United State vs Finland Prediction, Picks, Odds & Start Time – WJC Quarterfinal

• Team USA (3-1) enters quarterfinal play tonight in the World Junior Hockey Championships in Minneapolis against Finland (2-1-1).
• The Americans are 1.5-goal favorites after a tough 6-3 loss against Sweden on Wednesday.
• Let us get into the knockout phase with my United States vs Finland prediction, picks, odds, and start time for tonight.

Yes the Americans have no margin for error now. Team USA won three times and lost once in Pool A to finish second. They try to advance to the semifinals but must get past Finland first in the World Junior Hockey Championships.

Team USA is again a marginal favorite as they play Finland. The Finns are +165 underdogs to advance on Friday.

I’m going to serve out a United States vs Finland prediction, picks, odds, and start time for this exciting tilt.

United States vs Finland Prediction

• Team USA to win 4-3 (+1200 at DraftKings)

My United States vs Finland prediction takes a leap of faith with Team USA in the World Junior Hockey Championships.

The trend is obvious but most bettors still have faith in the Americans. As of Friday afternoon, 82% of the bets were going to the US moneyline. Obviously, there are lots of concerns after the US allowed six goals to Sweden on Wednesday. The Swedes were relentless in sprinting out to a 5-1 lead. Although Team USA tried to rally, it was way too little and way too late.

Tonight’s game is more of a challenge as the Americans will face a feisty Finnish squad. The Americans traditionally have trouble with teams like Finland. We mentioned Sweden in the last prediction and almost like clockwork, there was reason for concern. Team USA must kill penalties better and improve their communication during the long line change of the second period.

The primetime games from the Grand Casino Arena expect to be absolutely charged as the Americans have to keep control of play for longer periods. If the game gets away from them, then look out.

Simply, expect a close to the vest tilt that could come down to the wire.

United States vs Finland Picks

• Pick 1: United States Over 3.5 Goals (-105 at DraftKings)
• Pick 2: USA to win by 1 (+235 at DraftKings)

There is no denying that the Americans are hanging on bended knee with the status of Cole Hutson. Lane’s younger brother makes this American team go. Without him, the Americans have not looked the same. Having no way to attack from the back makes a huge difference. It makes the Americans a little harder to defend.

This is a game that Hutson needs to play. Again, the Americans expect to lean heavily on their special teams. Hutson impacts the penalty kill as well. Bob Motzko said this many times after the Slovakia and Sweden games. Your best players have to play and Hutson is probably the best at this stage in this age group.

Finland will want to grind away against the Americans. Their offense is underrated and the Finns managed four goals against Canada. However, the cost was dire as the Finns just could not keep pace with the high-flying Canadian squad. Maybe one or two countries can to be honest. Team USA is one of them with Will Zellers and James Hagens anchoring the forward group.

The Americans will flirt with disaster here. It has been a pattern every time they have played the WJC after a triumph in the United States. No one should be shocked by a one goal margin that can go either way — maybe into overtime.

United States vs Finland Odds

The United States vs Finland odds have the Americans as improved -205 moneyline favorites with a 1.5-goal spread. The total sits at 5.5 goals for this World Junior Hockey Championships quarterfinal.

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Odds as of January 2, 2026, at US betting sites. Make sure you examine the best online sportsbooks to bet on the USA vs Finland game and maybe that Canada game too.

United States vs Finland Start Time

• Tonight’s game starts at 6:00 pm ET at Grand Casino Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NHL Network will carry the game over the air.

Tune in this evening for a game that truly could feature a little of everything. From physical to timely goal scoring, this could be the best game of the four on Friday. Just think, we get to do this potentially all over again two more times.