Finland vs Canada: The Maple Leafs to prove stronger in a tight game

Finland beat Canada 4-3 in their only previous Euro Hockey Tour game. Will the Maple Leafs be able to get revenge? We predict that Claude Julien’s side will be closer to success this time!

The Finland national team is the current vice-champion of the world. Jukka Jalonen’s squad continue to play outstandingly at major international tournaments, but their record at the Euro Hockey Tour is not always impeccable. Nevertheless, they’re doing quite well this year. In their home game for the Karjala Cup, they managed two wins and one loss. At the Channel One Cup, the Blue and Whites also started, beating the local Czech national team 3-2 in the O2 Arena in Prague, albeit in a shootout. If the NHL doesn’t let their players go to the Olympics, the Finnish national team will be one of the main contenders for the title.

The Canadian national team is the reigning world champion, but a very different squad, made up of players from European championships, went to the Channel One Cup. Some of them only got to know each other in the locker room before the tournament. Still, the Maple Leafs began to establish a rapport as early as the first game against Russia, narrowly missing the lead by three goals in the third period. However, they eventually lost 3-4. But for the second game, Claude Julien’s charges were already in good form and overcame Sweden 3-1 without too many problems. The current Canadian squad is vastly superior to the squad that played at the Olympics four years ago.

Team Canada is a team that was only assembled in the current lineup before the start of the First Channel Cup but gradually began to progress throughout the tournament, so by the third game from the Maple Leafs can be expected to be a high-quality and meaningful game. Finland played well against the Czech Republic in Prague, winning in a shootout 3-2, but the home team dominated most of the game but failed to convert their chances in goal. Claude Julien’s team looks more skilful, so they will make their chances come true, and you can bet on Canada to win the match for 2.00.

The Canadian national team has scored three goals each in their opening Channel One Cup games, while their defence has made significant progress as the Russians have conceded four goals and the Swedes have conceded just one. The Maple Leafs cannot be expected to falter in the upcoming game either, as Claude Julien is gradually beginning to build a solid defensive formation with the Olympics in mind. Finland is an extremely pragmatic team in its own right, so Total Under 4.5 goals for 2.90 seems like a good bet.

Mat Robinson is an older hockey player in his eighth season in the KHL. In the offseason, the experienced defenseman moved from CSKA to SKA, where he continues to spend significant playing time on the ice. He is useful near the net and while attacking, having already scored 8 points (2 pucks + 6 assists) in 27 games. His quality hockey led to him being called up by Claude Julien for the Channel One Cup, where he credited three assisted goals in two games. In such a situation, it’s worth looking at Mat Robinson’s Total Over 0.5-point for 2.55.