Team USA (0-0-0-0, 0 pts) vs. Team Finland (0-0-0-0, 0 pts)
Venue: Bell Centre
Date: Thursday, February 13
Time: 8:00 pm EST
TV: ESPN+/ESPN/SN/TVAS
DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
Team USA: -1.5 ML -298
Team Finland +1.5 ML +240
O/U 5.5
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Team USA News & Notes:
The United States is the favorite to win the tournament. They have the most complete team in the tournament and despite losing Quinn Hughes they still have some solid blue line play. The offense will be a lot of fun to watch as this team can seemingly score at will with the names they have. The goaltending will be the key with the reigning Vezina Trophy winner in net, in Connor Hellebuyck.
Team Finland News & Notes:
Finland is a big underdog in this tournament, but they are a team that can’t be overlooked. Losing Miro Heiskanen weakens them on defense, but they have some talent offensively. The question is how the goaltending will perform with a unit led by Juuse Saros, but they also have Kevin Lankinen who has had a good season as well and that’s with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen likely to be scratched to start the tournament.
Team USA Projected Lines
Connor-Eichel-M.Tkachuk
Guentzel-Matthews-J.Hughes
Boldy-Miller-B.Tkachuk
Nelson-Trocheck-Larkin
Slavin-Fox
Werenski-McAvoy
Hanifin-Faber
Hellebuyck
Oettinger
Power-Play
Matthews-J.Hughes-Eichel
M.Tkachuk-Fox
Connor-Guentzel-Boldy
B.Tkachuk-Werenski
Team Finland Projected Lines
Lehkonen-Barkov-Rantanen
Hintz-Aho-Laine
Teravainen-Haula-Armia
Luostarinen-Lundell-Granlund
Mikkola-Lindell
Vaakanainen-Matinpalo
Maatta-Jokiharju
Saros
Lankinen
Power-Play
Barkov Aho-Hintz-Rantanen
Laine-Barkov
Lehkonen-Lundell-Teravainen
Granlund-Lindell
Players To Watch:
Team USA
Kyle Connor and Jack Eichel lead Team USA in points this season as they’ve recorded 69 points each. Connor has 30 goals and 39 assists while Eichel has 19 goals and 50 assists. Jack Hughes this season has 65 points on 24 goals and 41 assists. Zach Werenski leads Team USA on defense in points with 59 on 17 goals and 42 assists.
Team Finland
Mikko Rantanen leads Finland in points this season with 66 on 26 goals and 40 assists, since being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes he has a goal and an assist. Sebastian Aho this season has 55 points on 20 goals and 35 assists. Mikael Granlund this season has 49 points on 15 goals and 34 assists, since being acquired by Dallas he has four assists. Esa Lindell leads Finland’s defenseman in points this season with 19 on four goals and 15 assists.
Injury Report:
Team USA
F Chris Kreider – Scratch
D Jake Sanderson – Scratch
G Jeremy Swayman – Scratch
Team Finland
F Kaapo Kakko – Scratch
D Juuso Valimaki – Scratch
G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen – Scratch
Next Game
Team USA: February 15 vs. Canada
Team Finland: February 15 vs. Sweden
ITR 31: Let Them Fight – Inside The Rink
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