Accuscore’s Ice Hockey World Championship 2017
Ice hockey World Championship tournament is played in Paris, France and Cologne, Germany in May. In less than three weeks 16 teams divided into two groups of 8 battle for the World Championship title. Group A is placed in Cologne and Group B in Paris, with the playoff-stage taking place in the former. Teams play single round against all the teams in their respective group and top four teams of each group then move on to playoff-stage. One-off playoffs are played between the groups, so that Group A winner will face Group B 4th and so on. The Final and bronze medal game are played on Sunday May 21st.
Traditionally the “big six” have ruled the ice hockey World Championships. The Six includes Canada, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic and USA. Challengers include the likes of Slovakia and Switzerland, with honorable mentions going to Germany, Belarus and Denmark. Battling for relegation this year are newly promoted Italy and Slovenia, with Latvia and France in the danger-zone.
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Group A
|
W
|
L
|
OTW
|
OTL
|
PTS
|
|
1
|
Russia
|
6
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
20
|
|
2
|
Sweden
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
19
|
|
3
|
USA
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
15
|
|
4
|
Slovakia
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
11
|
|
5
|
Germany
|
2
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
8
|
|
6
|
Denmark
|
1
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
7
|
|
7
|
Latvia
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
6
|
|
8
|
Italy
|
0
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Group B
|
W
|
L
|
OTW
|
OTL
|
PTS
|
|
1
|
Canada
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
21
|
|
2
|
Czech
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
17
|
|
3
|
Finland
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
16
|
|
4
|
Switzerland
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
9
|
|
5
|
Norway
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
0
|
7
|
|
6
|
Belarus
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
6
|
|
7
|
France
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
6
|
|
8
|
Slovenia
|
0
|
6
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
In Accuscore simulations, the group stage seems set in stone with the traditionally strong teams heading for the playoffs.
In knockout-stage two of the biggest favorites, Russia and Canada, will face-off against the two challengers, Switzerland and Slovakia. Unsurprisingly the first knockout game is a walk in the park for the favorites: Canada beats Slovakia comfortably with over 90% probability, while Russia overcomes Switzerland with 85% certainty.
The other two games, however, seem to be a lot closer affairs according to Accuscore simulations. Sweden sends their close neighbor Finland packing with 64% likelihood and Czech Republic ousts USA with 62.5% probability.
Canada and Russia are, once again, unstoppable in Accuscore’s simulations. In the semi-final game Sweden is a tough nut to crack for Canada, but the reigning champions prevail with 64.3% probability. Czech Republic presents an even greater challenge for Russia, but in this game also the favorite seems stronger in the end. Russia heads for the final with 56% likelihood.
The bronze game is played between Czech Republic and USA, and it is as close as it gets. Practically a 50/50 coin toss, Czech Republic is a mere 0.1% favorite to take the medal.
In the final the two behemoths of ice hockey, Russia and Canada renew their rivalry. Canada has taken the bragging rights lately and according to Accuscore’s simulations will do so in 2017 as well. In a close game Canada wins their third championship in a row with 54.6% probability.
