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00:00We welcome you to our number two live right here on this Thursday morning on the early line on SportsGrid.
00:07But on this Thursday night, all eyes will be on Boston inside TD Garden in the Four Nations Faceoff Championship bout
00:15between the bitter border rivals, the United States and Canada.
00:19So to get you set with everything you need to know for what has been a sensational and fun tournament in the Four Nations Faceoff,
00:27the NHL's Pete Jensen joins us bright and early right from the jump in our number two to get you set.
00:34Pete, as always, we appreciate the time. Thanks for being here ahead of what should be a great matchup tonight,
00:40the U.S. and Canada for the championship in the Four Nations.
00:45Absolutely, guys. Anytime, especially for something like this, right?
00:49The drama is going to unfold one way or another tonight.
00:53I expect it to be a tight game, have the feel of a game seven of the Stanley Cup playoffs,
00:59but even better because it's two nations, bitter rivals and a lot on the line tonight for these players
01:06who have really exceeded everybody's expectations in terms of how much they care for this tournament.
01:13It's been amazing to see, refreshing to see for all the sports fans out there.
01:17And this game has plenty of allure, whether you're a diehard hockey fan, which it's a dream scenario,
01:23or if you're just a casual sports fan looking for something to get jacked up about.
01:28For the name on the front of the sweater tonight in the pride of country inside TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts,
01:36the United States on home ice, taking on Canada, of course, on Saturday, Pete in round robin action,
01:44the United States up in Montreal victorious with a 3-1 victory over their Canadian foes.
01:51A lot of vitriol from the very start, a ton of fights basically as the puck was dropped.
01:57So as we look at the odds for tonight's title game, even on the money line, minus 110 on both sides.
02:05The Americans a slight favorite in that puck line.
02:08It's plus 235.
02:10If you think the United States could win by multiple goals, five and a half, is that over under?
02:16Pete, we'll get into the game breakdown, but let's start with the atmosphere.
02:20It was raucous.
02:21There was some hate early on Saturday.
02:24What do you anticipate tonight in the championship game in Boston?
02:29This is going to be crazy.
02:30It's a hot ticket.
02:31There are some celebrities that are going to be there.
02:35It's going to be the real deal in terms of that high intensity, totally everything on the line, everything up for grabs.
02:44These guys have not played prior to Saturday.
02:47They haven't played in a U.S.-Canada game of this magnitude in almost a decade.
02:53And I even saw something someone was saying, and I believe it.
02:56It's the most important U.S.-Canada game or most important U.S.A. international hockey game on American soil since 1980.
03:06Miracle on ice.
03:07Maybe that's a little overblown, but maybe it's not.
03:11I mean, people are really thirsty for this intensity.
03:14It's going to be a lot of fun.
03:16And one angle I like from a betting lens to maybe take advantage of that, we've seen two of the six games in this tournament go to overtime.
03:25Another one almost did that last game when Finland almost came back and tied it against Canada.
03:30So Canada's played in some really tight games.
03:33You could go three-way money line and just sit back and watch the drama unfold and not have to sweat who's going to win or lose.
03:41As long as it gets to overtime, you'd win that.
03:44Pete, let's take a look here at the game itself because we'll get into the X's and O's, who's going to win, and how many goals possibly in the MVP markets.
03:51But I need to know this from you tonight.
03:52With Team USA, a lot of bodies banged up, and this game means so much.
03:56Any roster changes, expectations, or what have you been hearing for the past couple days with some of these lines?
04:04Right, so it sounds like the Kachuk brothers, I mean, those guys are gamers, super warriors for the U.S.,
04:11even beyond just the scraps that went down at the beginning of that game against Canada.
04:16These guys are high-shot volume guys, guys that crowd the front of the net.
04:21Brady Kachuk has never played in a Stanley Cup playoff game in his Ottawa Senators career,
04:27so I think everything is indicating that he's going to be in for this game.
04:31Austin Matthews missed the last game for precautionary reasons, but sounds like he's good to go.
04:37Quinn Hughes, unfortunately, it looked like he was going to be a surprise addition potentially,
04:42but he is not traveling from Vancouver to join USA because he has not been medically cleared.
04:48At least that's the latest update on that front.
04:51Kael McCarr, who missed Saturday's game against the U.S. when the U.S. beat Canada,
04:56he's playing for Canada with McKinnon and McDavid.
04:59He is back in the lineup, and he led Canada in ice time the last game.
05:04He's an all-world defenseman, so that is a matchup that could maybe tilt the scale for Canada to have some bounce-back appeal here.
05:12But Charlie McAvoy, unfortunately, who was a physical force in that Saturday game,
05:16he is out with a shoulder injury and had to receive some medical treatment and stuff,
05:23so he's out for the game. That's unfortunate for the U.S.
