Unlike normally, all of todays odds are from Veikkaus.
Canada - Switzerland 1.55 - 4.65 - 4.40
Top team of Group A Canada and Group B 4th placed Switzerland meet up in earlier quarter final. Canada won 6 out of their 7 games only losing their opening game against Finland. Switzerland started off well beating their opponent in four first games, but ended up losing last three games against big countries Sweden, Russia and Czech Republic. In 7 group stage games Canada scored a bit over 5 goals on average per game, while giving away 1,5. Switzerland scored little under 4 goals on average and gave away 2 goals on average.
Anthony Mantha (7+5) lead Canada in points and goals, but is suspended from Switzerland game. Canada has three 9 point men in Mark Stone (5+4), Jonathan Marchessault (3+6) and Kyle Turris (3+6). Nico Hischier has 8 (3+5) points for Switzerland. Kevin Fiala has lead in goals (4+2).
Switzerland had 40 shots in game against Czech Republic, meaning they really went for the win, and only lost giving away goal in empty net while score was 4-4. Canada hasn't given away goal in last two games. Carter Hart was tending the goal against Denmark for 50 minutes, before making room for MacKenzie Blackwood. Matt Murray shutout USA.
Switzerland fought well against Sweden and Czech Republic, but Canada might be too hard to beat. Canada in form as it is against Switzerland, who hasn't really had any other key players than Hischier and Fiala, I see Canada go through. Game could be a low scoring one, based on Canada's recent performances. Also Mantha's absence might show in this game.
PICK:
Canada & Under 5,5 goals 2.80 (X & under 5,5 goals)
Russia - USA 1.48 - 4.90 - 4.80
Russia is a favorite and for a good reason. Top of the Group B versus fourth of the Group A. Russia won all of their 7 group stage games, scoring little over 5 goals per game on average and only giving away 1 goal per game on average. Russia had 4 shutouts in those 7 games. USA lost their first and their last game but won all the remaining 5 games. USA scored about 3,7 goals per game on average, while giving away little over two.
It's not a surprise that a man who scored whopping 128 (41+87) points in NHL this season, Nikita Kucherov leads Russia in points (6+9), followed by future Vegas Golden Knights player Nikita Gusev (3+9) and best scorer Evgeni Dadonov (7+3).Patrick Kane leads USA in points (2+8), followed by their best goal scorer, Kanes Blackhawks team mate Alex DeBrincat (6+2).
Last year Russia was left without a medal, and they have not reached the final since 2015. Opponent is hard, since USA is stacked with NHL men, but Russias squad is insanely good as well. Game will be tight and Russias regular win is unplayable cause of bad odds. Russia was way too good in the group stages, and they will go through. USA's handicap odds (+1,5) on Veikkaus are 1.80.
PICK:
Russia & Over 5,5 goals 2.18
Finland - Sweden 4.30 - 4.90 - 1.62
Sweden finished 3rd in Group B behind Czech Republic and Russia. Finland lost their 1st place in Group A by losing to Germany in their last game. Sweden lost two games in group stage, their first (Czech Republic) and their last (Russia) game. Finland lost two games also, their last game against Germany and their third game against USA after overtime. Sweden scored 5,8 goals per game on average, while giving away 3. Finland scored little over 3 goals on average and gave away only 1,4 goals on average.
Kaapo Kakko, future top 2 Draft Pick has scored 7 (6+1) points for Team Finland and leads the team before Mikko Lehtonen (1+5) and Sakari Manninen (1+5). Sweden has thing going better for them. William Nylander leads the whole tournament in points (5+12), after him, they have two 9 point men (Hörnqvist and Pettersson) and two 8 point men (Lander and Wennberg).
Sweden has no doubt better material, but Finland has played out of their skin this tournament and doing great defensively. Germany game was worst game Finland has played in this tournament, and they obviously lost. Finland missed lots of good chances, of course part of them was cause of Philipp Grubauers goaltending. As well as Finland has played, I don't see them go past Sweden. Defense can hold Sweden down, but goal scoring for Finland can be hard today, especially if Sweden gets to hold the possession.
PICK:
Finland under 1,5 goals 2.20
Sweden & under 5,5 goals 2,35
Czech Republic - Germany 1.25 - 6.20 - 8.00
Czech Republic finished 2nd in their group right behind Russia. Germany finished third in their group after winning Finland in their last game. Czech Republic lost only once in their 7 games in group stage as Russia beat them 3-0. Germany got beaten twice in group games. Canada slaughtered them 8-1 and USA was better winning 3-1 the game after. Czech Republic scored 5,5 goals on average in 7 group games, while giving away 2. Germany both scored and gave away 2,5 goals on average.
Czech Republic is dominating the top 10 list of top scorers. Jakub Voracek is 3rd in the tournament with 15 (3+12) points, followed by Michael Frolik with 14 (7+7) points in 4th. Dominik Simon is 7th (4+7), Dominik Kubalik is 9th (4+6) and Filip Hronek 10th (3+7). Hronek also leads defensemen in points. Germany's superstar Leon Draisaitl has 8 (5+3) points and Markus Eisenschmid has 7 (1+6).
These teams have history from this year. They played two friendlies which both ended in Czech Republic's victory 5-4. Games between these two teams have been tight and with Philipp Grubauer in goal, Germany could hold Czech's team down. Maybe it won't be enough to win, but this game will not end up being total slaughter.
PICKS:
Germany +2 (2) 2.40 (Germany wins or loses by 1 goal)
Germany +2 (X) 4,90 (Czech Republic wins by exactly 2 goals)
Some lower odds picks from PAF.com:
Switzerland under 2,5 goals 1.40
Evgeni Dadonov 1 point or more 1.45
Nikita Gusev 1 point or more 1.47
Sweden over 2,5 goals 1.46
William Nylander 1 point or more 1.40
Germany +2,5 1.68
Dominik Simon 1 point or more 1.45
