Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the IIHF World Championship match.
Slovakia are fighting desperately for a place in the play-offs and cannot afford any slip-ups, while Finland have all but secured a spot in the quarter-finals. However, motivation alone is not enough, especially when there is a clear gap in quality between the two teams. Historically, Finland have also posed a particularly tough challenge for Slovakia.
Slovakia
Slovakia have struggled throughout the current tournament, losing four of their six matches, including defeats to Austria (2:3 SO) and Latvia (1:5) – both direct rivals. Slovakia have also failed to compete against higher-level opponents, suffering heavy losses to Sweden (0:5) and Canada (0:7). Their main weaknesses lie in a lack of firepower up front (only eight goals scored) and a vulnerable defence (conceding an average of 3.5 goals per game).
Finland
Finland have approached the group stage with a pragmatic mindset rather than flair. Although their victories over France (4:3 OT), Austria (2:1), and Latvia (2:1) were narrow, the squad maintained clear control throughout. Their only regulation-time defeat came against Sweden (1:2), while they also managed to push Canada to a shootout, eventually winning 2:1 SO. Against Slovakia, Finland have been dominant, winning nine of the last ten encounters, including in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Championship and the semi-finals of the Olympic Games.
Slovakia vs Finland Prediction
Even taking into account Slovakia’s motivation, the superior quality of Finland is likely to be the deciding factor. Slovakia have consistently struggled against well-organised, system-driven opponents – a category where Finland excel. Another convincing victory for the Finnish team is expected, in keeping with their recent head-to-head record.
