Hockey betting: IIHF World Championship Medal Games Preview
Canada and Finland To Meet for Gold Again
Canada and Finland will be squaring off for the gold medal at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship for the third season in a row on Sunday.
Canada needed a furious third-goal comeback in the quarterfinals to keep its hopes for back-to-back titles alive. Finland had to outbattle the United States in the semifinals to advance to the title game.
Sunday’s action began with the United States meeting up with the Czech Republic in the bronze medal game at 8:20 a.m. ET followed by Canada and Finland playing for gold at 1:20 p.m. ET. Finland will have the home fans on their side.
Both games are almost even according to the hockey betting lines. Both the bronze-medal game between the U.S. and a Czech Republic team featuring David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins and former Bruin David Krejci as well as the gold-medal contest will air live on the NHL Network.
As well explore a variety of Czech Republic Extraliga odds, Sweden Hockey odds and other Ice Hockey odds here to win!
Top line powering Canada
With Connor McDavid still playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Sidney Crosby opting not to head overseas following the Pittsburgh Penguins elimination from the postseason, the focus turned to some younger players representing Canada.
Pierre-Luc Dubois of the Winnipeg Jets, Drake Batherson of the Ottawa Senators and Dylan Cozens of the Buffalo Sabres are the top three scorers for Canada and heading into Sunday’s action, only the Czech Republic’s Roman Cervanka had more points than the members of Canada’s top-scoring line. Cervanka did get to play in 39 games for the Calgary Flames during the 2012-13 season.
Most of Canada’s team consists of players with ties to NHL teams. Dubois and Cozens are two of the eight former first-round picks on the roster for Canada.
Cozens had two goals and an assist in the 6-1 semifinal win over the Czech Republic. Drake Batherson had two assists while Kent Johnson, the second-youngest player on the team added a goal and an assist.
With 51 points in 120 NHL games, Cozens hasn’t quite lived up to the hype as seventh overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. However, his play in this tournament is showing off his tremendous potential.
He also scored @HockeyCanada's final goal of the game too! #IIHFWorlds @Dylan_Cozens @BuffaloSabres pic.twitter.com/Z7AEt1vXBw
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 28, 2022
The five-goal margin had Canada easily covering against the Las Vegas odds.
NHL Veterans Star for Finland
There were some familiar names making their way onto the score sheet for Finland in the semifinal win over the United States.
Defenseman Sami Vatanen, who played for four teams during his nine seasons in the NHL, scored the goal that put Finland in front for good in the second period. He had one of the assists on the third-period goal by Joel Armia of the Montreal Canadiens. Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen also assisted on the goal to make it 4-2 with 15 minutes left to play.
Adam Gaudette scored 61 seconds after the U.S. pulled goalie Jeremy Swayman for an extra attacker but the United States failed to complete the comeback.
Heiskanen led Finland with a goal and two assists in the 4-3 win. Current or former NHL players on the Finland roster combined for three goals and seven assists in the game.
Jussi Olkinuora, who played two seasons at the University of Denver and spent parts of four seasons playing in the American Hockey League, had 25 saves for Finland. Olkinuora leads the tournament with a goals-against average of 0.86 and a .961 save percentage.
Breaking Down the Title Game
Finland will have the advantage playing at home with the game at Nokia Arena.
Canada has the No. 2 power play in the tournament going 10 of 29 for a 34.4 percent success rate and is seventh on the penalty kill allowing eight goals in 37 opposing power plays.
Finland hasn’t allowed a power-play goal during the tournament and perhaps even more impressive is that they have only been on the penalty kill 16 times in nine games. The power play is 9 for 29. Also, to view the current odds and place bets on the upcoming NHL game between the Oilers and Maple Leafs.
Both teams have relied on its defense for offense. Finland’s defensemen have seven goals and 25 assists in the tournament while Canada’s blue liners have nine goals and 22 assists.
Finland is 8-0-1 in the tournament while Canada 7-2. While it is hard to pick against Canada in a championship game in any international tournament, Finland has looked like the best team in the tournament. When it comes to making a hockey pick, with the way Finland has avoided going to the penalty box, it will be interesting to see if Canada can find a way to break through against Olkinuora and the Finland defense.