05:26Pete, when you look at the guys on the ice tonight, of course it is as star-studded as you could ever hope on both sides,
05:34for Canada and for the United States.
05:37So as we look at the prop component tonight in the X's and O's, key matchups of this list and maybe some others,
05:44which player steps up on maybe the most significant stage they have seen in their international hockey career?
05:51The goalie matchup is crazy because almost any day of the week you would pick,
05:56whether you're doing fantasy or props or betting on games,
06:01you'd pick Connor Hellebuck over Jordan Binnington almost every day of the week.
06:05But this comes down to one single game, and it brings back memories of when Jordan Binnington beat the Boston Bruins
06:12in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2019 on the road at TD Garden, kind of ripped their hearts out.
06:20So he's back to a familiar crease in that regard, and he's the X factor for me for Team Canada.
06:27He's actually been slightly better than Hellebuck in high danger save percentage during this tournament,
06:33so it's been a surprise. I thought they would play Aiden Hill a little bit more,
06:37but it's been all Binnington for Canada, and he's been better than expected.
06:41And then in terms of some of the other props, I like the Kachuk brothers to get on the board.
06:46You can get Brady Kachuk for a plus number for a point, even better number for him to score a goal,
06:53again, playing with his brother Matthew and also Jack Eichel, so three studs on that line for sure.
06:59Pete, taking a look at that game played on Saturday, did go to the under at a 3-1 final.
07:04We're taking a look here at the FanBull Sportsbook. Over 5.5 is actually at a plus 110 price.
07:07Are we looking for a higher energy, higher scoring game, or similar to what we actually saw on Saturday?
07:14I wouldn't be surprised to see it open up a little bit, especially with all the firepower that Canada has,
07:19and then maybe if the U.S. responds once or twice and it turns into topsy-turvy,
07:24I'm not going to say it's going to be crazy high scoring.
07:27You know how these Game 7 type games go, tight checking, everybody's nervous and stuff like that,
07:32but could I see it maybe go to overtime at 3-3?
07:36I wouldn't be surprised at all, especially with, again, this is the first time this tournament
07:42that we're seeing like McKinnon, Makar, McDavid, Crosby all on the ice together for Canada,
07:49so it's going to be a lot of fun. We had never seen that prior to the Four Nations face-off.
07:54And then there's Austin Matthews, there's Jack Hughes. Jack Hughes is due for a goal,
07:59even though his brother's not playing. No goals on 10 shots on goal in this tournament, so certainly due.
08:05The man for two on Saturday night up in Montreal, the pride of Omaha, Nebraska, Jake Edsel,
08:12who should be a big factor tonight as well. Pete, the Four Nations face-off MVP odds,
08:18Connor Hellebuck, the goaltender for the United States, plus 250 with the shortest number.
08:23Hellebuck did not play in the finale against Sweden in round robin action on Monday in Boston
08:29to preserve him for this final. Should be a big one tonight.
08:33And what a great game we will have inside TD Garden, so Pete Jensen,
08:37thank you for getting us ready for the Four Nations face-off championship tonight
08:41between the U.S. and Canada. More on the early line, comes your way up next.
08:47Live right here on the early line on Sports Grid.
08:50And on a Thursday, this monumental across the sports landscape.
08:54That's not the NBA returning from the All-Star break with a nine-game docket,
08:58but a Four Nations face-off and a championship bout tonight between the bitter border rivals in Boston.
09:05It's the United States and Canada. Of course, we could turn to one place in this final hour
09:11to handicap breakdown and get you ready for this matchup.
09:14That would be TV Tom Vecchio of Sports Grid live right here on TEL.
09:19Vecchio, every single angle of the Four Nations face-off championship till tonight
09:24between the Americans and the Canadians with you here in this segment.
09:28We are very pleased to have you here.
09:30I am beyond excited for tonight's game. I watched Miracle on Ice last night to get ready for this.
09:36I am fully on board right from puck drop.
09:39I will be on in-game live right as we get things started at 814 to get my final thoughts on that.
09:44But it's gonna be largely the same starting out by looking at the under.
09:48So as we start, Vecchio, you mentioned the under. Total at five and a half.
09:53These two teams played in a ferocious game on Saturday, the United States victorious 3-1,
09:59including a late third period goal from Jake Gensel, his second of the night on an empty net.
10:05You see the odds there. It is an even money line pick-up. Minus 110 on both sides.
10:11That total of five and a hook. Vecchio, we ask you for basically every game.
10:15Do you believe the odds will follow how the game is decided?
10:20Are we expecting a game with a razor-thin margin and relatively low scoring tonight in Boston?
10:26That's what we should be seeing. Yeah, lower scoring.
10:29The players coming into this are saying that, you know, it feels like a Stanley Cup game.
