Canada vs Czechia Prediction: World Juniors Odds, Lineups & Best Bets for December 26

• Canada opens the 2026 World Juniors against Czechia, the team that’s knocked them out in back-to-back quarterfinals
• The Canadians are loaded with first-round picks including projected No. 1 overall selection Gavin McKenna
• See my Canada vs Czechia prediction for Friday’s tournament opener at 3M Arena at Mariucci, plus odds and best picks

Revenge is on the menu for Team Canada. After suffering back-to-back quarterfinal exits at the hands of Czechia, the Canadians open the 2026 World Junior Championship against their recent tormentors on Friday night. Canada (historically 21-5 against Czechia) enters as massive favorites, but recent history stings.

Last year, Czechia scored the winner with 40 seconds left to eliminate Canada 4-3. The year before, they found the back of the net with 11 seconds remaining. Those losses still burn, and six returning players from last year’s squad remember exactly what that felt like.

Puck drop is 8:30 PM ET from Minneapolis. Here’s my Canada vs Czechia prediction for tonight’s World Juniors opener, along with my best picks and betting odds.

Canada vs Czechia Prediction

My Canada vs Czechia prediction on Friday is Canada winning comfortably in the tournament opener. This roster is stacked from top to bottom, with 13 first-round NHL draft picks among the forwards alone. Gavin McKenna, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, leads a top six that also features Michael Misa (San Jose Sharks) and Porter Martone (Philadelphia Flyers).

Carter George returns as the starting goalie after posting a tournament-best 1.74 GAA and .936 save percentage last year. The 19-year-old went 4-1 in five starts and should get the nod again tonight. His backup, Jack Ivankovic, has been the best goalie in NCAA hockey this season with a 1.90 GAA and .927 save percentage at Michigan.

Czechia brings seven returnees from last year’s bronze medal team, but they’re missing Adam Jecho – the player who scored the game-winner against Canada in last year’s quarterfinal. He got injured in a pre-tournament game and won’t play. That’s a massive loss for a team that’s already facing long odds.

Canada’s depth is the difference here. Their fourth line could be a second line on most other teams, and the defensive pairings feature high-end talent like Zayne Parekh (Calgary Flames) and Cameron Reid (Nashville Predators). Czechia has some solid pieces like Adam Jiricek (St. Louis Blues) playing in his third World Juniors, but they can’t match Canada’s overall talent level.

The motivation factor can’t be ignored either. Canada’s players have been talking about redemption all week, and opening the tournament against the team that ended their last two runs adds extra fuel. I expect Canada to make a statement early and control this game from start to finish.

Canada vs Czechia Best Bet

• Pick: Over 6.5 (-130 at DraftKings)

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The value here is on the over 6.5 goals at -130. Canada averaged nearly five goals per game in pre-tournament action, and their forward depth should overwhelm Czechia’s defense early. The top two lines alone – featuring McKenna, Misa, Martone, Hage, Iginla, and Martin – have the firepower to put up four or five goals themselves.

Czechia’s offense is good enough to chip in a couple goals despite missing Jecho. They have skilled forwards who can capitalize on mistakes, and Canada’s aggressive style should create some odd-man rushes going the other way. Both teams will push the pace in a round-robin game where there’s no need to play conservatively.

The -800 moneyline is way too heavy to touch, and Canada -3.5 at +140 requires them to win by four goals, which is asking a lot even against an overmatched opponent. The over is the play here.

Canada vs Czechia Odds

Canada opened at -800 on the moneyline, which is massive chalk that’s not worth laying. You’re risking eight units to win one on a team that should dominate, but that kind of juice offers zero value even in what should be a comfortable Canadian victory.

The puck line at -3.5 (+140) is tempting with the plus money, but asking Canada to win by four or more goals is a lot. They’re capable of it against an overmatched opponent, but Czechia has shown they can hang around and make things interesting even when outplayed. The value just isn’t there on either side of that number.

Czechia at +500 on the moneyline might look appealing after their recent success against Canada, but those were quarterfinal games decided by late goals. This is a different situation entirely. In the round-robin opener, Canada has a clear motivation to make a statement and holds an overwhelming talent edge.

The total at 6.5 is where the value sits. Canada’s been scoring in bunches during their preparation games, putting up five against Switzerland and four against Finland. Czechia has enough offensive talent to contribute a couple goals themselves, especially with Canada playing aggressively and creating chances both ways.

Canada vs Czechia Projected Lineups

Team Canada

Forwards

Defense

Goalies: Carter George (starter), Jack Ivankovic

Canada’s top line of Iginla (Utah), Misa (San Jose), and Martone (Philadelphia) combined for over 200 points in their respective leagues this season. The second line is just as dangerous with McKenna centering Hage, who’s tied for second in NCAA scoring with 28 points in 20 games at Michigan.

Team Czechia

Czechia’s projected lineup was not available at time of publication. The team brings seven returnees from last year’s bronze medal squad, led by Adam Jiricek (16th overall, St. Louis Blues, 2024) playing in his third World Juniors. Other key first-round picks include Radim Mrtka (9th overall, Buffalo, 2025) and Vaclav Nestrasil (25th overall, Chicago, 2025).

The biggest loss is Adam Jecho, who scored the game-winner against Canada in last year’s quarterfinal but suffered a pre-tournament injury and won’t play in the 2026 tournament.

Canada vs Czechia Head-to-Head

Canada holds a 21-5 all-time record against Czechia at the World Juniors, with two games ending in ties. But recent history favors the Czechs – they’ve eliminated Canada in the quarterfinals in back-to-back tournaments, both times scoring late goals to break Canadian hearts.

Last year’s 4-3 loss came with Czechia scoring the winner with just 40 seconds left. The year before, they found the back of the net with 11 seconds remaining. Those painful losses have six returning Canadian players hungry for revenge in tonight’s opener.

How to Watch Canada vs Czechia

Friday’s game starts at 8:30 PM ET from 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis. TSN will carry the broadcast in Canada, while NHL Network has the coverage in the United States.