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Puck drop is hours away in the Edmonton bubble for the U20 World Juniors. With Canada, the favorite entering this tournament, two nations today look to set the tone for the rest of the tournament.
The long storied rivalry between the USA and Russia adds another chapter today, as these teams look to start the World Juniors on the right foot.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: December 25th, 9:30 A.M. (EST)
Online bookmaker William Hill has USA +1.5 at -300 on the Puck Line.
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This game is the night-cap of a Christmas Day triple-header and is easily the most anticipated game of the tournament (so far).With Group B being a three-team race to exit the qualifying rounds, neither USA nor Russia can afford to lose this game. With upcoming contests against the likes of Sweden, two losses could potentially remove either nation from the tournament.
Vasily Podkolzin is one of the most talked-about players in this tournament. He is back for his third WJC, which is incredibly rare. Podkolzin’s size and strength should be a tough mountain for USA to climb in this one.
Team USA has a number of studs that could overtake this game. Trevor Zegras is back after an incredible 2020 World Juniors. Cole Caufield is one of the top prospects in the NHL right now and is expected to be a force on the ice for USA.
The Americans also sport one of the best goalie tandems in the tournament. Spencer Knight and Dustin Wolf are brick walls in the blue paint and should frustrate any team they face in the tournament.
Russia comes equipped with loads of KHL talent. Will that professional experience reign supreme over a team that has the majority of its experience in College and Junior Hockey?
