Date: December 5, 2024, 01:41h.
Last updated on: December 5, 2024, 02:27h.
The recent NHL announcement of the teams participating in the February 4 Nations Face-Off tournament was a major development in the hockey world.
The tournament will feature top players like Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby for Canada, Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, and the Tkachuk brothers for the US, Rasmus Dahlin and Elias Pettersson for Sweden, and Patrik Laine and Juuse Saros for Finland.
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Many commentators believe that the US team appears to be the strongest on paper.
The games will be held at the Bell Centre in Montreal and at TD Garden in Boston. The tournament will begin on February 12 with Canada facing Sweden in Montreal. The highlight game will be on Saturday night in Montreal when the US plays against Canada. The championship game will take place on February 20 in Boston.
The history of fierce competition between countries in these types of tournaments is well-known. The intensity between Canada and the US in past tournaments has been memorable, with notable clashes and rivalries.
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The clash of playing styles between Canada and the US has always added to the excitement of these events.
Will the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament spark the same level of intensity between the countries? Will there be fierce matchups on the ice?
The anticipation for these games, especially the Saturday night game in Montreal, is high. However, the question remains – will bettors be interested?
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Surprisingly, NHL betting ranks lower than other major sports like the NFL, NBA, and MLB.
According to BetMGM’s John Ewing, NHL betting is the least popular among the major sports. The level of interest in the 4 Nations tournament will largely depend on the US team’s performance.
Glen Hyslop from BetVictor echoes this sentiment, mentioning that NHL betting accounts for a smaller percentage of overall sports betting compared to other major US sports.
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With the 4 Nations Face-Off approaching, the focus is on generating interest in hockey betting. Canada and Australia-based PointsBet is particularly invested in the tournament due to their target markets and hockey’s popularity in those regions.
The trading desk at PointsBet notes that while NHL betting turnover is lower than other major sports, the sport remains popular, especially in Canada. However, it may not attract as much betting action as other sports.
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The early betting lines have been set, with Canada as the favorite to win the tournament. Betting operators like BetMGM and Evoke are optimistic about the increased betting activity expected during the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Ben Rhodes from Evoke anticipates a significant surge in betting interest compared to regular NHL games, with hopes of attracting four times the usual turnover, especially during the championship game.