Published Feb 19, 3:21am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Feb 19, 3:21am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Feb 19, 4:54am ET
The semi-finals at the Winter Olympics are set for Feb 20, as the reigning champions bid to make a second straight final. But, can they overcome the odds? Find the odds and our Canada vs. Finland picks here.
Canada has been the favorite for the gold medal since the start of the competition, but for the first time during the Olympics, there was a chink in the armor last time out when only narrowly overcoming Czechia.
Finland remain the reigning Olympic champions, and they showed their character on Wednesday to come back from 2-0 down to beat Switzerland in Milan.
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|---|---|
| Canada | -420 |
| Finland | +330 |
Jon Cooper’s Canada will have their sights set on a first Olympic final since winning gold in 2014 on Friday.
Canada have a 100% record during the competition in Italy, but they were forced to work incredibly hard in the previous round after being pushed to their limit by a competitive Czechia. Mitch Marner ultimately scored the winning goal in the overtime period to record a 4-3 win for his nation.
Macklin Celebrini was once again in excellent form, scoring and registering two assists. Sidney Crosby was forced off in the win due to injury, and he is unlikely to play any further part at the Olympics.
This is unlikely to be an easy assignment for Canada, as Finland showcased their grit as the Olympic champions in the previous round to bounce back from 2-0 down to overcome Switzerland.
Antti Pennanen’s team have won at least bronze in four of the last five Olympics. Artturi Lehkonen scored the dramatic winner against the Swiss on Wednesday, once again showing why he is a man for the big occasion for both his country and the Colorado Avalanche.
Finland looked set for a shock loss after the opening two periods, before Sebastian Aho and Miro Heiskanen forced the additional period.
| TOTAL | Canada | Finland | DRAWS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WINS | 27 | 13 | 14 | - |
| GOALS | 144 | 70 | 74 |
Finland’s hold on the Olympic title could end on Friday. Canada’s character and quality made the difference in their win over Czechia on Wednesday, and that could once again be crucial for the team in their hope of setting up a much-anticipated gold medal match with the USA.
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Pick
Canada
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