The men’s ice hockey tournament is picking up pace at the Beijing Olympics with Team USA taking on Canada on Friday’s card. The Czech Republic goes head-to-head with tournament favorites the ROC, host China battles Germany, and Denmark and Switzerland collide. With a stellar cast assembled, we look at the Olympics odds and serve up choice betting online picks to spot.
2022 Olympics Men’s Hockey Betting
Team USA vs Canada
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| United States (M) | +1½ -145 | +180 | 5½ -115o |
| Canada (M) | -1½ +115 | -230 | 5½ -115u |
The United States and Canada have enjoyed a storied rivalry on the international stage, and Friday night’s installment promises to be another thriller between these familiar foes despite the absence of NHL players at the Beijing Olympics. According to the BetUS sportsbook, Canada is the favorite to win outright, priced at -230. while the USA is the +180 underdog.
Canada opened its tournament with a 5-1 win over Germany. The Canadians were far superior right from the first puck drop, controlling the tempo and play. By the time the first 11 minutes ticked away, the Canadians were already up 3-0.
Olympic Update | Team USA men’s hockey started #Beijing2022WinterOlympics w/an 8-0 W over China this morning. Minnesota State JR C Nathan Smith stats: 0-0–0, +1. @usahockey back in action Saturday vs. Canada. 10:10 p.m. CST. #OlympiansMadeHere
📷@gettysports pic.twitter.com/iBVk9tTnuf— Minnesota State Hockey (@MinnStMHockey) February 10, 2022
Team USA traipsed to the 8-0 victory over host China. To be fair, it wasn’t much of a contest between the two nations as the gap in quality and talent was evident from the start.
The Canadians have an experienced roster with NHL veterans, KHL standouts, and promising young NHL prospects. The Americans are almost entirely built on youthful exuberance. On paper, the advantage certainly tips in favor of the Canadians, but the Americans could certainly make a fist of it. Indeed, it may well be closer than Canada’s moneyline odds would have and that makes a flutter on the upset worth the tickle.
Pick: USA +180
China vs Germany
Host China got a spanking from Team USA in their tournament opener, losing 8-0 to the hotly favored Americans. Alas, things aren’t going to get much better against Germany, which is a team that has made significant strides on the international stage in recent years.
Yes, Germany was blown out by Canada in its opener (5-1), but the Canucks are the standard-setters in ice hockey. The defeat was expected.
Here is a great opportunity for Germany to get back on track in the tournament and get some much-needed confidence going forward. For the gracious Olympics hosts, more likely than not, this will be another rough outing. The 2½ puckline on offer doesn’t do the gap in quality between this pair any justice, thus Germany to cover is the chosen sport betting pick.
Pick: Germany -2½ (-150)
A stunning upset 🏒
Denmark’s men and women are both making their Olympic debuts in hockey at #Beijing2022 and the men’s side completed a 2-1 upset victory over the Czech Republic in their first game pic.twitter.com/P0vyyVdXsG
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 9, 2022
Czech Republic vs ROC
The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) entered the tournament as the team to beat, while the Czech Republic were among the contenders. In keeping with the Olympic outrights odds, the markets favor the ROC handsomely. BetUS is offering a ROC win at -200 while the Czech Republic is priced at +160 for the upset.
The Czech Republic has played the ROC close and has enjoyed success against the hockey powerhouse in previous competitions. The two countries split the last two meetings with each side winning 4-3. The Czechs took the win at the Bejer Hockey Games while the Russians prevailed at the Channel One Cup.
If there is to be an upset in the early rounds for the Russians, this is the matchup that could deliver it. Granted, the Czechs were upset by Denmark 2-1 in their tournament opener. Clearly, they took the upstarts for granted. However, that only puts an added premium on the win here and they’ll be keen to atone for the poor start.
Pick: Czech Republic +160
Denmark vs Switzerland
Switzerland is the dangerous floater of the competition and they could shake things up in the knockouts. Although the Swiss opened their tournament with a 1-0 loss to the ROC, the fact that they held the highly-fancied Russians to merely a goal is a testament to their dogged play.
Denmark has already shaken things up in the tournament after upsetting the Czechs 2-1 in its Olympic debut. It was a stellar start for a side that was widely overlooked by the hockey odds. Of course, one win doesn’t make a champion. Backing that hot start could prove even more of a challenge. That said, this is expected to be a tight, low-scoring game by the odds and that means anything could happen.
Pick: Under 4½ +150
