Can Team USA KO Canada?
And here we go, the only women’s ice hockey matchup that matters in the 2022 Winter Olympics. Canada and the United States meet for the ninth team on this stage, with Canada having won five. Though Team USA won the last meeting, seizing the gold medal in the process, the hockey odds have them as the underdogs.
There’s a pretty good chance Canada and the United States will meet again later in the Games with the gold medal on the line, but Monday’s group play matchup offers the teams a chance to send a loud message to the other.
Canada at United States Game Information
- Game: Canada (3-0-0) at United States (3-0-0)
- Location: Wukesong Sports Centre, Beijing, China
- Day/Time: Monday, 11:10 p.m. ET
- Television: NBC, Peacock
Canada Looks to Recapture Olympic Throne
Since losing the gold medal game in the 2018 Winter Olympics, Canada has earned a bit of redemption by beating their American rivals in recent meetings: the IIHF World Championships and the intracontinental rivalry series (My Why Tour)
But this proud team knows this recent success is just window dressing compared to the prestige of the Olympic gold medal. It was Canada’s turn to cry in the 2018 final in a shootout loss.
Leading Canada will be longtime veterans Marie-Philip Poulin and Rebecca Johnston. Poulin has been a national hero for the Canadians and is dubbed “Captain Clutch” thanks to scoring not one but two game-winning goals in gold medal games in 2010 and 2014. Joining her is 21-year-old Sarah Fillier, who is a star-in-the-making and is right behind her in scoring.
Team USA Down, Not Out
The 2018 gold medal feels so far away given the United States’ recent losses to Canada. The silver lining is that Team USA has been in almost all of the games. Five of their last eight meetings with Canada were decided by just one goal and the Americans will return 13 players from the last Olympics.
Hilary Knight will be the most prominent member as she returns for her fourth Olympics. Kendall Coyne Schofield and Amanda Kessel are other star players coming back while Abby Roque, the first Indigenous player on the U.S. women’s Olympic team, will be a catalyst for the offense.
A perfect pass from @abby_roque to @carpy05 for the goal!#WinterOlympics | #TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/87E7Ut2w8Z
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) February 3, 2022
Team USA had started the Olympics as the favorites, sweeping Canada in the inaugural women’s ice hockey tournament in 1998. Since then, it has been a heart-racing match with Canada as five of their next six games were decided by one goal. Two went beyond regulation. With how close the games are, a bet online on the underdogs is warranted.
Canada vs. United States Head-to-Head
Canada leads the Olympic rivalry 5-3. The United States has not beaten Canada outside of the shootout since 1998.
In recent meetings, these arch-rivals have alternated dominating one another other, with Canada sweeping the 2021 IIHF World Championships and My Why Tour four games to two. Team USA had won eight of their last 13 games prior to this, which included a 4-1 edge in the Canada-USA series of 2019-20.
Canada at United States Prediction
Something about the Olympics makes this Canada-United States rivalry even more heated. While Canada has the edge in recent history, Team USA has a bit more continuity and is sounder on the back end. The online sports betting odds favor Canada, but this is a “dog or pass” situation, especially considering how close their games get.
But other than the side, bet on the under even though the total dropped from 5½ to 4½ goals. The last seven Olympic meetings between the rivals resulted in five goals or fewer. Goals will be few and memorable here.
