17:20. Quarterfinal. Canada vs Slovakia. Prague, O2 Arena.
Recommended bets: Canada to win, Slovakia +2 handicap, Over 5.5 goals.
The group stage of the World Championship produced no major surprises. While there were slim hopes for some teams to qualify for the playoffs, those chances were largely illusory. Team Canada confidently secured first place in their group, defeating all key opponents. The only blemish was an overtime period against Austria and conceding five goals in the third period, but that can be attributed to a temporary lapse in concentration. Slovakia had a more nerve-wracking path. Had Latvia beaten the USA on the final day of the group stage, Slovakia would have needed to push hard for three points against Sweden. The score was a precarious 3–4 in favor of Latvia early in the third period, but two more goals against them sealed their fate, leaving Slovakia in third place. Meanwhile, Slovakia suffered a heavy 1–6 defeat to Sweden, which they treated as a mere formality.
The Maple Leafs have been consistent throughout the tournament. They didn’t achieve crushing victories over opponents, often winning by one or two goals. Yet, each game gave the impression they expended only as much energy as needed. Now their time has come. Though Canada boasts four balanced lines, Dylan Cozens stands out with eight goals, leading the tournament scoring charts. For Slovakia, the match against Sweden was a straightforward formality, so the heavy loss can be attributed to a desire to play a practice game and conserve energy for the match against Canada. In that contest, we are likely to see a different Slovakia, reminiscent of the team that beat the USA. Craig Ramsay’s squad demonstrated how effective they can be on counterattacks. They are certainly capable of rallying for a single game. The two teams met in the group stage last year, where Canada only managed to win in a shootout. With largely the same coaching staff and slightly altered rosters, it will not be an easy walk for Canada. An upset cannot be ruled out, even if bookmaker odds suggest otherwise.
Canada to win: from 1.36 (Liga Stavok, Pari) to 1.38 (Olimpbet)
Slovakia to win: from 6.60 (Betcity) to 7.32 (Olimpbet)