Finland vs Slovakia Prediction: Suomi won't face worthy resistance from the Slovaks

On 26 May 2022, Finland will face Slovakia in a World Cup quarter-final at the Tampere Deck Arena, Tampere.

Finland has had a phenomenal World Cup. Everyone is used to the fact that Jukka Jalonen has instilled in his players a system they have been using for years. At the 2022 World Cup, the Suomi clubs have decided to surpass themselves, conceding just five goals and allowing four clean sheets in seven games. All this allowed them to score six wins and one overtime loss, topping the Group B standings.

Slovakia is a team that can already take credit for its performance at the 2022 World Cup. Craig Ramsey's side made it through to the play-offs for the second year in a row, again in their last game against Denmark (7:1). The bronze medallist from the previous Olympics has reached the quarter-finals of the world championships from fourth place in Group A, but their opponents will be the tournament's host team.

The team from Slovakia is going through extraordinary times. In the last three major tournaments, they have managed to reach the play-offs, while they have young and promising guys capable of meeting significant challenges in the visible future. Not right now. The Finns are now playing incredibly consistent, high-quality ice hockey and have beaten the Slovaks in 13 of their most recent head-to-head encounters. So, now it's a good bet on Finland to win with a handicap (-2.5) at about 2.19.

In the upcoming match, there is no suggestion that the Slovakian team will be able to prove themselves in the attack. The fact is that Finland's defensive metrics at the 2022 World Cup are insane, and Juho Olkinuora is even better than his actual goaltending record: In five games played, he has allowed four clean sheets, saved 99.03% of his shots, and allowed an average of 0.20 goals per game. In the last five head-to-head encounters, the Slovaks have only scored four times (0.80 goals per game on average), so we suggest betting on the Slovak total under one at odds of about 3.75.

For Teemu Hartikainen, the current season is challenging. With Salavat Yulayev, he played in 42 games and scored only 25 points (13 goals + 12 assists) which is very modest for such an experienced and skillful player. He has yet to score in the 2022 World Cup for Suomi, limiting himself to just four assisted points. At some point, his losing streak must end, and the World Cup play-offs are the perfect time for that, so we suggest betting on a Teemu Hartikainen's Total Over 0.5 for 4.5.

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