Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the IIHF World Championship match.
A familiar rivalry on the international stage reignites as the USA take on Finland in what promises to be a tightly contested quarter-final. But this time, it’s the Americans who enter as the clear favourites — younger, faster, and riding the momentum of a strong group-stage performance.
USA
The USA dropped just one game in the group stage — a 0:3 loss to Switzerland — which ultimately served as a wake-up call. Since then, they have rattled off four straight wins, powered by a dynamic and athletic squad. Speed and forechecking are their trademarks, and the standout so far has been the Chicago Blackhawks prospect Frank Nazar, who’s registered three goals and two assists over the last two matches. The Americans have racked up 34 goals across their seven games — one of the tournament’s best attacking tallies.
Finland
The Finns, in contrast, have had a turbulent campaign. Despite scraping into the playoffs, they’ve lacked fluency and sharpness in the final third. Their attack misfired early on, and while back-to-back wins over Slovenia (9:1) and Canada (2:1 via shootout) closed out the group on a positive note, the overall impression remains shaky. Four of their six victories came by the same narrow 2:1 scoreline. Finland continue to rely on their trademark structure and pragmatism, but that wasn’t enough in their last meeting with the USA — a crushing 1:6 loss in February’s Four Nations tournament, where they conceded six unanswered goals after opening the scoring.
USA vs Finland Prediction
This American team may lack veteran names, but their cohesion, pace and offensive firepower more than make up for it. Finland’s disciplined style can frustrate most opponents, but if the USA take the lead early, it could be a long night for the Finns. With form, confidence and energy all on their side, the USA are well-positioned to advance.