10:32It feels like a Stanley Cup Game 7, whatever it might be.
10:35We have a player like Jack Eichel who played, you know, won a Stanley Cup.
10:39He played in an NCAA final, which he didn't win.
10:41But he said this is like a game that has the highest level of emotion, highest level of intensity you could possibly have.
10:47So if we saw if we see any, any amount of scoring in the first period, as we saw a couple of nights ago,
10:53and this jumps up to six and a half, I don't think it'll get to seven and a half.
10:56But I will be willing to buy back in on the under six and a half, whatever might be,
10:59even if there's going to be a juice under six and a half minus 150.
11:02I'm still going to be looking to buy back in teams.
11:05Both teams, I should say, are going to be really, really tight to start things off.
11:08They're going to be dumping and chasing.
11:09I think we're going to see a lack of scoring chances, a lack of shots overall.
11:13Very close checking, staying in on the forward check.
11:16Like we may see both teams end with fewer than 10 shots in the first period.
11:20A clear lack of scoring, I think, is the way we should be anticipating this.
11:24Yeah, take a look at Saturday.
11:25I asked, you know, we had a guest on earlier, Pete Jensen from the NHL Networks.
11:28And, you know, are you taking anything here, Tom, out of games from Saturday
11:32that were played until tonight?
11:34Because obviously the team USA won, that was in Canada three to one.
11:37Do you look for that same sort of lower scoring?
11:39Because I know you're on the under, but are we getting that same sort of format
11:41where the goalies might dominate in this one?
11:43I think we will.
11:45And, you know, this would say, okay, if we're going to see lower scoring,
11:47do we turn to like a goalie save prop?
11:49I just don't know how many chances we're going to be seeing.
11:52Like we're going to see this as a full intensity playoff game, Stanley Cup game,
11:55where the players are going to be selling out to block every single shot.
11:58So, yes, can you take a shot on, you know, listen,
12:01make David a plus 220 for a goal or cross, plus, like these are lines
12:04we legitimately never get in.
12:06When it comes to points, you know, seeing Nathan McKinnon at minus 146,
12:10that may seem like a little bit of juice for some people,
12:12but McKinnon for one point, like in a normal regular season game,
12:16he's like minus 250 or minus 300 for one point.
12:18So you can take some shots with some players here or there,
12:21but I think this is a game that is clear, clear, under, under each
12:24and every time.
12:25The only thing,
12:26the only thing that will possibly send this over is if we get multiple empty
12:31net goals, not just one,
12:32but multiple empty net goals would be the only thing that sends this game
12:36over.
12:37A star studded affair, Vecchio, on both sides.
12:40You saw those big time players on the board.
12:42You can go up and down the list and well beyond the three options we gave you
12:46on either team and find one of the most recognizable names in the sport of
12:51hockey.
12:52In your estimation,
12:53who delivers on this monumental stage tonight inside TD Garden?
12:57It's gotta be Mr.
12:59Canada, Sidney Crosby.
13:00As much as I hate to say it,
13:02minus 128 is a, for one plus just one point is a very,
13:05very fair line.
13:06And obviously, you know, when he plays alongside Nathan McKinnon,
13:10the goal scoring potential from just McKinnon alone will put Crosby always in
13:14the spot to get an assist.
13:15And again, you know,
13:16we're talking about lines for Crosby that are normally minus 200 on a normal
13:19regular season game.
13:20So we have to take this with a grain of salt considering the circumstances are
13:22so unique.
13:23And we are dealing with a five and a half over under.
13:25We're dealing with the shop props for these players that are one and a half or
13:28two and a half for McKinnon, two and a half for McDavid.
13:30These are lines we normally never get.
13:32So I would lower your expectations from a scoring perspective tonight,
13:35but we should still be in for legitimate.
13:37One of the best games of hockey we've seen over the last decade.
13:41Going over some of these props.
13:42You're certainly from Canada as we see,
13:44like Sidney Crosby,
13:45anytime point you like that at the minus 128 price,
13:47give me somebody from team USA.
13:49We can watch tonight.
13:50Goal score points prop.
13:51Like who do you like from team USA?
13:53So Dylan Larkin has been awesome.
13:56Really, really awesome.
13:57And he's been,
13:58he was on the fourth line.
13:59They bumped him to the third line,
14:01a player that is,
14:02you know,
14:03the captain of the Detroit Red Wings.
14:04He's a player that I think will show up when it matters most.
14:07And it's maybe due to the fact that he has been set in this bottom six role,
14:10which is normally at the early places,
14:12the top line center and all the focus will be on Matthews and Eichel and Jack
14:15Hughes and the good Chuck brothers.
14:17Dylan Larkin has been amazing.
14:18And he had that game winning goal when they played Canada the first time.
