The Canadian Women’s Hockey Team has emerged as a strong contender for the gold medal at the Winter Olympics, showcasing their dominance by defeating opponents like Switzerland, Czechia, and Finland with a staggering combined score of 14-1. However, they faced a significant challenge during their preliminary round, suffering a 5-0 loss to the United States. This defeat highlighted a lingering struggle against their rival, marking their seventh consecutive loss to the Americans, with a total score disparity of 35-11 in that time.
As the tournament progresses, the Canadians are gearing up for a critical match against Germany on Saturday, a significant step if they hope to reach a rematch with the United States in the final. The odds reveal Canada as a prohibitive favorite, with a moneyline of -10000 and a puckline of 5.5 goals, underscoring the expected one-sided nature of the game.
While Canada may not be on par with the USA, they are leagues ahead of other competitors in the tournament. Germany had entered the competition with aspirations to compete with Sweden for the top of Group B but faced a tough opening match against the Swedes, losing 4-1. This underlines the current gap in talent between the leading nations in women’s hockey and Germany.
Germany’s hopes to keep the game competitive may hinge on the performance of goalie Sandra Abstreiter. Though she has had a rocky tournament in Milan, her impressive save percentage of .950 during the 2024 IIHF World Championships suggests she has the potential to shine under pressure. Additionally, German forward Laura Kluge, who is tied for the tournament lead with seven points in the group stage, will be critical to generating offense against the Canadians.
While it’s a tall order for Germany to pull off an upset, there might be value in betting on their ability to keep the score within the six-goal spread. Historical performance indicates that Canada may not aggressively run up the score against Germany, similar to their previous matches, leaving the possibility of a competitive game open.
Betting enthusiasts might consider taking the plus-money on Germany +5.5 at bet365 Sportsbook, especially with the potential for a more relaxed play from Canada if they establish a comfortable lead early in the game. As the women’s hockey scene grows, so too does the anticipation for thrilling matchups between the sport’s elite.