Preview: Ice Hockey World Championship 2010 Germany: Day 6
The last group games are played today and so we will see who advances to the top 12 and which teams will fight the relegation battle this year. Group B has met the expectations so far whilst Group D has been full of surprises!
Group D
Denmark – Germany 
Group D has produced some surprising results and the situation is very interesting here: Denmark 5 pts, Finland 3 pts, Germany 2 pts USA 2 pts. Denmark are the biggest surprise of the tournament. Superior goaltending and the team-based work ethic that Per Backman is famous for should return the Danes to the quarter-finals. Much of their success can be attributed to its defence led by Damgaard. They have enough talent in their squad. Germany go into this match with one win in overtime and one loss. We can expect them to be highly motivated, angry and tenacious at home. Their biggest issue will be goaltending because their goalies haven’t enough experience yet. They also need their offense and the power-plays to improve. But Germany cannot be underestimated as under-dogs for this clash.
Pick:
Group B
Italy – Latvia 
This is a do-or-die match for both sides as the loser will fight the relegation battle. Italy have been terrible as expected with only one goal scored in the first two games. Latvia however were almost worse with two goals scored against Canada and Switzerland. But we must not forget that the Latvian team were very close to a point in the match to Switzerland(3:1) as they conceded the last goal when playing power-play during the last minute of that game. The winner will play another three games against the top sides while the loser will fight hard in the relegation group with lots of pressure on their shoulders. Latvia look to be the likely winners here, considering their experience and also seeing that Italy fight the relegation group every year.
Pick:
Group D
Finland – USA 
The USA were defeated in both their previous matches in overtime (2-1 by Germany and also 2-1 by Denmark). There are plenty of young players trying to make a name for themselves but they must play more as a team. USA must continue to find chemistry in the lines and help the team win. They usually play a hard-working, two-way game and are at their best when they play with a physical edge. Finland were defeated by Denmark 4-1 but after that they beat Germany 1-0. Pekka Rinne received good support from a defence led by the veteran Petteri Nummelin. The Finns will be highly motivated against the USA. With strong goaltending and more consistency they will be a very dangerous team. But they must improve on their offensive numbers. There are too many ‘If'’ factors to truly determine how the team will do this year. Finland must find their heart, their drive, and renew their love of the game. Both teams need to win. I expect a nervous game, possibly low scoring, but Finland should win.
Pick:
Group B
Canada – Switzerland 
Canada entered the tournament as one of the big favorites and they had a strong start – beating Italy 5-1 and Latvia 6-1. So Canada will be looking to secure their third victory against Switzerland. They have good forward depth and play a fast-paced game. There's a good chance they will score from the first, second, and third lines. The Canadians have balanced scoring, good goaltending and a crowded but dependable defence. Much is expected of hockey teams with great potential. On the other side, Switzerland had been methodically building their roster for several years. The main opportunity for them here is in 5-on-5 play, a game-plan that involves safe play and patience Their focus in building the team has always been a 'Band of Brothers' mentality where the team working together with a common vision is far greater than the total of the individual parts. This year‘s team will be no different. Both teams have 6 points after two games but Canada have definitely more quality and experiences.
Pick: