Canada vs Czechia World Juniors Gold Medal Game Odds, Prediction & How to Watch

• Canada and Czechia battle Thursday evening in this gold medal match for the World Juniors
• The Canadians are currently -375 betting favorites against Czechia in the World Juniors odds
• Read below for Canada vs Czechia odds, puck line and prediction for this final matchup

Canada and Czechia meet at the 2023 World Juniors on Thursday, January 5. Faceoff is set for just after 6:30 PM ET at Scotiabank Centre (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada), and the game will be live on NHL Network and TSN. Now, both teams are trying to win that elusive gold medal.

The Canadians are two-goal betting favorites and the total is set at 6.5 for this contest. When it comes to Czechia, they understand what is ahead of them on Thursday night.

Let’s examine the Canada vs Czechia odds and offer you our best bets and prediction.

Canada vs Czechia Odds

Odds as of January 5th at BetMGM Sportsbook. Get the BetMGM promo code for Canada vs Czechia. 

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Canada is -375 on the moneyline, giving them a 78.95% implied probability to win.

Canada Started Slow, Took Care Of Business

Alas, USA Head Coach Rand Pecknold feared Canada all too well and uttered the words “if we give them life, we are in deep trouble”. Those words proved prophetic in multiple ways on Wednesday night. First, at 2-0, the Americans had several glorious chances to make it 3-0, but could not. Canada and Thomas Milic held firm. Then, the onslaught of goals came. Canada went on to score six times unanswered – well somewhat.

Yes, the Americans had two calls go against them. IIHF rules differ from NHL and most college rules. That frustrated Team USA and buoyed Canada. Canada was the better team in the crucial stages of their 6-2 win on Wednesday night.

Capping off a year that saw Hockey Canada mired in scandal over its handling of sexual assault allegations, the world junior hockey championship in Halifax and Moncton, N.B., opened last month under a cloud.https://t.co/W0jUt3hMKU

— CTV Atlantic (@CTVAtlantic) January 5, 2023

Now, that rough start evaporated as Joshua Roy scored twice and added two assists. Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli both had two points each. Finally, Thomas Milic shut the door with 43 saves. These Under-20 aged players have not had it easy.

The key for the Canadians was to play within themselves. Canada never got too far down even when the Americans almost made it 3-0 several times in the first period. After giving up the first nine shots, the offenses were pretty close to square. Arguably, Canada held most of the better scoring chances too.

Yes, the emotions get checked one more time as Canada still has one more hurdle to climb in its quest for a 20th World Junior Championship.

Czechia Faces Uphill Climb

Canada and Thomas Milic answered any and all questions faced. That does not mean Milic and company are off the hook this Thursday night. Again, these are kids and Canada remembers how they lost to Czechia in the group stage. Few expect Czechia to hold an 8-3 edge in power plays when all is said and done tonight.

Yes, the country now faces Canada for a second time. That is not the most advantageous position to be in. Consider, the Czech team narrowly escaped against Sweden just to get to this point.

David Jiricek tied the game with 39 seconds remaining in regulation and Jiri Kulich scored in overtime Wednesday as Czechia came back to beat Sweden 2-1 and advance to the final of the world junior hockey championship. https://t.co/Eq11Z0o035

— CTV Saskatoon (@ctvsaskatoon) January 5, 2023

This game begs a big question. Can Tomas Suchanek do it again? He stopped 36 shots in the first meeting versus Canada. The stakes rise just a little in this gold medal match. Think of how brimming the Canadians are in terms of confidence. Do not underestimate Czechia. This country was 39 seconds from being eliminated. Do they play with nothing to lose now given their +285 number and having zero pressure?

Guess what the Canadians have to do again on Thursday? That’s right. Canada can not let up. If they do, Czechia is more than capable of making them pay. David Spacek and Jiri Kulich are not Bedard and Fantilli, but they bring with them a balanced offense.

Canada vs Czechia Prediction

Most pundits have Canada winning this one way too easy. Again, that 6-2 win over the Americans was way closer than thought. It is why a two-goal spread is somewhat troubling.  It carries potential to push.

Given how the Canadians have momentum, it is hard to see a way where Czechia wins outright in regulation.

Finally, that Halifax arena was rocking on Wednesday night. That is some advantage! Expect Canada to get on the board first and ride the wave to gold.

Picks:  Canada scores first (-145), Over 6.5 (-115)