14:21So I like him potentially for a goal,
14:23but if you want to go for a shot prop on him,
14:25I think that would actually be a good spot because maybe he gets lost in the
14:28shuffle a little bit.
14:29If he's still playing alongside Kyle Connor,
14:31who's a proven 40,
14:3250 goal scorer,
14:33Dylan Larkin may get lost in the shuffle tonight.
14:36As you expect a tightly contested,
14:38low scoring game.
14:39The goalies starting in net are going to be a huge reason why Jordan
14:44Bennington has been a surprise in a good way for the Canadians.
14:47But of course,
14:48I would say,
14:49as you have told us the best goaltender in the national hockey league and on
14:52this planet,
14:53where's the stripes of the United States.
14:55That would be Connor Hellebuck,
14:57who is the favorite to win the four nations face off MVP award.
15:00I'll ask you the question like this.
15:02If the Americans win tonight in Boston is Hellebuck,
15:06the MVP.
15:08Almost certainly.
15:09I would say almost certainly it would be a,
15:11it would be a surprise to not see him when considering what he's done.
15:15As I mentioned a couple of days ago,
15:17you know,
15:18Jake Gensel has multiple goals.
15:19If Jake Gensel has multiple goals and not none of them are empty net goals
15:24that may put him in a spot to win,
15:26right?
15:27Seeing him have,
15:28you know,
15:29the extra empty net goal the other night was great.
15:30And that kind of,
15:31I don't say stat padding,
15:32but if he has multiple goals tonight,
15:34especially a game winning goal,
15:35that isn't an empty net goal that could put Jake ends on the spot.
15:37Just based on the,
15:38you know,
15:39overall goals in the tournament.
15:40I will also say Nathan McKinnon on the other side,
15:42considering he is this multi-goal threat on an every night basis.
15:45He would also be in the mix.
15:47Instead of going to the chalk with David McKinnon could be the answer for
15:50team Canada.
15:52Also,
15:53Tommy,
15:54take a look at team USA with Austin Matthews here.
15:55Plus two,
15:5610 prices in any time goal scoring market.
15:57Obviously we know how talented he is,
15:59but the sickness that we're hearing,
16:01who knows if it's an injury at this point,
16:02what's your trust level in some of these injured players coming into
16:05tonight?
16:06You know,
16:07this is,
16:08I have a tough time trusting any of them.
16:09And I said,
16:10this is the beginning of the tournament.
16:11There's a chance that we don't see Matthew score.
16:13We don't see Jack.
16:14I go Jack.
16:15You score.
16:16When you see some of these debt players scoring,
16:17that's where against all comes in.
16:18That's where Dylan Larkin comes in.
16:19This is where we may continue to see some good scoring from some like
16:21Zachary Wensky,
16:22the power play quarterback,
16:23the defender.
16:24So I don't have a whole lot of trust in those players.
16:26And actually I think looking to some of these secondary,
16:28as usual,
16:29as I always say,
16:30tertiary options on any team in any sport,
16:31that's where we find the most value.
16:33And that's where we actually can find players that can still get it
16:35done.
16:36Nine games slate tonight.
16:37Vecchio as well.
16:38After the all-star break around the association,
16:40we are fully back in the N B a what's your best play for this NBA slate
16:46on a Thursday.
16:47Yeah.
16:48You guys talked about it in the last segment,
16:50right before the commercial break,
16:51like Indiana going up against Memphis at two 50.
16:55Total is insanely high.
16:57And I know you guys went through it.
16:58All these,
16:59both these teams they played to the over this season.
17:00They play super fast.
17:01They get up and down.
17:02They get on scoring,
17:03but you know what we saw last time,
17:04I would say is at least some indication of what we're going to be
17:07seeing from teams,
17:08at least to start the first few days,
17:09you know,
17:10Saturday,
17:11Sunday,
17:12especially some second half overs.
17:13That's where I think teams will start to get into play.
17:14But I'm not saying either of these teams with the Charlotte horns of
17:17what we saw last night,
17:18you know,
17:19a hundred to 97 game against the Lakers,
17:20but two 50 is way,
17:21way too high.
17:22The first game at the all-star break.
17:23So Saturday in game live,
17:25which I'm doing with Gerber,
17:26Neri second half overs for teams.
17:28That's where I think they'll start to finally get things back,
17:30you know,
17:31in the flow of things.
17:32That's where the scoring will start to come.
17:33But two 50 is way too high.
17:34Tonight.
17:35A ridiculously high number,
17:37even for a Pacers team that went over and seven of its last 10 games
17:41before the break in a Memphis team with the second highest over
17:45percentage.
17:46The NBA is going to be great tonight.
17:48Don't get us wrong,
17:49but this four nations face off championship game in Boston is going to
17:53be electric.