Canada vs Latvia Picks, Spread and How to Watch World Juniors

• Canada faces Latvia in a preliminary round match after defeating Czechia 7-5 Friday evening
• The Canadians are loaded with first-round picks, including projected No. 1 overall selection Gavin McKenna
• See my Canada vs Czechia prediction for Saturday’s match at 3M Arena at Mariucci, plus odds and best picks

It may not have been the most comfortable victory, but Canada slayed their demons against Czechia Friday with a 7-5 win to kick off their 2026 World Jr. tournament. Czechia had ousted the Canucks in the quarters the last two years, so there was revenge on the minds of a stacked Canadian squad.

Puck drop is 4:30 PM ET / 3:30 PM CT from Minneapolis. Here’s my Canada vs Latvia prediction for tonight’s World Juniors contest, along with my best picks and betting odds.

Canada vs Latvia Prediction & Pick

My Canada vs Latvia prediction on Saturday is Canada exacting yet another measure of revenge, this time versus Latvia. After dominating the first four all-time meetings by a 41-4 margin, the Latvians shockingly defeated Canada last year, 3-2 in an eight-round shootout.

Canada was stunned on their home ice in Ottawa, where Linards Feldbergs stood on his head for Latvia, making 55 saves and stopping all eight shootout attempts.

Fortunately for Canada, neither Feldbergs nor shootout winning scorer Eriks Mateiko is on the Latvian roster, and order should be restored this time around.

In their first game on Friday, Canada lit the lamp seven times, but goaltender Carter George allowed five to get behind him as well. Blueliner Zayne Parekh led the way with a pair of markers, and Ethan MacKenzie and Michael Hage both had one goal and two helpers.

The battle was tied 3-3 heading into the final stanza, and Czechia cut it to 6-5 with 4:34 to play, before a Porter Martone empty-netter sealed it.

Canada’s backup netminder, Jack Ivankovic, has been the best goalie in NCAA hockey this season with a 1.90 GAA and .927 save percentage at Michigan. He likely will get the nod, looking to recover from that stinging loss against the Latvians last year, which marks their first duel of the tournament.

Canada vs Latvia Best Bet

• Pick: Canada -5.5 (-102 at FanDuel)

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The play here is Canada putting it to Latvia to win by six or more goals at -102 on FanDuel. Canada averaged nearly five goals per game in pre-tournament action and scored seven against the Czechs, who are far more potent than Latvia.

The top two lines alone – featuring Gavin McKenna, Michael Misa, Porter Martone, Michael Hage, Tij Iginla, and Brady Martin – have the firepower to put up four or five goals themselves in what could turn into a lopsided affair early.

The -20000 moneyline is way too sky high to even remotely bother wagering, so expecting Canada to destroy is the best option if you want some value on your wager.

Canada vs Latvia Odds

Canada opened at -20000 on the moneyline, which is massive chalk that’s not worth laying. Selecting Canada to win by six or more goals (-102) provides a touch more value than the over 7.5 goal total (-120), and it should happen with Canada overwhelming the Latvians, and out for blood after two poor world junior tourneys.

Given that Latvia shocked the world with a victory against Canada last year, you could do worse than sprinkling a little bit on them at +3000. It’s not a wager you have to put much on to recoup some fantastic winnings if lightning strikes twice – but obviously, go into that bet knowing you’re likely lighting that money on fire.

Canada vs Latvia Head-to-Head

Canada holds a 4-1 all-time record against Latvia at the World Juniors, with the lone loss coming on this exact date a year ago, 3-2 in a shootout.

Prior to that, it was a painful experience for the Latvians versus the Canucks, with Canada destroying them the other four times by a combined score of 41-4.

How to Watch Canada vs Latvia

Saturday’s game starts at 4:30 PM ET / 3:30 PM CT from 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis. TSN will carry the broadcast in Canada, while NHL Network has the coverage in the United States.