Ukraine National Hockey Team Faces Lithuania in Pivotal World Championship Match: Bookmakers Reveal Odds

Ukraine vs. Lithuania: A Critical Clash

According to Главком: On May 3, 2026, at 17:00 Kyiv time, Ukraine's national hockey team will take on Lithuania in the Division IA of the World Championship. Bookmaker GGBET has set the odds for a Ukraine win at 1.23, while a Lithuania victory is priced at 9.98. The odds for a draw in regulation time stand at 6.63, with the over/under for total goals set at 5.5-over is 1.93 and under is 1.82.

Recent Results and Standings

Ukraine enters this match after a 2-3 loss to Poland, despite outshooting their opponents 32-22. Lithuania also dropped their opening game, falling 1-4 to Kazakhstan. Notably, Lithuania led 1-0 after two periods against Kazakhstan but conceded four goals in the third.

The standings after the first round are as follows:

• 1. Kazakhstan (3 points, goal difference 4:1)
• 2. France (3 points, 4:3)
• 3. Poland (3 points, 3:2)
• 4. Japan (0 points, 3:4)
• 5. Ukraine (0 points, 2:3)
• 6. Lithuania (0 points, 1:4)

Ukraine's upcoming fixtures are as follows:

• May 5 at 17:00 vs. France
• May 7 at 17:00 vs. Kazakhstan
• May 8 at 17:00 vs. Japan

Matches will be broadcast on the Suspilne Sport platform and local Suspilne channels.

The Ukrainian roster includes goaltenders: Bohdan Dyachenko (Polonia Bytom, Poland), Oleh Petrov (Sokil, Ukraine), and Oleksandr Levshyn (Prince George Cougars, Canada). Defensemen are: Ihor Merezhko (Plzeň, Czechia), Artem Hrebenyk (Caen, France), Denys Matusevych (Kremenchuk, Ukraine), Oleksii Dakhnovskyi (Košice, Slovakia), Yevhenii Ratushnyi (Sokil, Ukraine), Ivan Sysak (Feltre, Italy), and Mykola Kosarev (Stavanger Oilers, Norway). Forwards include: Oleksandr Peresunko (Unia, Poland), Danil Trakht (Lukko, Finland), Andrii Denyskin (Toruń, Poland), Oleksii Vorona (Toruń, Poland), Vitalii Lialka (Kremenchuk, Ukraine), Stanislav Sadovikov (Berani Zlín, Czechia), Ilarion Kupriianov (Dukla Jihlava, Czechia), Yevhen Fadieiev (Snackpoint Eaters Limburg, Netherlands), Felix Morozov (Morzine-Avoriaz, France), Viktor Zakharov (Sokil, Ukraine), Denys Borodai (Sokil, Ukraine), Mykyta Oliinyk (Sokil, Ukraine), and Artem Buzoveria (Coventry Blaze, Great Britain). The head coach is Oleh Shafarenko.

This match against Lithuania is crucial for Ukraine as they look to bounce back from a disappointing start to the championship. Given their strong odds for victory, the team has a chance to climb the standings. A win here could provide momentum for their bid to advance to the next round. The subsequent games against France and Kazakhstan will also be vital in determining Ukraine's overall performance in Division IA. As such, today's game may shape the team's strategy and morale for the rest of the tournament.

As the Ukrainian team prepares for their crucial match against Lithuania, it's essential to consider the recent roster changes that could impact their performance. In a related update, seven players have been released from the squad, highlighting the ongoing adjustments as they strive for success in the championship. Understanding these dynamics can provide deeper insights into the team's strategy moving forward.