Manuel Chávez
Dailysports's expert
Canada
Finland
On May 19, the IIHF World Championship will feature a clash between Canada and Finland in the group stage. Here’s my exclusive preview and prediction for this high-stakes encounter.
Canada
Even before the tournament began, it was clear that the Canadians arrived in pursuit of the title—after all, Sidney Crosby doesn’t travel to Europe for just any reason. So far, the Maple Leafs have barely broken a sweat, dispatching their opponents with ease.
The team opened with a 4-0 win over Slovenia, then delivered a masterclass against Latvia, winning 7-1. The French team couldn’t put up a fight—5-0, and Austria tried to hang on but fell 5-1. In their latest outing, Canada demolished Slovakia 7-0, with Crosby racking up 4 points in that game and already tallying 9 points overall in the tournament. Canada sits second in the group, having already secured a playoff spot. In the final round, they’ll battle Sweden for the top seed.
Finland
With two group games remaining, Finland has already clinched a playoff berth—a strong result, but their performances still raise some questions. Their lone encounter against a true heavyweight, Sweden, ended in a 2-1 defeat, and the scoreline could have been worse. Wins over Austria and Latvia came by narrow 2-1 margins, with both games proving to be tough battles.
The Finns needed a dramatic comeback against France, scoring two goals in the final 90 seconds of the third period before snatching a 4-3 overtime victory. Only against Slovenia did they dominate, cruising to a 9-1 win. It’s not uncommon for strong teams to grind through the group stage before transforming in the playoffs—and that’s exactly the kind of metamorphosis the Finns need.
H2H
These are perennial powerhouses who often meet at World Championships. In 2024, they also clashed in the group stage, with Canada taking a 5-3 victory.
Prediction
This marquee matchup is sure to excite hockey fans, though bookmakers see little suspense, pegging Canada as the overwhelming favorite. It’s hard to argue: the Maple Leafs have steamrolled every opponent, while Finland has struggled even against mid-tier teams. I believe the Suomi can put up a fight, but my bet is on the total to go over 5.5 goals.
