The preliminary round of The 2016 Ice Hockey World Championship is finished and so is the schedule for the quarterfinals.
Team – Points
Group A:
Czech Republic 18p
Russia 18p
Sweden 13p
Denmark 11p
—
Norway 8p
Switzerland 8p
Latvia 6p
Kazakstan 2p
Comment: Czech Republic has done a great preliminary round with victories against the toughest opponents, Sweden and Russia. The host nation, Russia, defeated Sweden in the last round and thereby does not have to face Canada or Finland in the quarterfinal. Two nordic teams from group A reaches the play offs!
Group B:
Finland 21p
Canada 18p
Germany 13p
USA 10p
—
Slovakia 8p
Belarus 6p
France 5p
Hungary 3p
Comment: Finland defeated Canada in the last round and thereby wins the group. Other than that, Canada has gone undefeated through group B. Germany is making progress in the IIHF Worlds and is rewarded with facing the host nation in the quarterfinal.
2016 Ice Hockey World Championship quarterfinals
Sweden – Canada
Comment: It is hard to see how Sweden’s Three Crowns should defeat Team Canada this year. Sweden has had a lot of players turning down playing in the national team because of the World Cup later this year. Although we still remember the shootout in the 2013 quarterfinal when Sweden later won the gold.
Finland – Denmark
Comment: Denmark’s journey ends here. Finland is one of the favourites to winning the gold this year.
Russia – Germany
Comment: Russia should simply be too good for Germany, however, they have failed to convert at home ice before and their opponents have nothing to lose.
Czech Republic – USA
Comment: This matchup is hard to predict. Czech Republic are favourites thanks to a great preliminary round. However, it is hard to assess Team USA; they are always a threat.
