The final day of play has arrived at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championships. This means the final editions of 2024 World Juniors predictions. There are two great games on the docket for the last day of action. Everyone in Sweden is waiting on the host nation taking on a very good Team USA in the gold medal game. However, there’s the matter of the bronze medal match between Finland and Czechia. Both teams are going to have to recover quick from heartbreaking losses in the semifinal games if they want to go home with some hardware.
Here’s a breakdown of the upcoming bronze medal game at the 2024 World Juniors between Finland and Czechia.
2024 World Juniors Predictions
Finland vs Czechia
Team Finland
The Finns had a great first period against Team USA and raced out to an early 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. However, the Americans dug themselves out of a hole and tied the game with a furious second-period rally. Philadelphia Flyers prospect Cutter Gauthier broke the hearts of Finnish fans that wanted to see an all-Scandinavian final between Sweden and Finland.
Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Oiva Keskinen and undrafted Tommi Mannisto scored the goals to give Finland the early lead. However, the United States did eventually pull out the win. One wonders how the Finns’ morale will be after losing a hotly-contested game. However, Keskinen told the IIHF official website that they want to win the bronze medal.
Player to watch
Keskinen has been strong for most of the tournament. He’s come on as of late to have four points from two goals and two assists. The seventh-round pick has been playing like someone that should have been selected a little bit earlier. The soon-to-be 20-year-old is six feet tall and over 180 pounds. He’s itching to prove that he deserved to hear his name a few rounds before.
Team Czechia
The Czechs faced the tall task of trying to beat Sweden in front of their home fans. However, Czechia stood tall and stood blow-for-blow with Sweden before the hosts pulled away in the final period. Matyas Melovsky and Tomas Cibulka provided goals for the Czechs, but Sweden would get a pair of third-period goals from Vancouver Canucks prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki to seal the deal for the Swedes.
Czechia has been inconsistent from year-to-year, but this is a chance for them to take a step forward in their Under-20 program. The Czechs haven’t gotten a medal in back-to-back tournaments since they won consecutive gold medals in the 2000 and 2001 tournaments. Czechia finished second in last year’s tournament in the Canadian Maritimes. They would love nothing more than to walk away with another medal.
Player to watch
Buffalo Sabres pivot Jiri Kulich has played well this tournament. He leads the team in points with four goals and four assists. Kulich is ready to get back to work for the Sabres’ AHL affiliate in Rochester, but he’d like his carry-on bag to be just a little bit heavier with a bronze medal. He’s just another Buffalo player that’s had a great tournament, but can he translate it to the big club someday?
Prediction
Third-place games are usually hard to predict. How will teams react after being in such a tough game the day before? Will the coaches allow the offences to open up a bit more and have a wide-open game. Finland is looking for its first medal since getting silver in the 2022 tournament.
The Czechs did play the earlier game, but Finland comes out on top and walks away with a bronze medal in a little bit more of an offensive game than some may think.
Prediction: Finland wins 5-3.
Main photo by: Andy Devlin/ Getty Images
