The World Championships will conclude later today as Canada is set to take on Russia with the gold medal on the line.
In this edition of the hotstove we share our thoughts as to who will win that game.
Todd Cordell: Canada I think this will be a close game but I can't go against Team Canada.
They are stacked from top to bottom and have had little trouble with anyone they have played.
They lead the tournament with a 9-0-0 record, they have the best power play at 34.4%, the 2nd best penalty kill at 95%, and they have scored an absurd 60 goals in nine games.
To put that in perspective Russia has 39 goals and are 2nd to Canada in that regard.
Russia has a ton of star power and the advantage in goal - I'd take Sergei Bobrovsky over Mike Smith a million times over - so they should be able to keep it close.
That said, if Mike Smith gives Canada average goaltending (he has a .931SV% in seven starts) I think they win this game.
Ryan Wilson: Canada Canada has not lost a single game this tournament and I am betting on that trend to continue. Canada is littered with high end NHL talent throughout its lineup. Watching Sidney Crosby play with Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle has been very fun.
Russia is not without its star power as it boasts Ilya Kovalchuk, Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, and Vladimir Tarasenko.
I see this game being a nice break from the Stanley Cup playoffs where star players will be able to make plays in time and space.
I give the goaltending edge heavily to Russia but Canada's deeper firepower will eventually overwhelm.
Enjoy the show, should be fun.
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