{"id":462486,"date":"2025-02-15T09:02:02","date_gmt":"2025-02-15T14:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=462486"},"modified":"2025-02-15T09:02:02","modified_gmt":"2025-02-15T14:02:02","slug":"4-nations-face-off-predictions-finland-vs-sweden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/02\/15\/4-nations-face-off-predictions-finland-vs-sweden\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Nations Face-off Predictions: Finland vs Sweden"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The 4 Nations Face-Off has begun! We&#8217;re now onto the second games four each of the four teams.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> The tournament continues on Saturday, with Finland and Sweden trying to bounce back from opening-game setbacks. Let&#8217;s take a look at this matchup between Scandinavian rivals in this dose of 4 Nations Face-Off Predicitons.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">4 Nations Face-Off<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Finland vs Sweden<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Time:<\/strong> 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where:<\/strong> Bell Centre in Montreal<\/p>\n<p><strong>TV:<\/strong> ABC; Sportsnet; ESPN+<\/p>\n<p>Both teams are coming off losses in the first game of the tournament. However, Sweden appears to be in better shape than Finland. The Swedes got off to a slow start against Team Canada. However, they rallied and forced overtime before <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/marnemi01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-14_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mitch Marner<\/a> turned back Sweden&#8217;s rally with an overtime-goal.<\/p>\n<p>Finland started off well against the United States thanks to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/02\/10\/nhl-rumours-future-of-buffalo-sabres-depth-forward\/\" target=\"_self\">Buffalo Sabres<\/a> defenceman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/j\/jokihhe01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-14_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Henri Jokiharju<\/a>. However, the bottom dropped out for the Finns and they let up six straight goals to the Americans en route to a 6-1 loss.<\/p>\n<p>Both countries are trying to get some sort of momentum before heading into the final game of group play. Here&#8217;s a look at the storylines in this round of 4 Nations Face-Off predictions.<\/p>\n<h4>The Finland Story<\/h4>\n<p>Finland started strong, but a four-goal third period doomed it to a comprehensive defeat. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/sarosju01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-14_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Juuse Saros<\/a> was under siege in the third period as their strong start was all four naught. The<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/01\/12\/nhl-rumours-nashville-predators-veteran-forward-trade-possibilties\/\" target=\"_self\"> Nashville Predators<\/a> netminder let in all six goals in the first game against Team USA.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/02\/10\/canucks-general-manager-patrik-allvin-can-take-a-break\/\" target=\"_self\">Vancouver Canucks<\/a> goalie Kevin Lankinen<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/nhl\/article\/canucks-kevin-lankinen-to-start-for-finland-vs-sweden-at-4-nations-face-off\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> is the confirmed starter<\/a> for this game after Saros was shaky in the opener. However, always check social media for any last-minute news.<\/p>\n<p>Finland&#8217;s defence will have to play better if it wants to stand a chance. Many could tell how much they miss injured <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/01\/30\/dallas-stars-defenceman-miro-heiskanen-injured\/\" target=\"_self\">Dallas Stars<\/a> defender <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/h\/heiskmi01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-14_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Miro Heiskanen<\/a>. Players like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/maattol01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-14_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Olli Maatta<\/a> will have to do better against Sweden&#8217;s strong forward group.<\/p>\n<h4>The Sweden Story<\/h4>\n<p>Sweden came out flat against Canada&#8217;s devastating attack. However, the Swedes withstood the storm and clawed their way back into the game. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/k\/kempead01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-14_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Adrian Kempe<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/e\/eriksjo02.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-14_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joel Eriksson Ek<\/a> each tallied third-period goals in order to force the extra session. However, Marner would help Canada escape with the 4-3 overtime victory.<\/p>\n<p>The Swedes will have to get off to a better start in order to get the win over their old rivals. Kempe and the Swedes are hoping build off the comeback in order to get a better matchup in the semifinals.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/01\/15\/nhl-rumours-minnesota-wild-trade-deadline-plans\/\" target=\"_self\">Minnesota Wild<\/a> netminder <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/g\/gustafi01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-14_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Filip Gustavsson<\/a> is the confirmed starter for this game. He started the first game against Canada and stopped 24 shots in the loss.<\/p>\n<h3>Prediction<\/h3>\n<p>Both teams are hungry for a win and there&#8217;s also some history between the two teams. However, Sweden seems more prepared to rebound after their loss. Finland has to pick itself off the mat if doesn&#8217;t want to finish fourth.<\/p>\n<h3>Prop Bets of the Night<\/h3>\n<p>We close out our 4 Nations Face-Off predictions with some prop bets. For Finland, take <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/barkoal01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-14_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Aleksander Barkov<\/a> to get the over on 0.5 points. On the Sweden side, take <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/n\/nylanwi01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-14_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">William Nylander<\/a> to score a goal.<\/p>\n<p><em>Main photo by: David Kirouac-Imagn Images<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-273541d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-content\" data-id=\"273541d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-content.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<p><em><strong>Please play responsibly. Check for your local rules and age restrictions. Some jurisdictions require ages 21+. Have a gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b5d790 elementor-author-box--avatar-yes elementor-author-box--name-yes elementor-author-box--biography-yes elementor-author-box--link-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-author-box\" data-id=\"3b5d790\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"author-box.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<div class=\"elementor-author-box\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The 4 Nations Face-Off has begun! We&#8217;re now onto the second games four each of the four teams. The tournament continues on Saturday, with Finland and Sweden trying to bounce back from opening-game setbacks. Let&#8217;s take a look at this matchup between Scandinavian rivals in this dose of 4 Nations Face-Off Predicitons. 4 Nations Face-Off [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2352,"featured_media":462488,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8091,4547,304,4548,4524],"tags":[8062,2433,4803,5726,1102],"class_list":["post-462486","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-4-nations-face-off","category-hockey","category-international-hockey","category-nhl","category-nhl-predictions","tag-4-nations-face-off","tag-filip-gustavsson","tag-kevin-lankinen","tag-team-finland","tag-team-sweden"],"modified_by":"Dan Mount, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/462486","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2352"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=462486"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/462486\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":462492,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/462486\/revisions\/462492"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/462488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=462486"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=462486"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=462486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}