Features

Big wins for Russia and USA over Czech Republic and Sweden respectively have blown the championship wide open.

 

 

 

In a thrilling end-to-end first period, the Czechs took the lead on their first power play at 16.32. Jagr faked a shot and passed to Vyborny, who redirected the puck past Sokolov with a little help from the blade of defenseman Vyshedkevich. 12-6 the shot count to Czech Republic and a 1-0 lead at the first interval.

 

The second period continued in the same vein with chances at both ends and at 32.59 Kovalchuck came in from the left and blasted a low one timer past Vokoun for the game tying goal. The Czechs continued to have more shots on goal but the scores remained even after 40mins.

 

Ebb and flow continued in this fascinating game and Russia survived a 62 second 3 on 5 before going on the power play themselves when Rucinsky sat on the pine on a double minor plus 10 for spearing.

They took full advantage on 48.16 as Denisov came in from the left, passed the puck to Yashin who backhanded it towards the crease. Semin moved his foot to re direct the biscuit passed Vokoun. The referee allowed the goal, as no kicking motion was apparent the goal stood.  The Czechs pressed hard and pulled Vokoun for the final 43 seconds but despite out shooting the Russians 36-20 in the game, they went down to defeat.

 

 

 

Slovakia comfortably beat a disappointing Swiss side to move closer to the big two in the group.

The first period was almost total domination by the Slovaks but they could not get past an inspired Gerber in goal. A huge 13-6 advantage in the shot count mattered for nothing as Gerber stopped everything that came at him.

 

Same again in the second, however the Swiss took a shock lead at 23.49 on the power play. Wichser was absolutely hammered in the corner by Josef Stumpel, who was assessed 2 mins for boarding. Wichser was helped to the dressing room and did not appear for the rest of the game. Rutheman picked up the puck in the slot and waited until Lasek had committed before lifting the puck high into the net for 1-0. Just short of 5 mins later, at 34.34, Slovakia equalised on a PP of their own when Miroslav Satan scored on a pass from Demitra. The Slovaks took a deserved lead on 38.21 with a superb goal from Hossa. Protecting the puck with his body, he fired a close in shot, picked up his own rebound and made the score 2-1. That finished the scoring for the second period and the Slovaks, cheered on by a huge support in the building had a well merited 2-1 lead.

 

The third was a quieter affair with Slovakia content the job was done. They increased their lead on 44.12 with a goal from Ziggy Palffy who hit a rebound open side after two shots from Stumpel.

A good win for the Slovaks who out shot their opponents 41-18. No wonder Gerber in the Swiss goal got the MVP award.

 

 

 

Group Qualifying E

R	Team	GP	W	T	L	GF:GA	GDF	PTS
1	RUS	4	2	2	0	10:7	3	6
2	CZE	4	3	0	1	10:4	6	6
2	SVK	4	2	1	1	9:10	-1	5
4	SUI	4	1	1	2	7:10	-3	3
5	BLR	3	1	0	2	3:4	-1	2
6	KAZ	3	0	0	3	1:5	-4	0

 

 

 

Tonight’s results blow the group wide open as the big 3 juggle for best position in the quarterfinals. Belarus can sneak into the quarters with a win over Switzerland on Monday night.

 

 

 

USA totally dominated Sweden in this group F encounter and the Tre Krone had no answer to a resurgent Mike Modano and the ever impressive Mike Knuble.

In a stuffy first period, USA gained a slight advantage on 19.42 as prolific scorer Mike Knuble patted the puck into the net after Franzen had gloved a shot from Miller.

 

Two goals in 1.19 of the second stanza put the Americans in control of the game. Firstly Stasny scored on the forehand after totally bamboozling Lundqvist on 26.21. Shortly afterwards it was 3-0 and game over as Cole rushed down the left to score on a pass from Knuble. End of the second 3-0 to USA, playing their best game of the tournament so far.

 

USA picked up where they left off in the third and Modano scored at 47.37 when he wristed a high shot past the hapless Lundqvist. Gionta made it 5 when he also wristed a rolling puck past the goalie at 48.43. Major surprise here was why the Swedish coach did not prevent Lundqvist from any more suffering and put in the back up. The Swedes finally got on the score sheet on 50.23 as Franzen hit a good angled shot over DiPietro’s shoulder to prevent a deserved shut out for the American goalie.

A great win for USA over a lacklustre Swedish outfit gives them great momentum as they head for the quarters.

 

 

 

Canada played their get out of jail free card as they came back from 0-2 and 1-3 for a very fortuitous point against a perplexing Finnish side. Canada playing their second game 16 hours after the tough encounter against Sweden, hung in there for most of the game and a good third period performance earned them a point.

