Olympic Hockey Predictions and Best Bets:

Here are my picks for Tuesday’s Olympic Hockey action.

Germany vs. France

Germany (-3,+105) vs France (+3, -140) – Total 6.5 (Over, -130)

6:10 am ET 

It’s tough for me to get a gauge on Germany after losing to Latvia in overtime and to the United States 5-1 in their final game of the preliminary round. Germany’s one win came over Denmark 3-1, and they were held without a goal in the third period. Germany has just scored seven goals through three games, while France, with just one current NHL player on their roster, has scored five times but has given up 20 goals in the three games, including the 10-2 drubbing by Canada on Sunday. The winner of this game will play Slovakia in the quarterfinals. 

Germany’s Tim Stutzle (Ottawa) is tied for the tournament lead with four goals, while Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton) has just one goal. I will take a shot that Draisaitl finds the back of the net with at least two goals. Josh Samanski (Edmonton) and Frederik Tiffels play on Germany’s top line with Leon Draisaitl, and their anytime goal props have good value. I do like Germany to win the first period as well. On paper, Germany has an opportunity to explode offensively in this contest. I can see Germany putting up a five-spot against France. I will take a shot with France’s leading goal scorer Louis Boudon (two goals) to find the back of the net. 

Olympic Hockey Predictions and Best Bets:
Germany 1st period -1/2 goal (-140) – .50 units
Germany Team Total Over 4.5 (-130) – 1 unit
Tim Stutzle anytime goal (-115) – 1 unit
Tim Stutzle Over 1.5 goals (+475) – .10 units
Leon Draisaitl two goals or more (+260) – .10
Josh Samanski anytime goal (+250) – .05 units
Frederik Tiffels anytime goal (+330) – .05 units
Louis Boudon anytime goal (+400) – .05 units

Switzerland vs. Italy

Switzerland (-3.5, -125) vs Italy (3.5, -105) Total 6.5 (Over, -134)

6:10 am ET

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This should be a game that the Swiss should win handily. Italy was held to two goals or fewer in all three games and was outscored 19-4, highlighted by an 11-0 pummeling by Finland. Switzerland is led up front by Timo Meier (New Jersey), who has three goals through the first three games, and Pius Suter (St. Louis), who has found the back of the net twice. Vancouver native Matt Bradley, who plays for HC Bolzano in the Italian league, has scored two of his country’s four goals in the Olympics. 

At (-145) for an anytime goal (Bet365), there is some value on Meier to score again on Tuesday. Pius Suter and Sven Andrighetto are both priced at (+210, FanDuel) for an anytime goal. Andrighetto is yet to find the back of the net, but he is second on the team to Meier with 13 shots on goal. One thing that may help Italy in this game is that they will have had two days to recover from the drubbing by Finland, but in the end, I believe they get shut down by Switzerland.

Olympic Hockey Predictions and Best Bets:
Timo Meier anytime goal (-145) – .25 units
Sven Andrighetto anytime goal (+210) – .05 units
Pius Suter anytime goal (+210) -.10 units
Matt Bradley anytime goal (+440) – .05 units
Italy Over ½ goal 1st period (BetMGM) +155 – .15 units

Czechia vs. Denmark

Czechia (-1.5, -130) vs Denmark (+1.5, +110) – Total 6 (Over, -118)

10:40 am ET

Maybe I overvalued Czechia coming into the tournament, but for me, they have been one of the more disappointing teams after the first three games of Men’s Hockey play. I did not expect Czechia to win Group A. They are not better than Canada, but I did expect them to defeat Switzerland, who beat them 4-3 in overtime. Denmark also finished the opening round with just one win, but I did not have high expectations. This is a country with just three NHL forwards and no current NHLer on the blueline, but they do have goalie Freddie Andersen (Carolina). Both Czechia and Denmark saw two of their three games have a combined six goals or more. 

Czechia’s David Pastrnak has just one goal through the first three games, but if his success against Denmark goalie Freddie Andersen (14 goals, 23 NHL games) means anything, he should find the back of the net in this contest. With a nickname like Pasta and the Olympic Games in Italy, how can we not be on him to score in this game? Martin Necas (Colorado) leads the Czechs in scoring with three goals and five points. He has four goals in his four career games against Andersen. BetMGM has the best price for a Necas goal that I was able to find. Nick Olesen has scored three times for Denmark. BetMGM has the best price for his anytime goal.

Olympic Hockey Predictions and Best Bets:
Over 6 (-118) – 2 units
David Pastrnak anytime goal (-102) – .25 units
Martin Necas anytime goal (+140) – .25 units
Filip Chlapik anytime goal (+270) – .05 units
Nick Olesen anytime goal (+500) – .05 units

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