Tip: Canada and the host nation Czech Republic battle for victory in Group A!

Expect an electrifying atmosphere in the stands in Prague when the Czech Republic and Canada clash in this afternoon’s match starting at 16:20! The Czech Republic is gearing up for the playoffs and has bolstered its roster by bringing in superstar David Pastrnak from the Boston Bruins!

The Stars Join In

Few people have missed that the Czech national team is ramping up for the playoffs. Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak, along with his colleague Pavel Zacha, has come to the World Championship to strengthen the host nation ahead of the playoffs. This afternoon, the Czech Republic faces Canada in the battle for the group win. Canada remains undefeated, two points ahead of the Czech Republic, who must win the match in regular time to win the group. However, the Czechs could be reasonably satisfied with just earning points, as Switzerland is chasing behind with a chance to knock the Czech Republic down to third place, giving them a tougher quarterfinal, likely against the USA.

What does it mean for the Czech Republic that David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha are joining? It means a lot, of course! Pastrnak is one of the world's best forwards, having scored 47 goals and assisted on 63 with his Boston Bruins in the regular season. Simply put, he is the sharpest offensive player in the tournament, reinforcing the Czech team. Let's not forget that Pavel Zacha tied his personal record by scoring 21 goals and 38 assists in league play. Carolina Hurricanes player Martin Necas has also joined earlier, a player who, with 24 goals and 29 assists in the NHL this season, shows how much stronger the Czech Republic is now compared to the start of the tournament!

Canada Wins the Group with a Draw

Canada has been inconsistent throughout the tournament but has yet to lose a single match. It’s hard not to be impressed by their peak performance when they switch to top gear. The team is packed with NHL players, and it shows. In classic North American style, they have played uninspired in some easier group matches, but expect them to be more engaged today. Canada had a tough game against Switzerland the day before yesterday, where, thanks to Kevin Fiala’s match penalty, they got a good opportunity to turn the game around, which they did, ultimately winning 3-2.

Betting Tips and Conclusion

Nothing is entirely confirmed yet, but I believe Pastrnak and Zacha will play in this afternoon’s match against Canada. They are officially in the squad and trained with the team this morning, looking to form the first line with Cervenka. When Switzerland closed at the same odds as the Czech Republic is now, I can't resist putting some money on the home team, which with these reinforcements, should be seen as a medal contender and rated as a stronger team than Switzerland. I think the Czech Republic will put up a real fight and will bet on Czech Republic ML @ +160 at DrafKings!

For those willing to take on more variance, betting on a win in regular time is an option, but as I believe the Czech Republic values the extra points an eventual draw provides, I lean towards the moneyline, which includes an overtime/shootout win!