Does the Nati celebrate the next victory at the Ice Hockey World Cup 2022?

The 2022 Ice Hockey World Championship in Finland could not have started any better for the Swiss national ice hockey team. The Swiss not only mastered their compulsory task against Italy with aplomb, but also won against the Danish national team. Switzerland has thus already set the course for a place in the quarter-finals.

In the third group match, the Swiss can continue their high flying at the current World Cup. Their opponents, Kazakhstan, are currently the weakest team in Group A in terms of form. The Kazakh national hockey team has already lost two of its first two group games. A point win against Switzerland would therefore be all the more surprising.

The last time the two nations met in an international match, the Swiss national team suffered a surprising defeat at the World Cup in Russia almost six years ago. The result should not be overestimated, however, as the Swiss have improved considerably since then.

The Swiss have always reached at least the quarter-finals in their last three World Cup appearances. In 2018, the “Nati” even missed out on a title coup. The Swiss only ended their World Cup fairytale four years ago against the Swedish national ice hockey team.

Switzerland – Statistics & current form

Switzerland as secret favourites at the 2022 World Cup? The question is quite justified after the impressive results in the first two group matches. Not only because Switzerland already ensured a clear balance of power against the Italians, but also because head coach Patrick Fischer’s team shone in the group match against Denmark.

Against the Danish national team, the Swiss even celebrated a 6:0 smash-and-grab victory after an offensive spectacle. If they can build on this, the only question in the group match against Kazakhstan will be how big Switzerland’s victory will ultimately be. The “Nati” can by no means rule out the next shooting match.

In a cross-comparison, the Swiss national team has the edge. In contrast to the Swiss, who celebrated a 6:0 victory against Denmark, Kazakhstan went down 1:9 against the Danish national team. In the case of Switzerland vs. Kazakhstan, we think there is no alternative to betting on the Swiss.

Will Switzerland warm up for the quarter-finals?

So far, Denis Malgin of the ZSC Lions has been Switzerland’s most prolific player in the “Nati” ranks. The 25-year-old has already recorded five points in the national jersey of the red and white team at the current 2022 World Cup. It is quite possible that Malgin will also be a success factor for the offensive in the match against the Kazakh national hockey team.

In contrast to the last World Cup, where Switzerland was forced to do without its NHL stars, this year’s World Cup in Finland will once again feature numerous NHL stars on the ice. In total, eight players from the NHL are represented in the “Nati” squad, including team captain Nico Hischier.

Although other teams also have top-class NHL stars, Switzerland certainly has the potential to make a splash at the 2022 World Cup. The minimum goal of reaching the quarter-finals is now within reach for the Swiss.

Kazakhstan – Statistics & current form

Kazakhstan have made a false start so far and sit bottom of Group A after two matchdays at the 2022 World Cup. The 15th-ranked team in the IIHF world rankings even has to fear for staying in the league after two bitter defeats. In both World Championship groups, the two worst teams are relegated.

Because the Kazakh national team already lost the game against France, a stay in the top flight is now more than doubtful. There are still difficult hurdles to overcome against top-class teams like Canada, Slovakia and the DEB team. Every point against one of the quarter-final contenders is a small bonus for the Kazakhs.

The group game against the in-form Swiss is no exception. As expected, Kazakhstan is rated as the clear underdog against the “Nati” after the first two group games. There is no value in betting on a surprise coup, as the Kazakh national ice hockey team has lost its last five international matches.

Will Kazakhstan be swept off the ice again?

At the last World Cup in Latvia in 2021, Kazakhstan caused a sensation and only narrowly missed out on a place in the first World Cup quarter-finals in the association’s history. Kazakhstan finished the group stage in fifth place, level on points with Canada, and only missed out on a quarter-final ticket because of the worse H2H against the Canadians.

This time, the IIHF world number 15 is threatened with relegation to Division IA. Already between 2017 and 2019, Kazakhstan was represented in the lower-ranked league and therefore could not participate in the World Cup of Hockey. After promotion in 2019, the team is now threatened with relegation after three years.

Head coach Yuri Mkihailis’ team still has five group games to play to stay in the top flight. The result in the six-point match against the Italian national team will be the most important factor in this regard.

Switzerland – Kazakhstan Direct comparison / H2H-Balance

Switzerland and Kazakhstan are meeting for only the fifth time. So far, the Swiss have won three out of four international matches against the Eastern Europeans. Switzerland has only lost to Kazakhstan once. That defeat came in the last international match at the 2016 World Cup, where Kazakhstan celebrated a surprising 3:2 overtime victory.

Switzerland – Kazakhstan tip

Switzerland are on course for the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup. The Swiss are currently in top form and have already defeated a potential rival in the battle for quarter-final spots. After the impressive victory against the Danish national ice hockey team, a comparatively easier hurdle now awaits.

In the third group match, head coach Patrick Fischer’s team will face Kazakhstan, the last-placed team in Group A. In contrast to the Swiss, the Eastern Europeans have lost both group games at the 2022 World Cup so far and now have to worry about staying in the group. Against the “Nati”, the Kazakhs are now threatened with the next defeat.

In their current form, Switzerland should not have too much trouble against their upcoming opponents and bag their next victory at the 2022 World Cup. We expect the “Nati” to put on a show of strength and dare to bet on Switzerland vs. Kazakhstan Ice Hockey at odds of 1.86 on a handicap victory for the Swiss with at least a four-goal lead. We are betting on six units for this one.