Canon SX420 IS has a
20.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features DIGIC 4+ processor. On the other hand, Nikon S220 has a
10.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor .
Canon SX420 IS's sensor provides 10MP more than Nikon S220's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely.
On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.
Below you can see the SX420 IS and S220 sensor size comparison.
Canon SX420 IS and Nikon S220 have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.