Kris Johnson iGaming Journalist
Kris Johnson is a Charlotte-based deputy editor. He joined CasinoBeats in July 2025 and oversees the daily news flow of editing and publishing. Kris also reports on all aspects of the gambling industry with a...
Read Full BioTeam USA advanced to the semifinal round of the men’s Olympic hockey competition after a 2-1 overtime victory over Sweden on Wednesday.
Next up is the USA vs. Slovakia on Friday, with the winner advancing to the gold medal game against Canada or Finland. Here’s a look at futures odds on all four countries to win gold at FanDuel:
- Canada -120
- USA +110
- Finland +1200
- Slovakia +3300
Finland is the defending gold medal winner from the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
Best Bet USA vs. Slovakia: Against the Spread
As with the women’s Olympic hockey tournament, Team USA and Canada appear to be on a collision course to meet in the final.
Defenseman Quinn Hughes kept America’s gold medal hopes alive by netting the OT winner against Sweden. Canada also experienced a scare, trailing Czechia 3-2 late in regulation before winning on Mitch Marner‘s overtime goal.
Three of four quarterfinal games required extra time yesterday. Looking ahead to Team USA vs. Slovakia, here are the current odds at FanDuel as of publication:
| Team | Puckline | Moneyline | Total |
| Slovakia | +1.5 (+184) | +570 | OVER 5.5 (-140) |
| USA | -1.5 (-230) | -850 | UNDER 5.5 (+114) |
Slovakia opened the tournament with a 4-1 upset win over Finland. The Slovaks cruised to a 6-2 victory over Germany in yesterday’s quarterfinal round. Sweden beat Slovakia, 5-3, in preliminary play. That was the lone blemish for Slovakia during these Olympics.
Slovakia has just seven NHL players on its roster, and starting goaltender Samuel Hlavaj has appeared in the AHL and ECHL. The Americans scored at least 5 goals in the preliminary games. Tomorrow looks like another potential blowout spot.
The USA is 4-0 in the tournament, outscoring opponents 18-6. Expect more of the same tomorrow against an overmatched Slovakia team. We’re playing this game on the puckline at DraftKings, which we estimate offers a more optimal line.
Pick: USA -2.5 (-155 at DraftKings)
Best Player Props for USA vs. Slovakia
Auston Matthews Anytime Goal Scorer (+110 at FanDuel)
Auston Matthews leads Team USA in goals (3) and is tied with Hughes in points (6).
The U.S. captain leads a well-balanced, high-octane offense that should be able to exploit Slovakia’s defensive weaknesses and goaltending issues. We’d bet this prop at any plus-money price.
Quinn Hughes 2+ Points (+240 at FanDuel)
Hughes played the role of hero against Sweden with his OT goal yesterday, but his ability as a playmaker from the blueline makes this a strong play.
Hughes has hit the score sheet in all four games so far. Additionally, he’s tallied multiple points in two of those games. This is a fantastic price, with a potential blowout looming for Team USA tomorrow.
