Predictions and odds for Canada' performance at the 2022 Hockey World Championship

Canada is the reigning world hockey champion. Will Claude Julien's charges defend their title at the championship in Finland?

Canada has traditionally been very relaxed about the World Championships, inviting a modestly named squad, which does not prevent it from consistently ending up in the finals. Over the past six championships, the Maple Leafs have failed to reach the main game only once. Twice they were silver medalists, and three times - champions, including the 2021 World Cup in Riga. So now they threaten to be one of the main contenders for the title.

Coming back to the 2021 World Cup, it is worth recalling that Canada began the tournament with three straight losses, setting the Maple Leafs' all-time antirecord at world championships. After that, their roster was joined by the guys who were knocked out of Stanley Cup playoffs. They earned 10 out of a possible 12 points in the three group games, took the Canadians to the playoffs, beating Russia, USA and Finland, becoming the triumphators in Riga.

However, in Beijing they failed to perform successfully without their NHL players. The Maple Leafs had the best hockey players from European leagues, promising youngsters, as well as Eric Staal, but they did not leave much to remember. Despite the second place in the group, the expected victory over Canada in the last 16, in the quarterfinals they lost to Sweden - 0:2. Fortunately the 2022 World Cup again has an opportunity to invite representatives of the NHL.

Canada is in Group A at the 2022 World Cup, the only top national team. Initially, the Maple Leafs were supposed to be opposed by Russia, but they were disqualified. So it is very likely that the Red and Black will take first place. Moreover, it's hard to imagine who will be able to take points away from them in the group stage of the tournament. There are Danes, Germans, Slovaks, and Swiss who, under certain circumstances, can put a strain on the Canadians, but no more than that. That's why we bet on the total over 17.5 points for Canada.

Canada performed poorly in the group stage of the last World Cup, which should have taught them a lesson. The level of resistance in Group A is really low, but the Maple Leafs should play with the proper attitude not to embarrass themselves again. In the games against the French, Italians and Kazakhs Claude Julien's wards must earn tons of points. After all, Mathew Barzal has promised to come with Drake Batherson and Thomas Chabot. With that in mind, a total over 29.5 pucks by the Canadians seems optimal for our prediction.

As we have already noted, Canada will have a whole bunch of opponents in Group A, who are not just inferior in skill level, but lose to them so many times that it is naive to even compare. Perhaps some teams will put up a little resistance to Claude Julien's team, while others will collapse and concede pucks from the very first minute. The main rivals are the Frenchmen and Italians, but the Red and Black could send a lot to others as well. In this situation, it is worth looking at a bet on the individual total of Canada over 7.5 pucks in the most productive match.

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