(Photo by Eric Bolte — Imagn Images) Here’s a 4 Nations Face-Off fun fact as the calendar reaches Presidents Day: The president is the head of the government in only two of the event’s competing countries.
Those would be the United States and Finland, who could meet for the championship Thursday night should the Finns defeat Canada in regulation in a Monday matinee in Boston.
Team USA already has clinched a berth into the title game. Canada—led by a prime minister—can earn a rematch with its neighbors to the south with a regulation win of its own, and it still is possible for Sweden—with a king and a prime minister—to skate for it all. That scenario only would enter the equation if either Canada or Finland prevail in overtime or a shootout. The Swedes would get in by beating the Americans in regulation later Monday.
In today’s Best Bets, we look at a couple of plays from Canada-Finland and a nightcap of a full day of men’s and women’s college basketball. Here we go.
CANADA VS. FINLAND
Finnish goaltender Kevin Lankinen seized a chance to shine on Saturday, stopping 21 shots to help his countrymen to a 4-3 overtime victory against Sweden. Lankinen entered the lineup after Juuse Saros stumbled in Finland’s tournament opener, a 6-1 loss to the United States.
“These are the kinds of opportunities that you dream of,” Lankinen said. “You prepare so hard that whenever an opportunity shows up, you just go out and play. That was kind of my mindset (Saturday). I felt better as the game went on.”
Finland tightened its defense against the Swedes as it adjusted to life without injured blueliners Miro Heiskanen and Jani Hakanpaa. While it’s been some time — and even preceded a global pandemic—Lankinen boasts international success against the Canadians. He made 43 saves in a 3-1 victory in the gold-medal game of the 2019 IIHF World Championships in Slovakia.
Canada-Finland looks like a tight affair with Lankinen primed to start again. Canada coach Jon Cooper wasn’t clear Saturday whether Jordan Binnington would start in goal again or if backup Adin Hill would get a shot.
Under 6.5 goals, -144 (FanDuel)
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After Team Canada and Team USA showed their Elton John fandom (“Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting”) in the opening seconds, Connor McDavid put Canada on top with a goal after 5:31.
McDavid also assisted on Canada’s first goal of the tournament Wednesday against Sweden, and he knows a few things about getting the better of Lankinen. A star for the Edmonton Oilers, McDavid had a goal and two assists against Lankinen and the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 9.
With Canada under heavy pressure to win, one of its top stars delivers.
Connor McDavid anytime goal-scorer, +160 (BetMGM)
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NO. 13 ARIZONA AT BAYLOR
Wildcats leading scorer Caleb Love has fared as his teammates have during Arizona’s two-game losing streak. Which is to say, poorly from beyond the arc.
Love shot a combined 1-for-15 from deep in narrow losses at Kansas State on Tuesday and against No. 6 Houston on Saturday. His six-point effort in the K-State game matched his season low.
Arizona slumped to 7-for-45 shooting from 3-point range as a team during those defeats, but coach Tommy Lloyd was quick to say, “I’m not telling anything crazy: We’re not the best 3-point shooting team you’ve ever seen.”
While the versatile Love also can be effective attacking the basket, Baylor has had success keeping him bottled up. The Bears limited Love to 3-for-10 shooting and eight points in Arizona’s 81-70 home win on Jan. 14.
We see the trend continuing.
Caleb Love under 16.5 points, -104 (FanDuel)
