Sunday’s action. Remember to monitor the odds throughout the day, as the sides and totals market is constantly changing.

Here are the free Olympic men’s hockey picks for Sunday, February 22. Odds are courtesy of DraftKings

Best Olympic men’s hockey bets today

• Canada (-125) vs. USA
• Anytime Goal - Brady Tkachuk (+255)
• Goal in 1st Ten Minutes - Over 0.5 (-125)

Canada (-125) vs. USA

Canada hasn’t been sharp in the last two victories against Czechia and Finland. In the quarterfinals, Canada trailed Czechia in the third period before tying the game and eventually winning in overtime, 3-2.

The Canadian team needed another rally in Friday’s semifinals, scoring three unanswered goals to shock Finland, 3-2 on Nathan MacKinnon’s game-winner in the final minute.

Canada tallied 20 goals in the preliminary round before getting held in check the last two games, while the team hopes to get captain Sidney Crosby back after getting hurt against Czechia.

Team USA had one close call in the quarterfinals against Sweden, winning in overtime, 2-1. In Friday’s semifinals, the United States scored the first five goals in a 6-2 blowout of Slovakia.

Canada last won a gold medal in 2014, while the USA hasn’t captured gold since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980. We’ll see if Crosby returns for Sunday’s contest, but Canada received two big wake-up calls the last two games and survived. Let’s lay the short price with Canada to grab the gold.

Anytime Goal - Brady Tkachuk (+255)

The Ottawa Senators’ star has scored three goals in this tournament, including one against Slovakia in Friday’s semifinal rout.

Tkachuk is one of four USA players to post three goals in the Olympics, along with Auston Matthews, Tage Thompson, and Jack Hughes. Matthews (+195) is the only American ahead of Tkachuk in this category, while Thompson and Hughes are each over +300.

Goal scoring will be at a premium on Sunday, but Tkachuk has good value to find the back of the net.

Goal in First 10 Minutes - Over 0.5 (-125)

The trends have hit 60% for both these teams in this situation in the Olympics. Both Team USA and Canada had a goal scored in the first 10 minutes in three of their first five games.

Canada has allowed a goal in the first 10 minutes twice, while the United States compiled four goals in the opening 10 minutes. The good news with this bet is it’s not a high price to pay and you have all 10 minutes to work with for one goal with plenty of scoring talent on the ice.