Italy vs Canada Prediction & Picks - IIHF World Championship
International - IIHF World Championship
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by Edgar Jibran | in IIHF World Championship Picks
The Italian ice hockey team has remained very far from being competitive this year, so it’s undeniable that they are one of the biggest contenders to be relegated along with Norway in the 2026 IIHF World Championship. In this regard, it’s worth noting that sustaining a strong defense against teams like Canada and the Czech Republic will be key for them to increase their survival chances.
Taking these factors into account, players like Marco Zanetti, Niccolo Mansueto, and Tommaso De Luca are expected to show a remarkable performance as they are currently playing in the Swiss League. However, it cannot be forgotten that they were one of the weakest defenses in the Olympic Games, a concerning fact when considering that they played that tournament at home.
Meanwhile, Canada ratified that they are strong contenders to lift this cup after defeating Sweden in their opening game (5-3), so it makes sense from the odds to show absolute support for the Canadian team to defeat Italy. With those expectations in mind, players like John Tavares and Darnell Nurse are expected to score for the second straight game; it is also relevant for players like Sidney Crosby to take advantage of the Italian weaknesses.
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Italy vs Canada Form
Table
| Teams | Pts | P | W | L | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
20 | 262 | 6 | 0 | +20 |
|
8
|
1 | 7 | 0 | 6 | -23 |
Italy and Canada Latest Matches
2/6 (33%)
4/6 (67%)
May 12, 2026 - International Friendly Games
May 10, 2026 - International Friendly Games
May 2, 2026 - International Friendly Games
Apr 30, 2026 - International Friendly Games
Apr 26, 2026 - International Friendly Games
Apr 25, 2026 - International Friendly Games
1/4 (25%)
3/4 (75%)
May 12, 2026 - International Friendly Games
May 10, 2026 - International Friendly Games
Feb 13, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 4, 2026 - International Friendly Games
1/6 (17%)
5/6 (83%)
May 2, 2026 - International Friendly Games
Apr 30, 2026 - International Friendly Games
Apr 26, 2026 - International Friendly Games
Apr 25, 2026 - International Friendly Games
Apr 16, 2026 - International Friendly Games
Feb 17, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
5/6 (83%)
1/6 (17%)
May 15, 2026 - IIHF World Championship
May 13, 2026 - International Friendly Games
May 10, 2026 - International Friendly Games
Feb 22, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 20, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 18, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
5/6 (83%)
1/6 (17%)
May 15, 2026 - IIHF World Championship
Feb 22, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 20, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 18, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 15, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
Feb 13, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
4/4 (100%)
0/4 (0%)
May 13, 2026 - International Friendly Games
May 10, 2026 - International Friendly Games
Feb 12, 2026 - Ice hockey - Men's Olympic Tournament
May 20, 2025 - IIHF World Championship
Players list
D. Fadani
J. Smith
G. Nitz
G. Gios
D. Di Perna
P. Pietroniro
P. Spornberger
A. Trivellato
C. Buono
L. Zanatta
M. Bradley
A. Segafredo
T. Purdeller
T. De Luca
M. Zanetti
D. Mantenuto
M. Frycklund
C. DiGiacinto
M. Mantinger
B. Misley
L. Frigo
N. Saracino
J. Greaves
C. Talbot
E. Bouchard
D. Mateychuk
Z. Whitecloud
D. DeMelo
M. Rielly
D. Nurse
P. Wotherspoon
F. Minten
D. Mercer
D. Holloway
D. Cozens
R. O'Reilly
P. Martone
M. Celebrini
C. Brown
M. Scheifele
J. Tavares
R. Thomas
G. Vilardi
S. Crosby
Italy - Canada Key Points
- Italy lost all their games played in the Olympics, it being worth noting that they conceded 3 or more goals per game.
- Canada conceded more than 1 goal only in one of their last three games.
- Italy got promoted from Division I after a fantastic performance in 2025, so sustaining in this league will be the challenge from now on.
- Canada scored 5 or more goals during their last five meetings against Italy in the World Championship.
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Our Italy vs Canada Prediction
Taking all these factors into account, it's notorious that these national teams have huge competitive differences between them, so expecting a surprising victory is still very far from being a serious scenario. However, some of the Italian players on the roster already experienced the pressure of facing this kind of opponent, so they are expected to show a more competitive defense.
In conclusion, despite the potential for Italy to emerge as one of the most competitive teams in Europe over the next decade, it is anticipated that their learning curve will be a lengthy journey. Therefore, the pick for Italy - Canada is: Over 7.5 Goals!
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