Tip: The battle for the bronze medal!

On Sunday, the USA and Latvia clash in the Hockey World Cup's bronze medal game. The venue is the Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland.

USA-Latvia

Latvia with another tough game in the bag

Before Latvia's semi-final game against Canada, I mentioned that Latvia had a tough quarter-final game behind them, when they were set under press by Sweden in a game where the goaltender Arturs Silovs was the big game winner for his Latvia. In the quarter-final game against Sweden, the 22-year-old goalkeeper was forced to face forty shots and had to answer for a bunch of high-quality saves. Latvia followed up the quarter-final win against Sweden with another discharge in the semi-final against Canada, where they led after two periods but at last lose 4-2. Once again, Silovs was forced into a bunch of saves as Canada sent thirty-five shots on goal.

USA with the tournament's best offense

During this year's World Championship, it is USA that, in my opinion, has showed the best offense, and the team is also the team that during the course of the tournament accounted for the most goals scored of all and has an average of five goals scored per game. The question is whether motivation is at its peak after yesterday's loss, which was the team's first in the Championship after winning the first eight. In the team, however, there is plenty of quality where Rocco Grimaldi and T.J. Tynan have so far been the team’s two top point scorers, but the roster also includes class players from the NHL in Alex Tuch and Conor Garland.

Bronze medal games have historically been high scoring contests

Bronze medal games in the Hockey World Championship have historically been of a high scoring nature, as six straight bronze medal games have ended with at least five goals scored. Closest on the mind is, of course, USA's bronze medal game against Czech Republic last year, which was won by the Czech Republic 8-4, and the year before that it was again the USA who were involved when they defeated Germany 6-1.

Conclusion and prediction

The motivation is most likely in Latvia's favor here, as they have a good chance of securing their first Championship medal. However, the quality is in the USA's favor, as they have a strong team and won eight out of nine matches during the tournament. Here I think there are conditions for an entertaining and high scoring contest, as Latvia had a tough time defensively against both Sweden and Canada with a large number of shots against their own net. In addition, the USA possesses a high-class offensive arsenal as they have been the team that has scored the most goals of all teams with an average of five goals scored per game. Historically speaking, the bronze medal games have also been of an entertaining and high scoring nature and here I think there are good conditions for the USA to do what they did in 2021; take bronze. I think it is likely that the strong American offensive succeeds in hurting the weak and tired Latvian defense, and scores at least three goals.

My betting tip is therefore:

USA Over 3.0 Team Goals (Regular time) @ -161 at Unibet

Stake refunded if USA scores exactly three goals during regular game time