Manuel Chávez
Dailysports's expert
Sweden
USA
On May 24, the Ice Hockey World Championship will feature the semifinals, with Sweden and the USA clashing in the first showdown. Here’s my prediction for this thrilling battle.
Sweden
This championship means a lot to the Swedes, as they are co-hosting the tournament along with Denmark. The group stage went smoothly, with the team notching six wins in six games, dropping no points, but in their final match, they fell to Canada 3-5, which left them second in the group.
In the quarterfinals, Tre Kronor knocked out a strong and ambitious Czech side, sealing a 5-2 victory. Now they are just one step away from the final, but for this campaign to be called a success, only winning the title will suffice.
USA
The Americans are also among the contenders for the trophy, having already advanced to the semifinals. Their roster looks solid, packed with young NHL talent. While there hasn’t been a sense that Team USA arrived solely to win the tournament, they have hungry players with plenty to prove.
Things didn’t go entirely their way in the group stage, ultimately finishing second in their group, trailing only Switzerland, who handed them their sole defeat—a 0-3 loss. In the quarterfinals, the Americans handled a tough and resilient Finnish squad, earning a 5-2 win.
Match facts
- The Swedes are averaging just over four goals per game at this tournament.
- The Americans are netting nearly five goals per game on average.
- The current odds for the match are: Home win – 1.78, Draw – 4.8, Away win – 3.65.
H2H
The teams last met at the previous World Championship, where Sweden prevailed 5-2 during the group stage.
Prediction
Given the strength of both teams, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them face off in the final. Sweden are considered favorites, boasting a battle-tested squad and the backing of their home fans. The Americans, however, are capable of beating anyone on their day, especially if they catch fire. My pick here is on the total being over 5 goals scored.
