4 Nations Face-Off: USA vs. Sweden odds, picks and predictions
Team USA meets Team Sweden Monday in the final round-robin match for both teams at the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament at TD Garden in Boston. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (TNT / truTV / Max). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's hockey odds around the USA vs. Sweden odds and make our expert hockey picks and predictions.
Team USA projected lines
Line 1: LW Kyle Connor (Jets), C Jack Eichel (Golden Knights), RW Matthew Tkachuk (Panthers)
(Jets), C (Golden Knights), RW (Panthers) Line 2: LW Jake Guentzel (Lightning), C Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs), RW Jack Hughes (Devils)
(Lightning), C (Maple Leafs), RW (Devils) Line 3: LW Brady Tkachuk (Senators), C J.T. Miller (Rangers), RW Matthew Boldy (Wild)
(Senators), C (Rangers), RW (Wild) Line 4: LW Brock Nelson (Islanders), C Vincent Trocheck (Rangers), RW Dylan Larkin (Red Wings)
(Islanders), C (Rangers), RW (Red Wings) Defense 1: LD Jaccob Slavin (Hurricanes), RD Adam Fox (Rangers)
(Hurricanes), RD (Rangers) Defense 2: LD Zach Werenski (Blue Jackets), RD Charlie McAvoy (Bruins)
(Blue Jackets), RD (Bruins) Defense 3: LD Noah Hanifin (Golden Knights), RD Brock Faber (Wild)
(Golden Knights), RD (Wild) Goalies: Connor Hellebuyck (Jets), Jake Oettinger (Stars)
(Jets), (Stars) Scratched: LW Chris Kreider (Rangers), D Jake Sanderson (Senators), G Jeremy Swayman (Bruins)
Team USA belted Finland 6-1 in the tournament opener, and then beat Canada 3-1 in Montreal on Saturday night. The game started off with a fight, just 9 seconds into the game, as the Tkachuk Brothers and J.T. Miller all dropped the gloves in 3 separate skirmishes. Not related to the fight, but Matthew Tkachuk suffered an undisclosed injury against Canada, and he missed the final 12-plus minutes of the third period. If he cannot go, or if he is rested as a precaution, Chris Kreider could draw in. USA is already qualified for the final on Thursday.
Team Sweden projected lines
Line 1: LW Rickard Rakell (Penguins), C Mika Zibanejad (Rangers), RW William Nylander (Maple Leafs)
(Penguins), C (Rangers), RW (Maple Leafs) Line 2: LW Filip Forsberg (Predators), C Elias Pettersson (Canucks), RW Adrian Kempe (Kings)
(Predators), C (Canucks), RW (Kings) Line 3: LW Jesper Bratt (Devils), C Joel Eriksson Ek (Wild), RW Lucas Raymond (Red Wings)
(Devils), C (Wild), RW (Red Wings) Line 4: LW Viktor Arvidsson (Oilers), C Elias Lindholm (Bruins), RW Gustav Nyquist (Predators)
(Oilers), C (Bruins), RW (Predators) Defense 1: LD Victor Hedman (Lightning), RD Jonas Brodin (Wild)
(Lightning), RD (Wild) Defense 2: LD Mattias Ekholm (Oilers), RD Erik Karlsson (Penguins)
(Oilers), RD (Penguins) Defense 3: LD Gustav Forsling (Panthers), RD Rasmus Dahlin (Sabres)
(Panthers), RD (Sabres) Goalies: Filip Gustavsson (Wild), Linus Ullmark (Bruins)
(Wild), (Bruins) Scratched: C Leo Carlsson (Ducks), D Rasmus Andersson (Flames), G Samuel Ersson (Flyers)
Sweden lost 4-3 in overtime against Canada on Wednesday, and it suffered a 4-3 loss in overtime against Finland on Saturday.
Filip Gustavsson allowed 2 goals on just 4 shots, and he was lifted after one period in favor of Linus Ullmark. The latter is expected to make the start on Monday night against Team USA, and that game is special since it is where he starred with the Boston Bruins for 3 NHL seasons from 2021-24. Sweden is still alive for the championship game Thursday, but it needs a win in regulation.
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USA vs. Sweden odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 8:42 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML) : USA -200 (bet $200 to win $100) | Sweden +165 (bet $100 to win $165)
: USA -200 (bet $200 to win $100) | Sweden +165 (bet $100 to win $165) Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS) : USA -1.5 (+125) | Sweden +1.5 (-150)
: USA -1.5 (+125) | Sweden +1.5 (-150) Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)
USA vs. Sweden projected goalies
Jake Oettinger (26-12-2, 2.35 GAA, .911 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Linus Ullmark (12-9-2, 2.49 GAA, .915 SV%, 3 SO)
There is no official word from the team, but with a spot already clinched in the final, Oettinger or Boston's Jeremy Swayman (18-18-4, 2.98 GAA, .898 SV%, 3 SO) could get the starting nod in an effort to preserve Connor Hellebuyck (34-7-2, 2.07 GAA, .925 SV%, 6 SO) for the title game, since this one is essentially meaningless.
Ullmark came on for the ineffective Gustavsson to start the second period against Finland, and he allowed 2 goals on 17 shots in the 4-3 OTL against the rival Finns. It would be interesting if the matchup was Ullmark vs. Swayman, as those 2 goaltenders split starts in Boston in the past 3 seasons.
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USA vs. Sweden picks and predictions
Prediction
USA 3, Sweden 2
USA (-200) is a little on the expensive side for a standalone wager, costing you 2 times your potential return. There is risk, too, as it remains to be seen how hungry the Americans will be since they've already secured a spot in Thursday's final. There is concern with Matthew Tkachuk, too, as he has been the heart and soul of the team through 2 games, but he is dealing with an injury. He could be held out, since the game is essentially meaningless.
PASS, and look to the puck line instead.
SWEDEN +1.5 (-150) is worth a look on the puck line. In 2 games so far, Tre Kronor has lost 4-3 in overtime in both outings. It has been competitive, but it is just a tick off.
Sweden is still playing for something, and it will go hard to the buzzer. Team USA -1.5 (+125) might not be as eager with a spot already clinched, as it doesn't want to take too many risks. Hellebuyck will likely sit as a precaution, too, resting for the championship game.
UNDER 6 (-120) is worth a look, but go with a half-unit play at most.
With Team USA likely going through the motions, since it already has a spot locked up in the title game, and Sweden playing carefully, not trying to make any mistakes, we could see some sluggish play, especially early on. Things might open up a bit in the second half of the game, especially if Sweden finds itself down a goal or 2 late, but don't expect a lot of offense early on.
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