Finland came out of the blocks hard and fast, in an attempt to unsettle the tired Canadians. However it took them 11mins to open the scoring when Hagman skated over the blue line and hit a hopeful shot on goal that slid between Luongo’s legs for 1-0. To be fair to the goalie, he looked well screened by one of his defensemen. That was it for the first period with Canada hanging on and the Finns pressing without really looking like dominating.

 

The second period mirrored the first with Canada unable to generate two passes together and the Finns all over them like a rash. Finland made the pressure pay at 24.02 as Hentunen scored from the slot on a pass from Kapanen. Still no penetrative pressure from Canada for most of the period and the Finns looked completely in control. But Canada are not World Champions for no reason and their resilience paid off at 19.10, when, during a period of 4 on 4 hockey, Heatley went fast down the right and passed back into the middle for Redden to rip a superb slapshot past Backstrom.  End of the period and 2-1 to the Finns. The Canadians were being totally outplayed and still in the game.

 

Canada began to believe in themselves in as they opened the third on the offensive. All looked in vain however as the Finns broke away at 46.19 and went 3-1 ahead on a turnover with a goal from just inside the blue line by Kallo. That should have been game, set and match but to their credit, the World Champions never gave up.  Three minutes later it was 3-2 when the tournaments top scorer, Rick Nash, batted a floating rebound past Backstrom. 51 seconds later on 49.49, an amazing comeback was complete when the very clever Morrow, spotted Marleau wide open in front and his pass from behind the net was right on the tape and Marleau whipped a quick shot past Backstrom before he could react.

10 mins to go and the Canadians were buoyant. The game was end to end for the rest of the period but the game ended 3-3. A great point for Canada, but Finland will yet again rue a game that got away from them.

 

 

 

 

Tonight’s results leave this group as wide open as the other qualifying table. Sweden, Canada and USA are almost there. Latvia should beat Ukraine on Monday to set up a winner takes all game against Finland on Tuesday for the last spot.  Finland yet again need to do things the hard way.

 

 

 

Denmark staged a comeback of their own in this relegation round game as they came back from 3-1 down to beat the hapless hosts.

Neilsen gave the Danes the lead on 1.20 on a short-handed mark as Andreason sat in the box on a hooking penalty. Peter Hirsch was again having a torrid time in goal for the Danes and he let a weak shot from the red line by Lakos trickle through his pads for the equaliser at 11.05. Two quick goals on18.06 and 18.36 by Unterluggauer and Lukas put the Austrians 3-1 up. That was it for Hirsch and he signalled to the bench that he had had enough. Madson replaced him for his first game of the tournament.

 

Denmark pulled a goal back on 23.02 with a howler from Bruckler in the Austrian goal totally misjudged a shot from Mike Grey. The puck hit the goalie’s stick and went between his pads. As he got up, it fell from between his legs and he pushed it over the line himself. Definite own goal in any other sport but hockey. Green tied the game at 36.03 with a deflected shot and the Danes were a totally different team. End of 2 and a thrilling 3-3 scoreline, unless of course you are an Austrian fan. The home crowds frustration was reaching a crescendo as they booed their team off the ice at the end of  the period.

 

A totally different Danish team came out to play in the third. They were focused and using 4 attacking lines pressurised the demoralised Austrians for the whole period. On 47.41 they scored the go ahead goal when Neilsen got his second. Akesson came out of defence with the puck, took it around the net and found Neilson all alone in front. The latter gleefully placed the puck into the empty net as the Austrian goalie was caught hopelessly out of position by the pass.  Denmark then retreated behind the blue line to hold on for an important win. They now play Germany with the winner avoiding relegation.

 

Final note on this game was the amazing reaction of the Austrian fans, who, at the end of the game roundly booed the announcement of their players man of the match and proceeded to fling anything they could get their hands on at the team as they skated off. Not a happy bunch.

 

 

 

 

Group Relegation G

R	Team	GP	W	T	L	GF:GA	GDF	PTS
1	SLO	1	1	0	0	4:3	1	2
2	DEN	2	1	0	1	7:7	0	2
3	GER	1	0	1	0	2:2	0	1
4	AUT	2	0	1	1	5:6	-1	1

Three games left and it is not looking good for Austria who play Slovenia in their last game. The other relegation spot is a straight fight between Germany and Denmark, however Slovenia still have a lot to do against the Germans and Austrians. 

 

The tournament is now down to the nitty gritty as the top sides battle for the perceived easier quarterfinal match ups. With GB waiting to see who they will meet next year in the next group, any of the four could be playing us.  Anyone fancy a trip to Germany for next year’s qualifiers ???