Canada - Switzerland predictions and free betting tips [25/05/2024]

Today, in the second semi-final of the World Ice Hockey Championship in the Czech Republic, the national teams of Canada and Switzerland will face off.

Team Canada

At the 2024 World Ice Hockey Championship, Team Canada demonstrated a high level of play, successfully completing the group stage undefeated with only two overtime wins, earning them 19 points. Under the guidance of André Tourigny, the team showcased an active attack, scoring 32 goals, though their defence left much to be desired with 18 goals conceded. The game against the Czech Republic in the final group stage match was particularly tense, with the Canadians securing a 4-3 victory in overtime, and the quarter-final match against Slovakia ended 6-3 in favour of Canada. Not all of Canada's games were smooth sailing. For instance, the tournament opener against Great Britain, which ended in a 4-2 victory, was not convincing as the Canadians conceded the first goal. Another memorable moment occurred in the match against Austria, where, despite leading by a significant margin, Canada allowed the opponent to equalise but then secured the win in overtime. A similar situation unfolded in the game against Finland, where the Canadians were down 0-2 but managed to turn the game around, winning 5-3. Such defensive instability is becoming a noticeable problem despite the successful results.

In the quarter-final against Slovakia, despite conceding three goals, Canada showcased its superiority by effectively utilising power play opportunities and demonstrating the ability to close out the game. Despite some defensive challenges, Canada remains one of the most formidable and consistent teams in world hockey, capable of stepping up in crucial moments and contending for the tournament's top honours.

Team Switzerland

At the 2024 World Ice Hockey Championship, Team Switzerland exhibited noticeable progress, performing well in the group stage and overcoming the quarter-final barrier that had been insurmountable in the past four tournaments. The Swiss team finished the group stage in 2nd place in their group, losing only to Canada with a score of 2-3 due to an unsuccessful power play. However, they won all other matches, including crucial encounters against the Czech Republic (2-1 SO) and Finland (3-1), confidently advancing to the playoffs.

In the quarter-final match, Switzerland faced Germany, winning 3-1. The Swiss team started the match actively, scoring two goals in the first period and then shifting to a more defensive tactic, maintaining their lead and controlling the game. The Germans managed to score one goal during a power play, but could not equalise — a third empty-netter sealed the match. Throughout the tournament, the Swiss demonstrated reliable defensive play, becoming their hallmark. Goaltender Leonardo Genoni played a crucial role, making several key saves at critical moments, minimising the number of goals conceded. This defensive reliability and ability to capitalise on offensive opportunities enabled Switzerland to advance successfully through the tournament bracket and reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2018.

Head-to-Head 

Recent encounters at the World Championships between Switzerland and Canada have seen high competition and varied success for both teams. In their last match on 19 May 2024, Canada triumphed over Switzerland 3-2. On 20 May 2023, Switzerland took revenge by winning 3-2. In 2022, Switzerland overwhelmed Canada with a 6-3 victory. The 2019 meeting ended with a Canadian overtime win of 3-2, while in 2018, Switzerland also won 3-2, showing their ability to compete on equal terms with the Canadians.

Prediction for Canada vs Switzerland

The Canadians have come to the tournament without the roster capable of confidently defeating a strong Swiss side, who are ready to fight and aim for a historic final appearance. The outcome of the match seems unclear to me, but Canada's defence is likely to concede 2-3 goals. I will bet on a total goals over 5.