Welcome back to another edition of hockey predictions from us folks here at Last Word on Hockey! Unlike normal, this time we aren’t looking at NHL games, but rather those games for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off best-on-best tournament. Today, our predictions series brings you the opening game of this tournament as Team Sweden will be in Montreal, Quebec to take on the home Team Canada side. If you didn’t wear your excited hat today, be sure to read along as we get the blood flowing for you.
Team Canada Predictions vs Team Sweden from the Bell Centre in Montreal
Start Time: 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV Coverage: Sportsnet, ESPN
The last time these two teams faced each other, could be argued was the last best-on-best hockey meeting. Yes, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey was considered best-on-best hockey. However, the likes of Colton Parayko, Nathan MacKinnon, and Connor McDavid suited up for an opponent that go around, the 23-and-under Team North America. Therefore, when Canada defeated Sweden 3-0, to capture the gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, it was the last time Team Canada’s best faced off in a game. Sweden’s 2016 team would have been their best roster. But hey, enough semantics, let’s talk business.
Does Canada Have this One in the Bag Already?
Team Canada did survive somewhat of a scare, as captain Sidney Crosby‘s status was up in the air. Conversely, all of Canada can breath a collective sigh of relief, after Monday’s announcement that he is good to go. Now, it’s time to focus on the greatness that is this Team Canada lineup.
Team Canada Lines and Injury Notes Ahead of Wednesday’s Tourney Opener
If you look at the leading scorers since the 2020 calendar year, the Team Canada lineup is riddled with players. Of the top-24 scorers since then, seven are on the Canadian lineup. Besides the previously mentioned McDavid, MacKinnon, and Crosby, Mitch Marner, Brayden Point, Cale Makar, and Sam Reinhart are on there too. Two Canadians didn’t even make the team in Mark Scheifele and Steven Stamkos. Besides the top-guns upfront, guys like head coach Jon Cooper‘s own Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli are sure to provide the fuel for this team through all four lines.
As for the defence, the squad is very responsible. A pairing of Makar with his Colorado Avalanche teammate Devon Toews will be excellent at shutting down the Team Sweden attack. Behind them, a pairing of Shea Theodore and Drew Doughty is as steady as they come. There’s not much for holes on this Team Canada lineup, and Sweden will have to brace themselves for sustained pressure.
In net, it was announced yesterday that Jordan Binnington gets the game one assignment. So far, he’s 15-19-4 on the season with a 2.89 GAA and an .896 SV%. Moreover, Binnington’s numbers are none-too-shining, but then again, either are his St. Louis Blues team as a whole. Binner is known to raise his game, such as capturing the Stanley Cup as a starter in his rookie campaign.
Jon Cooper announced that Jordan Binnington will start Game 1 for Team Canada tomorrow 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/2DWmMWVT2O
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 11, 2025
Team Sweden Are No Slouches
Make no mistake, these four teams, including Sweden, make this a very intriguing tourney. Anytime a roster can boast the likes of Erik Karlsson, Victor Hedman, Filip Forsberg, and William Nylander, you put yourself in contention. Remember our list of the top-24 from before, Nylander finds himself somewhere between Crosby and Point in that seeding. Sweden does have the high-end skill, but will it be able to compete against Team Canada?
Guys like William Karlsson and Lucas Raymond help to round out their attack. If Sweden can play a smart game, and somehow prevent the Canadian attack from coming in waves, they will make this one difficult for Canada.
In net is likely where Sweden has an advantage over Canada. They are a well-rounded trio, with youth, individual success, and a veteran. Whoever gets the call in game one, whether it be Filip Gustavsson, Jacob Markstrom, or Linus Ullmark, they should prove a worthy test for Canada and for the other two teams as well later in the tournament.
Predictions for Team Canada Battling Team Sweden
Canada is hungry to show the world they are the best, and it starts tonight. Sweden is likely in the way of a freight train and as good as they themselves might be, Makar, McDavid, MacKinnon, and oh yeah, Sid the Kid, will be no match for them.
Prediction: Canada wins in regulation, 4-2.
For those interested in a prop bet, check this out. According to our score prediction, with Canada covering the spread, and it might be a bit of a stretch, but if MacKinnon, Crosby, McDavid, Marner, Makar, Nylander, and Forsberg all record just one point, it is paying nearly +3200. Think you can go bardown?
Main Photo: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
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