Team USA advanced to the 2024 World Junior Hockey Championship final after a frantic 3-2 win over Finland in the semifinals. The Americans now face Sweden in the World Juniors final on Friday at 1:30 p.m. ET with live coverage on NHL Network.
The championship game will be played at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden. Let’s examine Sweden vs. USA odds and predictions.
Sweden vs. USA odds: Puck line, moneyline & total
BetMGM is among the top-rated sportsbooks dealing Sweden vs. USA odds. Check out the betting line for the final here:
- Puck line: Sweden +1 (-185), USA -1 (+135)
- Moneyline: Sweden (+120), USA (-155)
- Total: 5.5 OVER (-105), UNDER (-125)
Team USA is seeking its sixth gold medal in the World Juniors after winning its most recent in 2021.
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Sweden betting news: Swedes seek first gold medal at World Juniors in more than a decade
Sweden conceded an early goal to Czechia in Thursday’s semifinal, but stormed back to win, 5-2. Vancouver Canucks prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki scored a pair of goals including the game winner. He earned Sweden’s player-of-the-game honors for his efforts.
Sweden has now won 15 of its last 16 games against Czechia at the World Juniors. The Swedes opened as the pre-tournament favorite, but those odds have flipped to Team USA. Sweden will try to win its third gold medal at the World Juniors and the first since 2012.
Goaltender Hugo Havelid, who’s eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft, made 23 saves in the semifinal win over Czechia. Havelid has played a big part in Sweden’s success. He’s posted four wins that have included two shutouts. Havelid’s metrics have been stellar with a 0.98 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage in his four starts.
Sweden’s only loss in the tournament came against Finland, 5-4. The undefeated Americans enter the final as the top-ranked team, but host Sweden will obviously enjoy home-ice advantage.
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Team USA betting news: Americans overcome two-goal deficit to advance to final
The Americans boast a perfect record in this year’s World Juniors, but Team USA was severely tested by Czechia in a shootout win and in the quarterfinal round versus Finland. The Finns dominated Team USA in the opening period en route to a 2-0 lead.
Here are the results for Team USA entering the final against Sweden:
- USA 4 Norway 1
- USA 11 Switzerland 3
- USA 4 Czechia 3 (shootout)
- USA 10 Slovakia 2
- USA 7 Latvia 2
- USA 3 Finland 2
Team USA’s Cutter Gauthier roofed the game winner against Finland on a power play with a little over three minutes remaining in regulation. Check it out here:
Cutter. Gauthier. 🚨 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/v09HsZT2i4
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 4, 2024
Seven of the last 10 games between Team USA and Finland in the World Juniors have now been decided by one goal. It was just Gauthier’s second goal of the tournament, but he’s been the top playmaker with a team-high nine assists.
Gabe Perreault (Boston College) led the Americans with two goals and an assist in the 7-2 quarterfinal win over Latvia. He was a first round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and selected by the New York Rangers at No. 23.
Canadiens prospect Lane Hutson and Devils prospect Seamus Casey are the top defensemen for the U.S. After giving up a pair of goals in the first period, U.S. goalie Trey Augustine stopped all of the next 18 shots that followed from Finland.
Sweden vs. USA World Juniors final prediction
The Americans faced their first real dose of adversity in the semifinal, but responded well in the comeback win over Finland. Sweden owns home-ice advantage, but Team USA has the most talented team in the tournament. Consider betting the U.S. on the moneyline.
Pick: USA -155 at BetMGM
