Sweden vs Czech Republic Prediction: The statistics favor the Blues

Prediction for the Ice Hockey World Championship Sweden vs Czech Republic match which will take place on May 25th. Who will turn out to be stronger? Check the team conditions! Several betting options are available.

Sweden continues to justify their status as one of the main favorites for the 2024 Ice Hockey World Championship. Sweden has not reached the semi-final of the last four World Championships, but they have assembled the most formidable squad regarding names to challenge for the title. In the competition's group phase, they won seven successive matches in average time to finish top of Group B. In the ¼ final, Sam Hallam's wards were pitted against Finland, who had endured a disastrous first phase of the tournament. It looked as if the Swedes would give their opponents a run for their money, but the game ended in a 1:1 draw, with victory only coming in extra time - 2:1.

The Czech Republic is another team disappointed at recent major international tournaments. The Lions have made it to the finals just once in the last decade, winning bronze at the 2022 World Championship. The 2024 World Championship at home is the right time for them to make a name for themselves again. The Czechs had mixed results in the group stage, finishing third in Group A. The arrival of David Pastrňák, Martin Necas, and Pavel Zacha from the NHL strengthened their squad. Zacha was the hero of the quarter-final against the USA, scoring the match's only goal as Radim Rulík's side won 1:0 to reach the semi-finals.

The Swedish national team is continuing their unblemished run. They had a tough time against the Finns in the quarter-finals. Still, the Suomi can give any opponent a run for their money in the playoffs, and the Tre Kroonurs overcame a difficult situation to win their eighth game in a row at the tournament. The hosts cannot boast such stability, having suffered defeats against top teams in the group stage. The statistics also favor the Blues, who have won their last three friendlies. 

The Sweden-Czech Republic clash has proved to be a goal-scoring affair in recent years. In 14 previous games, the rivals scored 80 goals (an average of 5.71 per game) - a solid figure for such a long distance. Furthermore, the Swedes and Czechs have scored a combined 32 goals (6.40 per game) in their last five World Championship games, each topping the bookmakers' odds, with each team scoring at least twice in all five games.