Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the IIHF World Championship match.
The clash between Germany and the Czech Republic is one of the pivotal encounters in the battle for a top-three finish in Group B. The Czechs must secure a win against a fairly strong opponent to maintain their shot at the top, while Germany urgently need to get back into contention.
Germany
Germany made a bright start to the tournament but then came up short against top-tier opposition in the shape of Switzerland (1:5) and the USA (3:6), suffering heavy defeats on both occasions. Their defensive record is a major concern, having leaked goals even against lower-ranked sides such as Kazakhstan and Hungary. Furthermore, the addition of Tim Stützle — the star forward from the Ottawa Senators — has yet to make an impact on the second line, as he has twice gone pointless.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic remain one of the few unbeaten teams in the tournament. In fact, they have looked sharper with each passing game. The standout contributors continue to be the first line, led by David Pastrňák, who has already tallied 10 points (4+6). Their defensive group also merits praise, having not conceded more than two goals in any of their last four games.
Germany vs Czech Republic Prediction
It would be a stretch to call this a balanced fixture. Germany have looked flat in recent performances, while the Czech Republic, playing with growing confidence, should have little trouble asserting their superiority.
