Last Word’s 2024 World Juniors Predictions continues into the semi-finals of the tournament. The quarterfinals saw an exciting batch of games, with two overtime games and a third game decided in the final 11 seconds. The United States blew out Latvia, while Sweden and Finland squeezed their ways past Switzerland and Slovakia, respectively. Then, it was Czechia, upsetting Canada to find themselves moving into the semis. Who will move on to the gold medal game?
2024 World Juniors Predictions: Semi Finals
Sweden vs. Czechia
Team Sweden
For many, Sweden has become the “bad guys” of the tournament. Their win against Switzerland was controversial to many fans, due to penalties called or not called. They’ve become the team that most are rooting against. But, the hosts do not care. They were able to advance due to a strong first period. They opened the game leading 2-0 after the first, with goals from Otto Stenberg (his fourth of the tournament) and Jonathan Lekkerimaki (also scoring his fourth). The Swiss did fight back, with goals from Jan Hornecker (in the second period) and Nick Miele (in the third period). But it was star defender Axel Sandin-Pellikka who called game and was the hero for the hosts. He scored his first goal of the tournament to send the Swiss packing and the Swedes to the semis.
Sandin-Pellikka and Stenberg, who both scored, were stand-outs for the Swedes, especially when it came to moving the puck up ice. Their efforts helped keep the Swiss at bay for much of the game. Sandin-Pellikka himself shined offensively, and his OT winner was due to his play in the quarterfinal contest. Meanwhile, Swedish goaltender Hugo Havelid made 15 saves on 17 shots in regulation time. He must be better, especially considering he had yet to allow a single goal against until this game.
Player To Watch
There are a few names to pay attention to, but none are bigger than Havelid. He should get the start for the Swedes once again, thanks to his outstanding play in the preliminary round. He was clearly the Swedes best goalie. That said, Czechia is a tough bunch, and they’ve seemingly found their rhythm with upsetting the Canadians and giving the Americans their toughest challenge in the prelims. Havelid has to be at his best, as offence may be very hard to come by against this tough-to-crack Czechia team.
Team Czechia
Czechia stumbled in their first game. Then, they blew out Norway, fought the Americans into overtime, took down the Swiss, then shocked Canada. Goaltender Michael Hrabal made 28 saves on 30 Canadian shots, including stopping all 12 shots he faced in the final frame. Simply put, if not for the play of Hrabal, Czechia does not get through Canada.
Meanwhile, it was a strong first period that gave Czechia an early advantage, with goals from Jakub Stancl (his second goal of the tournament) and Tomas Cibulka (his first goal). The Canadians responded with a strong second period, with goals from Matthew Wood and Jake Furlong, tying it up heading into the final frame. On the back of Hrabal, Czechia out-lasted Canada before Stancl scored his second of the game (third of the tournament) with 11 seconds remaining. The goal that broke the hearts of every Canadian watching, and the one that sent Czechia straight to a date in the semi finals.
That said, Sweden has been getting strong play in their crease as well, while providing more offence than Czechia has, to this point. But, Sweden beat Latvia, Germany and the same Canadian team Czechia just beat. They then took what was expected to be a light game against Switzerland, and it was dangerously closer than anyone anticipated. Czechia may just be Sweden’s toughest test yet. Meanwhile, Czechia has been through a gauntlet of opponents compared to Sweden, and has fared better.
Player To Watch
It may just come down to the goalies in this one. Hrabal started off the tournament as bad as it can get, but has really turned it around since then. His heroic performance against Canada is reminiscent of the same heroics that Havelid pulled off with his shut-out against the Canadians. With both teams generally providing strong defence and goaltending, Hrabal will be the one to watch again. Which goalie will out-last the other? That could decide who moves onto the gold medal game.
Prediction: Czechia wins 3-2
Main Photo: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
