Ice Hockey World Championship 16th May

The over-blown group stages are over and now just eight teams remain in the Ice Hockey World Championship and it is now win or go home. Here is the best of the bets from the quarter-final action on Thursday.

Canada are the 9/4 (sportingbet) favourites to lift the trophy and claim their first success in this tournament since 2007. This is a talented Canadian team with a lot of good young players however I would not be making them favourites considering they have a tough quarter-final with hosts Sweden. The Canadians did win the group game 3-0 though they have gone out at the last eight stage in each of the last three years (twice to the Russians, once to the Slovaks). The Swedes have been very in and out this tournament though will hope the return of the Sedin twins will boost their performance. Sweden are 9/1 (ladbrokes) to claim the gold and are a generous 14/5 (ladbrokes) to see off Canada who are 10/11 (boylesports). These two meet in what should be a cracking finale to quarter-final Thursday.

The opening game of the four on Thursday has the Russians against the US and the Europeans are 1/2 (BOYLESPORT/william hill) while the US are 9/2 (sportingbet/ladbrokes). The Russians are carrying our outright hopes although I was shocked to see them lose to Finland in the group stages and stunned to see them lose to France. I hope that come the business end of the tournament the Russians can find the form that saw them win this tournament in style last year. The Russians are 5/2 (bet365/sportingbet/188 SPORT) to win this event while the US are 16/1 (ladbrokes/CORAL). Games involving Russia in the group stages produced 41 goals while games involving the US produced 40. This is an average of almost seven per game. I think it looks worth siding with this game having over 5.5 goals at 21/20 with bet365.

The next game on Thursday sees Switzerland take on the Czech Republic. The Swiss team has been the shock of the tournament coming in ranked 9th in the world but going on to win the Stockholm group with six regular time wins and one in overtime. I am surprised to see them priced at 29/10 (SPORTINGBET) to beat a Czech side they have already beaten 5-2. True the Czechs looked good in winning the last game 7-0 spearheaded by the presence of Tomas Plekanec, however odds of 17/20 (ladbrokes) on them to beat a side who have already beaten them looks poor value. One of the most notable features of this Swiss team is that they get among the goals early so side with them in the race to two goals 6/4 (william hill).

Finland have looked excellent so far in the tournament and they will fancy their chances of seeing off Slovakia in the quarter-finals. The Finns topped the group in Helsinki and though they no longer have home advantage (Stockholm will be the venue for the semis and final) this could work in their favour. I expect them to come through against Slovakia though rather than get involved with the 3/4 (betway) on them to win this game why not take them each way at 8/1 (ladbrokes) to win the World Championships. A semi-final with either Canada or Sweden awaits them if they see off Slovakia meaning they will not have to face Russia until the final.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Finland EW to win the World Chapionships, 8/1 (ladbrokes)
SILVER: Switzerland in race to two goals v Czechs, 6/4 (william hill)
BRONZE: Russia v USA to have over 5.5 goals, 21/20 (bet365)

Go To bet365

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16/05/2013     © Frixo 2024