IIHF World Championship round up - day eleven - Features

IIHF World Championship round up - day eleven

Wednesday, 11th May 2005

Tambo gives us his views on Day Eleven's action at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship Group A competition.

CZECH REPUBLIC 5 BELARUS 1

The Czech Republic set up a revenge meeting with USA in the quarterfinals with a convincing win over a tired looking Belarus.

The Czechs opened the scoring after 16.28 when Rucinsky played a blind pass from behind the net to Cajanek to wrist a shot over the goalie’s glove hand for 1-0. That ended the scoring in the first period in which Czech Republic out shot their opponents 18-4.

More of the same from the Czechs in the second and it was no surprise when they went two goals ahead on 26.43. Vyborny created a turnover on the Czech blue line and passed to Hlavac who scored from the left slot. Continued pressure was rewarded on 32.26 when Jaromir Jagr beat Shabanov low on the stick side from a drop pass by Prospal. Czech Republic continued to dominate but it was Belarus who got on the score sheet at 37.59. A neat pass from the right corner by Tsyplakov found Koltsov who shot quickly past Vokoun. End of the period 3-1 to the Czechs.

The Czechs also dominated the third period with Belarus only managing 1 shot on goal. Two further goals from Straka and Varada made it 5-1 and the Czechs march on to the quarters in high spirits.

KAZAKHSTAN 1 SLOVAKIA 3

Slovakia duly dispatched Kazakhstan in a one – sided affair to complete their group matches.

Miroslav Satan scored for the Slovaks on 5.58 on the power play as he took a pass from Stumpel to backhand past Ogureshnikov. Kazakhstan equalised at 9.47. Ogorodnikov finished of a good passing play with Pchelyakov. End of 1 and scores level at 1-1.

Only one goal in the second period, scored by Ziggy Palffy, again on the power play at 23.17. A tipped puck by Satan found Palffy wide open to score. Not a lot else to report from the second stanza, apart from a very long and noisy Mexican wave by the fans.

Slovakia dominated the third and got the insurance goal on 42.54 as Michal Handzus picked the puck from the behind the net and after trying a wraparound, picked up his own rebound to score. Any chance of a Kazakh comeback was diminished as they got themselves into penalty trouble in the last 10 mins, picking up 4 minor penalties. Ogureshnikov had a 47 save game to keep the score respectable.

Group Qualifying E

R	Team	GP	W	T	L	GF:GA	GDF	PTS
1	RUS	5	3	2	0	13:8	5	8
2	CZE	5	4	0	1	15:5	10	8
3	SVK	5	3	1	1	12:11	1	7
4	SUI	5	2	1	2	9:10	-1	5
5	BLR	5	1	0	4	4:11	-7	2
6	KAZ	5	0	0	5	3:11	-8	0

No surprises in this group as the expected top 4 made it to the knockout stages.

SWEDEN 9 LATVIA 1

Sweden marched impressively into the quarterfinals with a nine-goal demolition of Latvia. This result also took their neighbours Finland through to the knockout stages and left Latvia to go home and prepare to be hosts next year.

Goals in the first period by Kronwall, Alfredsson and Backwell put the Swedes on easy street. Latvian hero Artus Irbe was replaced at the interval. Many people think he will retire now, but I have a feeling he will be around for the celebrations in his home country next year.

Two further goals in the second by Rhodin and Johansson made it 5-0 and the Swedes were rampant.

This looked like one game too many for the Latvians as they struggled to control a buoyant Swedish offence.

Two goals by Johnsson and marks by Nordstrom and Hogland gave Sweden their biggest win in years. Latvia scored a consolation goal to please their huge following through Ziedins but on the day they were definitely second best.

CANADA 2 UKRAINE 1

The tournament favourites stumbled into the quarterfinals with another unimpressive display against a chippy Ukraine side. They took the lead on 6.43 with an untidy goal from Brendan Morrison after a scramble on the edge of the crease. Morrison knocked in the loose puck after Heatley had been pushed into the goalie by a defender. Ukraine equalised on 10.43 when a harmless looking shot from Savenko on the blue line hit Regehr and deflected between Brodeur’s pads.

The second period was scoreless as Ukraine built a yellow defensive wall on the blue line and Canada were unable to break through.

Canada had the upper hand again in the third period without gaining any reward for their efforts. Ukraine continued their spoiling, smothering tactics and Simchuk answered all questions asked of him. Finally at 49.54 on the power play, Nash took a pass from Jovanovski on the blue line, turned and fired a shot that seemed to surprise Simchuk. 2-1 to Canada and relief all round.

That was the end of the scoring and a relieved Canada topped the group at least until the Swedes evening game.

Group Qualifying F

R	Team	GP	W	T	L	GF:GA	GDF	PTS
1	SWE	5	4	0	1	23:13	10	8
2	CAN	5	3	1	1	18:14	4	7
3	USA	5	2	2	1	14:10	4	6
4	FIN	5	1	3	1	12:13	-1	5
5	LAT	5	1	1	3	9:18	-9	3
6	UKR	5	0	1	4	5:13	-8	1

Again no real surprises from this group as the 4 expected teams progressed. Rest day for all of them on Wednesday, then the tournament really gets going.

GERMANY 2 DENMARK 3

Denmark pulled off an improbable but deserved victory over the competitions most disappointing team to preserve their place in the Elite group for 2006.

The game started end to end with Germany looking the most likely to score. This happened at 3.16 when, on the power play as Green sat out a 2 min minor. Hirsch again looked unsafe in the Danish goal and he spilled a Schubert shot out of his pads. As he scrambled looking for the puck, Jochen Hecht reacted quickest and tapped it home. Green made up for his misdemeanour on 14.00 when he set up the equaliser, again on the power play. Green picked up an assist as Andreasen sent a screened shot past Muller for the game tying score.

Germany went in front again with 25.44 gone as Boos slapped a rebound past Hirsch. The Danes kept plugging away and deservedly equalised on 36.08 when a massive slap shot from Schioldan rebounded to Mike Grey to slide the puck home. End of the second and the Germans were holding on to the draw that would keep them in the top group.

As the third period commenced, it was looking more likely that the next goal would be the winner and Denmark were the team to succeed. With 49.28 on the clock Kasper Degn sent a shot in on goal and took his own rebound to lift it over Muller for the game-winning goal. Germany pulled the goalie at 58.47 but Denmark held on for a remarkable win and safety for another year.

Group Relegation G

R	Team	GP	W	T	L	GF:GA	GDF	PTS
1	DEN	3	2	0	1	10:9	1	4
2	GER	3	1	1	1	13:6	7	3
3	SLO	2	1	0	1	5:12	-7	2
4	AUT	2	0	1	1	5:6	-1	1

Germany’s fate is now out of their hands as they wait nervously for the result of Wednesday’s clash between Austria and Slovenia. The possibilities are almost infinite as 5 combinations are possible which affect the outcome of the group.

If Slovenia defeats Austria, then Germany and Austria are relegated
If the game ends in a tie, Slovenia and Austria are relegated because Slovenia would tie Germany with 3 points but Germany had the better head to head against Slovenia
If Austria defeats Slovenia by fewer than eight goals, Germany and Austria would be tied on 3 points but Germany would get through because they had scored more goals after tying 2-2 in the head to head.
If the Austrians win by more than eight goals, they would be tied with the Germans but would finish higher because of scoring more goals.
However, if Austria defeats Slovenia exactly 8-0, then Austria and Germany would be tied in four ways, points in the standings, head to head result, goal differential and total goals.

If this happened, the teams would decide superior standing by a Game Winning Shot competition ( a shootout). This would take place at the end of the Austria v Slovenia game. The winner would retain their place and the loser would be demoted to Division 1 and a possible match up with GB in next year’s qualifiers.

Not one I am going to call, watch out for tomorrows report and a preview of the quarterfinals.

The quarterfinal match ups are as follows

RUSSIA v FINLAND

SWEDEN v SWITZERLAND

CANADA v SLOVAKIA

CZECH REP v USA

See you tomorrow!

Tambo