Germany - Poland predictions and free betting tips [18/05/2024]

Today, as part of Group B of the Ice Hockey World Championship in the Czech Republic, the national teams of Germany and Poland will face off.

Germany National Team

In the 2024 Ice Hockey World Championship, the German team is reaffirming their ambitions aimed at reaching the playoffs by showcasing strong performances against direct competitors. Following their successful run in the previous tournament where the Germans clinched silver, they continue to follow Coach Harold Kreis's strategy. Despite the absence of their star player, Leon Draisaitl, Germany has successfully defeated teams such as Slovakia and Latvia with scores of 6-4 and 8-1 respectively, as well as Kazakhstan with a score of 8-2, demonstrating a high level of shot conversion. Germany is currently displaying impressive scoring rates, especially in matches against weaker opponents. NHL leader John-Jason Peterka stands out with his performance, having accumulated 6 points in the last two games. Additionally, ethnic Pole Wojciech Stachowiak has also made a significant contribution with 4 assists. These victories have allowed Germany to occupy high positions in the standings, solidifying their third place in their group and highlighting their ability to dominate weaker teams.

However, despite their success against lower-ranked teams, Germany has faced difficulties in matches against the leaders of the group. Losses to the USA and Sweden, both with a score of 1-6, highlight the team's defensive issues that have led to numerous dangerous moments at the Germans' goal. These matches have been a severe test for the squad, exposing weak points that need to be addressed for successful performances in the upcoming rounds of the tournament.

Poland National Team

The Poland national team, having returned to the top division of world ice hockey for the first time in the last two decades, has faced significant challenges in the 2024 World Championship. Their new campaign began with a tense match against Latvia, ending in a 4-5 overtime loss. This result showcased the Polish team's potential; however, subsequent games revealed significant weaknesses, leading to a series of losses and evident last place in the Group B standings. In their last game against the USA, the Polish team valiantly fell short with a score of 1-4, conceding two goals in each of the following periods after a 0-0 draw in the first 20 minutes. The lone goal for Poland was scored by Grzegorz Pasiut, which provided little solace for the team that couldn't turn the tide of the game. The team's prospects have been further exacerbated by the absence of key players due to injuries, making the task of staying in the elite division even more formidable.

With 7 consecutive losses, including 2 in overtime and one in a shootout, the Polish team's morale isn't at its best. At this point, it's highly unlikely that Poland will be able to put up any substantial resistance in the remaining matches. The expectation is that the team might once again exit Division A following the current championship, which will be a disappointment for both players and fans.

Head-to-Head

The teams last met back in 1992 when Germany triumphed with a score of 11-0 at the World Championship, and earlier in the same year, they won 4-0 at the Olympics.

Match Prediction: Germany vs Poland

Though Poland is the clear underdog, they haven't lost by more than 4 goals even to the powerful Americans. Germany has almost secured their playoff spot, but Poland will definitely put up a fight. I’m betting on Poland's handicap (+4).