Nordic rivals Sweden and Finland will meet at 6:10 a.m. ET on Friday in Group B action for the men’s Olympic hockey tournament.
Sweden is receiving the third-shortest Olympic odds to win gold (+750) while Finland is trading just behind in fourth, with hockey odds of +1100.
Finland vs Sweden Odds, Spread, Over Under
| Country | Spread (Puck line) | Total (O/U) | Moneyline |
| Finland | +1.5 (-175) | 5.5 (+105) | +154 |
| Sweden | -1.5 (+130) | 5.5 (-139) | -208 |
Finland vs Sweden Prediction
I’m predicting Finland, the betting underdog, upends Sweden in their second game of the preliminary round.
We haven’t heard anything about William Nylander’s status. Even if he plays, the Finns have one palpable advantage that I believe will help them upset their biggest rivals’ familiarity.
Finland’s top five skaters are current or former members of the Dallas Stars. Team captain Mikael Granlund played for the Stars last season before d
He’ll play on the first line with Mikko Rantanen and Roope Hintz, both of whom are two of the Stars’ best players.
Their top defensive pairing also plies their trade in Big D, with Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell forming arguably the tournament’s best twosome.
For all the talent Sweden possesses, it doesn’t have many elite goal scorers. That short list consists of Filip Forsberg, Adrian Kempe, and Nylander, whose status remains unclear.
Prediction: Finland ML (+154)
Score prediction: Finland 3, Sweden 2
Finland vs Sweden Best Bets
Filip Gustavsson is arguably the best goaltender in the competition, and I expect him to have a sensational tournament.
My point about Sweden’s lack of top-tier goal scorers bears even more influence in backing the Under. Finland, meanwhile, is well set up to defend.
While balanced and well-rounded, Finland’s goal-scoring prowess drops off significantly after the top six forwards. It should set up a battle between teams well-versed in playing tight-checking affairs.
Best bet: Under 5.5 goals (-139)
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