Perfect World Cup start: Ice comrades on course for quarter-finals!

The Swiss national team is currently riding a wave of euphoria. With the perfect start to the World Cup – Switzerland won both group games and has not conceded a goal – the course has already been set for a place in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Ice Hockey World Cup. Against Kazakhstan this week, the Swiss national team is aiming for its next victory.

As expected, the Ice Comrades are rated as favourites in the upcoming group match. After all, Kazakhstan were already shown up by the Czech Republic and suffered a bitter defeat. Our Switzerland vs. Kazakhstan tip is even aiming for a clear victory for the Nati.

The Swiss have only lost to Kazakhstan once at a World Cup so far. In contrast, the Nati have won four out of five encounters against the Eastern Europeans. The last time was at the 2022 World Cup, when the Red and Whites held on to beat Kazakhstan 3-2.

This time, a close result is more likely to be ruled out. Switzerland was far too strong for that in the preparation and also in the first two group matches of the 2023 World Cup. The only question in our Switzerland vs. Kazakhstan prediction is how high the victory of the Nati will ultimately turn out to be.

Switzerland – Statistics & current form

Switzerland could not have had a better start to the 2023 World Cup. Both compulsory tasks – the group matches against Slovenia and Norway – were won by the Nati. In addition, the white waistcoat was also preserved in both matches. This was particularly commendable against the Norwegians, who have a very promising offensive.

Now the group match against Kazakhstan is coming up. Tuesday’s opponent comes in handy for the Ice Comrades. After all, Switzerland has only lost to its upcoming opponents once in a World Cup. Of the four encounters that Switzerland has won in a total of five World Cup duels with Kazakhstan, two were won by a margin of four goals or more.

It is quite possible that the next clear victory beckons. If you take a look at the recent form curve of the Ice Comrades, this scenario is quite obvious. Since the 3-0 defeat against Sweden, Switzerland has won each of the last four international matches and scored 15 goals in the process.

Next show from Malgin?

The best scorer at the ongoing Ice Hockey World Championship is currently Denis Malgin. The 26-year-old, who plays at club level for the NHL team Colorado Avalanche, has already recorded three scoring points (2 goals, 1 assist). Against Kazakhstan, the Swiss forward can build on his statistics. Tuesday’s opponents do not have the best defence in the standings.

Switzerland, on the other hand, has had the second-best goal tally in Group B so far. Only Canada has scored more goals than the Swiss national team. Betting fans who are confident that the Nati will produce the next offensive spectacle in the upcoming group match can also use the betting offer at Betano. There are various betting options on the number of goals scored by the Nati.

Kazakhstan – Statistics & Current Form

Kazakhstan kicked off their 2023 World Cup campaign with a win over Norway, as national coach Galym Mambetaliyev’s side won their group opener on penalties to earn vital points in their fight to stay in the group. In return, the Eastern Europeans were shown up in their group match against the Czech Republic.

Kazakhstan lost the match against the Czech national team 1:5. Mambetaliyev’s team was clearly inferior over three periods. Kazakhstan were also outnumbered seven times, and three of these seven shorthanded situations were punished.

Against Switzerland, the world number 16 of the IIHF is now threatened with the next defeat. For Kazakhstan, the day’s form of the offensive will be decisive for a point win – even if only via overtime. Recently, the Kazakh attack was far too harmless.

No NHL star in the squad

If you take a look at the squad line-up of the Kazakhs, the goal yield is not surprising at all. Star players from the NHL are looked for in vain in the ranks of the Eastern Europeans. Of the 25 players in the Kazakh national squad, twelve play for the KHL club Barys Astana.

Muratov is one of the few bright spots in the squad. The 24-year-old has already scored three points – after assists, mind you – and was one of the most important players in the Kazakh offensive game. Team-mate Mukhametov, who like Muratov plays for Nomad Nur-Sultan, has scored the most goals (2) in the Kazakh ranks.

Although Kazakhstan’s last performance was a poor one against the Czech Republic, the Eastern Europeans are not expected to make any major changes in their upcoming group match against Switzerland.

Switzerland – Kazakhstan Direct comparison / H2H-Balance

The two nations have already met seven times. While Switzerland have won four of these seven encounters, Kazakhstan have prevailed three times. However, in the last five international matches – all in the context of a World Cup – Switzerland has had the upper hand. The Nati have won four of the last five encounters, including the 2022 World Cup clash (3-2 victory for Switzerland).

Switzerland – Kazakhstan tip

Switzerland are on course for the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.Although the Nati benefited from an easy fixture list, results against Slovenia and Norway should by no means be diminished. Switzerland won both group games without conceding a single goal. Behind Canada, the Nati also has the best attack in the rankings.

If the momentum is carried over, the team of national coach Patrick Fischer should not have too many problems against Kazakhstan. After all, the primary goal of their upcoming opponents is to keep their place in the 2023 World Cup. Kazakhstan already set the course for this with their victory against Norway.

Nevertheless, we expect a clear victory in the third group match of the Nati. In the case of Switzerland vs. Kazakhstan, our betting odds of 1.55 are on the Swiss to win by at least three goals. We are betting on six units.