When it comes to the Women’s Hockey Tournament, 2022 Winter Olympics odds have been spot on thus far. Thursday in Beijing (Wednesday at 11:10 p.m. ET on NBC), underdog Team USA faces Canada with the gold medal on the line.
These two teams, the favorites coming into the Beijing Games, have dominated the sport for years, and there’s little indication that will change anytime soon. Since Women’s Hockey became an Olympic sport in 1998, the two nations are the only ones to win gold.
Team USA won the inaugural gold in ’98 before Canada won it the next four Olympics – beating the U.S. in the gold-medal game three times. Canada defeated Sweden for gold in 2006. The Americans snapped the skid in ’18, beating Canada in a shootout.
The tournament has gone according to chalk thus far, with Canada beating Team USA, 4-2, in the preliminary round.
ESPN.com’s preview sums it up succinctly: “A rivalry filled with equal parts artistry and animosity.”
“It’s a moment to empty the tank. It’s what we worked so hard for,” Kendall Coyne Schofield said, according to ESPN. “It’s been a tough year. Everyone’s been so resilient through the pandemic, the ups and downs, the postponements. This is what we came here to do.”
2022 Winter Olympics Betting Odds: Team USA Vs. Canada
The sports betting market prices Canada as a 0.5-1.5 goal favorite across the board to regain the gold medal, with varying degrees of vig. FanDuel has the spread at 0.5, BetMGM has it at 1 goal, while DraftKings and Caesars have Canada laying 1.5 goals. BetRivers and PointsBet are offering just moneyline wagers, with Canada the favorite.
FanDuel has Canada at -0.5 (-128) and Team USA +0.5 (+102). Canada is -205 on the moneyline, with the Americans +164.
BetMGM has Canada -1 (+105) and -200 on the moneyline. Team USA is +1 (-135) with the moneyline +160.
Caesars has Canada laying 1.5 goals (+135) and -210 on the moneyline. The Americans are catching 1.5 (-155) and +180 on the moneyline.
DraftKings also has Canada at -1.5 (+140) and -210 on the moneyline. Team USA is +1.5 (-160) and +170 on the moneyline.
BetRivers has Team USA +175 and Canada -215 on the moneyline, while PointsBet has Team USA +170 and Canada at -223.
The Canadians want to prove the oddsmakers have had it right from the outset.
“Every time we go against them, we want to make a statement and show them that they don’t belong on the ice with us,” Canada forward Natalie Spooner said after Canada’s preliminary-round win over Team USA.
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