Quarter final matchups

[Stife]

I doubt there will be an upset, maybe Denmark can hang there for awhile but otherwise I think its pretty obvious: Russia, Sweden, USA, Canada.

 

[jason2020]

My pick is the Swiss over the States for the upset.

 

[OilerPensfan97]

As if it matters whether Canada wins 8-1 or 8-0.

There is no way we would have beaten the Swiss 8-1. It would have been much closer than that. Obviously I would have taken a Canada win, but we will fare a lot better against the Czechs.

 

[Jakk123]

In reality how many big upsets has there been in the last 20-25 years in the World Juniors? Not many like really not many. The game isn't growing it's actually declining in countries like Germany Belarus CzechRepublic Slovakia even Russia and or stagnating in countries like Swizterland USA. There's also a major lack of superstars coming from Europe like there was in the early 90's when you literally had at the same time coming in Bure Fedorov Mogilny Sundin Naslund Forsberg Selanne Jagr Bondra and many others...And let's not even talk about the dump and chase game and the trap and all that...

And how many upsets would you like? It's not true the game isn't growing generally, you should do some research and check results from 20 - 30 years ago. And why does everyone keep on saying that the Czechs are declining? Yeah, they are nowhere near as powerful as they were at the turn of the millennium, but in the recent years, they are definitely producing more quality prospects than they were let's say 10 years ago.

Pro tip: Don't watch these QF games if they are so boring for you.

 

[Pouchkine]

I've said all along that the tournament starts in the semis.

 

[Rob]

Usually you will have one or two competitive quarterfinal games. I don't think that is going to happen this year.

 

[admire]

Replay of last years super exciting qf between russia and denmark...cant wait and hope we can play as tightly against them as last year.

Denmark lost a friendly to russia in overtime 2-1 shortly before this tournament btw

People keep saying it won't be competitive but denmark lost in ot last year...pretty sure ot seems it was competitive

 

[Statsy]

Usually you will have one or two competitive quarterfinal games. I don't think that is going to happen this year.

Agreed. Seems like there is a distinct top four this year, and none of them face one another in the QF. However, should things hold to form as I expect, we are looking at a couple of pretty spectacular semis! Can't wait!

 

[that is unfortunate]

There is no way we would have beaten the Swiss 8-1. It would have been much closer than that. Obviously I would have taken a Canada win, but we will fare a lot better against the Czechs.

The Czechs have the better team so I don't see why not, either game would be a blowout.

 

[Hinterland]

or stagnating in countries like Swizterland

Now that's quite a statement. How many NHL players did we have 10 years ago? Where are we now? Make the comparison and then tell me again...we're stagnating?

When did we last have an under 20 squad including talents like van Pottelberghe, Malgin, Siegenthaler, Riat, Thürkauf, Hischier, Karrer or Gross?

 

[EMeduza]

It's a good thing for Sweden that they avoided all of Canada, Russia and USA until the semifinals. Usually they will spend all their energy to win with an odd goal against 1 one of these in an essentially meaningless group stage game.

I think Russia is the opposite to Sweden in this regard. They can sleep their way to deep into a tourney and suddenly wake up.

 

[wishywashy19]

Agreed. Seems like there is a distinct top four this year, and none of them face one another in the QF. However, should things hold to form as I expect, we are looking at a couple of pretty spectacular semis! Can't wait!

So far it is following to form
No bottom feeders please
Sweden looks awesome
Russia looks like it would be not surprising to knock off USA
Let's get it done USA/Canada
Great semis await

 

[wishywashy19]

Yes like when Russia went to a shootout with Denmark literally last year....Who wants games like that!!

Nice waste of time today isn't it
Time to shed these quarters
Semis look very good

 

[Pouchkine]

4-0 6-0 4-0 6-0 those were my predicted scores yesterday. Looking good so far.

 

[wishywashy19]

4-0 6-0 4-0 6-0 those were my predicted scores yesterday. Looking good so far.

TSN already calling Canada the underdog if they win today
Very good TSN
At least they are beginning to see it
It will take a mammoth effort and some puck luck to knock off Sweden in the semis

 

[Statsy]

TSN already calling Canada the underdog if they win today
Very good TSN
At least they are beginning to see it
It will take a mammoth effort and some puck luck to knock off Sweden in the semis

Sweden has been pretty consistent. Canada sometimes looks great and sometimes look terrible.