Updated 2019 IIHF World Championship Odds: Russia Listed as Odds-On Favorites Ahead of Semifinals
- Undefeated Russia (8-0-0) is favored to win gold heading into the semifinals at the 2019 IIHF World Championship
- Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Alex Ovechkin all joined the team after early NHL playoff exits
- Russia faces an unheralded Finnish squad, while Canada rides a seven-game win streak into their semifinal vs Czech Republic
After holding off the United States (4-3) in the quarters to remain undefeated, Russia is now the odds-on favorite to take home gold at the IIHF World Championship.
Below, find the updated odds ahead of Saturday’s semifinals, which will see Russia vs Finland (9:15 AM ET) and Canada vs Czech Republic (1:15 PM ET), both at Ondrej Nepela Arena in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Odds to Win 2019 IIHF World Championship
| Team | Odds to Win 2019 IIHF World Championship |
|---|---|
| Russia | -145 |
| Canada | +260 |
| Czech Republic | +550 |
| Finland | +800 |
*Odds taken on 05/24/19
Russian Roster Bolstered by Late Additions
After entering the tournament as second-favorites in the World Championship odds (trailing Canada), the Russians dominated the round-robin portion with a 7-0-0 record and 36-7 goal difference in Group A.
Russia continued its strong play in its quarter-final victory over Team USA, with Nikita Gusev (1 G, 2 A) leading the attack in the 4-3 win.
The victory clinched a berth in the semi-final of this tournament for the fifth time in six years.
Speaking of powerplays, Team Russia just had some insane puck movement on this powerplay goal vs USA pic.twitter.com/2PXmDDsB1T
— J (@Account4hockey) May 23, 2019
Russia has benefited from some of the stunning upsets that marked the early rounds of this year’s NHL playoffs. Following surprising first-round exits by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, and Washington Capitals, the Russian lineup received a big shot in the arm with the arrival of a number of star players.
Russia has benefited from some of the stunning upsets that marked the early rounds of this year’s NHL playoffs.
In addition to Gusev, forwards Nikita Kucherov, Evgeni Malkin, Alex Ovechkin, and Evgeny Kuznetsov were added to the roster along with rearguard Mikhail Sergachev, and netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Kucherov, Vasilevskiy Atoning for Postseason Meltdown
With lots to prove following his dismal performance in Tampa Bay’s stunning sweep at the hands of Columbus, Kucherov has returned to the form that made him the NHL’s top scorer this season, tallying six goals and 10 assists through his first eight World Championship games.
Vasilevskiy has also been outstanding between the pipes for Russia, surrendering just 10 total goals in six outings while recording a pair of shutouts.
Meanwhile, Florida Panthers winger Evgeni Dadonov has contributed 11 points so far in the tourney.
A perfect 10! With Andrei Vasilevskiy stopping all 15 shots he faced, we eased past the challenge posed by Italy, running out 10:0 winners in the World Championship battle.
Photo gallery: https://t.co/RIfftJ6tqn #IIHFWorlds #TeamRussia pic.twitter.com/YbPW4OV65U
— Russia Hockey (@russiahockey_en) May 15, 2019
But while Russia benefited from drawing into the weaker of the two groups at this year’s 16-team tournament, avoiding early preliminary round matchups with Canada, the United States, and Finland, the club cannot afford to be complacent when they take on the Finns.
No-Name Finnish Squad Keeping Pace with Hockey Powerhouses
Finland has kept pace with the other powerhouses so far at this tournament despite icing a lineup that features just one NHL regular, Chicago defenseman Henri Jokiharju.
Finland has kept pace with the other powerhouses so far at this tournament despite icing a lineup that features just one NHL regular
The Lions knocked off Canada, 3-1, before taking the Americans to overtime in a 3-2 loss in preliminary-round action. They demonstrated resilience in their quarter-final clash with Sweden, twice coming from behind before topping the defending world champions with a thrilling 5-4 OT win.
Finland also came away with a 3-1 victory over Russia in pre-tournament action early this month at the Ceska Pojistovna Cup, and owns a respectable 7-8 record in their past 15 meetings with the Russians at the World Championships.
Even if Russia should get past Finland to reach the tournament final for the first time in four years, Canada is their likely opponent, and the Canadians have steadily gained momentum since their tournament-opening loss.
Canada Gaining Momentum
The Canadians have posted seven straight wins since their tournament-opening defeat, including a 3-0 shutout of the United States. They will meet the Czech Republic in Saturday’s other semi-final as -109 chalk (three-way moneyline).
Canada have also benefited from untimely NHL playoff exits that enabled them to add Kyle Turris from the Nashville Predators, Penguins goaltender Matt Murray, and Vegas stars Mark Stone, Jonathan Marchessault, and Shea Theodore.
Canada has reached the World Championship final in three of the past four years, twice claiming gold
Canada has reached the World Championship final in three of the past four years, twice claiming gold, including a decisive 6-1 win over Russia in 2015. That marked the first of three wins in four meetings between these squads at this tournament.
Canada needed a last-second goal to force OT against Switzerland in the quarters, but they outshot the underrated Swiss team by a 42-24 margin. Their improvement over the course of the tournament coupled with their history of success against Russia make them better value at +260.
Pick: Canada (+260)
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
