Features

First up Sweden v Switzerland.

 

Sweden start the game hard and fast and take the lead on 3:05. Pass from Daniel Sedin to his brother Henrik with a wrist shot into the net. His first goal of the tournament. Switzerland equalise on 8:37 as Mark Streit one times a perfect pass from Della Rossa. Puck squeezes between Lundqvist’s leg and outstretched arm. 1-1. Switzerland are on top and Lundqvist had to be sharp on two occasions. Handbags at 12 mins as Samuelsson has a slash at the Swiss goalie and is not met with kisses and cuddles from the Swiss. Sweden take the lead for the second time at 13:49 on the powerplay. Peter Forsberg hit a superb pass cross ice to Modin right in front of goal and he easily backhanded the puck past Gerber. 2-1 Sweden. End of the period and 2-1 to Sweden. Just about deserved.

 

Into the 2^nd and Sweden are starting to dominate this game. Gerber is by far the busier of the two goalies. 2:17 into the period and a superb wrap around goal by Zetterberg. Referee went to the review booth but it was quickly confirmed 3-1. It is all Sweden now and at 29.07, thirty seconds into a Conne hooking penalty and Mats Sundin scores a cracker. Superb passes from Alfredsson and Lindstrom set up the captain for an all NHL goal. 4-1. Its all going pear shaped for the Swiss as Sundin gets his second. Great interplay between Sundin and Forsberg ended with the captain scoring. 5-1. 2 mins from the end of the period and Conne dumped the puck to Hirschi who shot straight at Lundqvist. Bit more handbags after the shot but nothing serious. End of the period with the Swedes leading 5-1 after a 3 goal period for the Tre Krone.

 

Switzerland make a blitz start to the 3^rd period and within seconds Streit had a great chance. They didn’t miss with their next . On 40:49 Ruthemann fed Lemm from behind the goal and Lemm hit a beaut past Lundqvist for 5-2. 48.40 and the dream ends for Switzerland as Pahlsson scored with a wrister from a pass by Alfredsson. 6-2. Couple more chances for Switzerland that Lundqvist was good enough for. The game ends with a comfortable win for Sweden as the entertaining and surprising Swiss go home. The unpredictable Swedes were impressive today but will need more consistency if they are to make gold.  Entertaining game and the Tre Krone are the first team to make the semi finals.

 

 

 

Second game of the day is an interesting matchup between the superb Finns and the gritty USA. Finland have looked impressive all tournament and the USA have ground out results to qualify. This game is going to be a hard physical battle and things get underway after only 2 mins when Chelios gave Jokinen a whack on the skates as he unleashed a wrister, well saved by Di Pietro. Finland had their second shot of the game less than a minute later as DiPietro makes a save from Niemi. He then gets flattened by hard man Ruutu who goes to the box for 2mins. 6.40 gone and Peltonen hit the post after outreaching Chelios and wristing a shot from the right past a flailing DiPietro. Finland take the lead on 9.33 after Sami Salo skated rings round the USA defence, round the net , passed to Jokinen who dropped it for Peltonen to belt it past DiPietro from the point. It is all Finland and at 10.30 USA call a time out to discuss things. Ruutu tried another huge hit on Chelios who used all his experience to side step it and Ruutu fell flat. A tete a tete between Knuble and Koivu saw both head to the box and we have 2 mins of 4 on 4. 11:13 and Saku Koivu joins his namesake in the box for interference. 30 seconds later and Finland go 2 up as Salo steals the puck and broke away all alone to blast past DiPietro for a shorthanded goal. 2-0. 13:03 and USA get a goal back from Schneider who belted one from the point. Looked like Knuble got a tip but the goal goes to Schneider at the moment. Rest of the period belongs to USA as they find some confidence after their goal. It is a feisty affair and a late hit by Saku Koivu means that USA will be on the power play for the start of the 2^nd period. End of 1^st 2-1 Finland.

 

USA take full advantage of the powerplay and at 21.09 they equalise with Schneider’s second goal of the game. Conroy moved the puck on the boards to Rafalski and on to Schneider who beat Niitymaki on the glove side for 2-2. 4 minutes into the period and the USA need to defend a near full 2 minute 5 on 3 as first Hatcher then Hedican go to the box on hooking penalties. Great set up by Finland and even better defence by USA and they see off the first penalty. 21 seconds left of the man disadvantage. Finland score as the penalty ends with a goal from Jokinen. He gathered the puck from behind the net and unleashed a power shot that squeezes past DiPietro for the goahead goal.  Another powerplay to Finland at 8:48 of the second as Tkachuk goes to the box for a hook. If USA are to make the medal rounds they will have to keep their players on the ice. This period is littered by penalties as Niemi goes twice in 5 minutes for hooking calls. And at 36:40 USA are down to 3 skaters as they hit trouble again. This time the Finns take full advantage and go 4-2 up after a scramble in front of goal. DiPietro can only tip the puck up on to the top of the net and it came down off the goalies back and Peltonen tapped the puck home. DiPietro is again having a mare and I really do not understand why Robert Esche is not playing.  4-2 to Finland and unless USA find some discipline, this game is over. End of the 2^nd and Finland deservedly 4-2 up. Couple of changes to the goal scorers. Mike Knuble was given the USA first goal and Okinnen credited with the Finnish 4^th.

 

USA start strong in the 3^rd and Gomez has the first chance but Niitymaki makes a great glove save. 46 mins and Derian Hatcher catches Selanne in the mouth. Result is a lot of blood and a broken tooth for Selanne and a 4 minute penalty for Hatcher. Chelios is furious with the ref but even though it probably was unintentional , it is still a penalty. You must have control of your stick. USA has had the better of the period but this penalty will take away some of their edge. Half way through the penalty Drury is clean through on the break and is taken down by Numminen. Could have been a penalty shot but the ref says 2 mins. Game is getting a bit niggly as USA get frustrated by the calm, in control Finns. Tkachuk goes for a trip and Gomez loses the plot and picks up a 10 minute misconduct. 8 mins to go and the Finns on another powerplay.4 on 4 hockey as we move into the final 6 minutes and a double chance for USA. Blake tries one from way out that Niitymaki sticks away. Chelios picked up the puck and let one go from the blue line. Great body save from Niitymaki. One thing about this USA team is that even though it is not the best we have seen , they have guts. 4-3 after great work from Drury who managed to get one into the mix and Gionta tipped for the goal. 55.33 on the clock.  Could be an interesting last 4 minutes. 2 mins to go and the USA have found some new energy and are taking the game to the Finns. 18.39 on the clock and DiPietro goes to the bench. Into the last minute and a face off in the Finnish zone for icing. Great finish to the game( no pun intended) Finland ice the puck again this time with 32 seconds gone. Great shot from Schneider well held by Niitimaki.  Game over and Finland deservedly go through to the semi. Another gritty third period by USA but they have not had a good tournament and are on their way home.  Final score Finland 4 USA 3.

 

So to the battle of the heavyweights. The gold medal winner could come from this game.

Canada start strong and get a couple of good forechecks in early on the Russians. 3:29 on the clock and a penalty to Canada as Afenigenov hooks Iginla. Just as the first penalty runs out, Russia go in the box again as Zhukov gets a defensive holding penalty. Direct from the face of Gagne goes for high sticks. 4 on 4 for most of 2 mins. As we go through 10 mins Brodeur makes a great glove save from Gonchar. 13:54 and another great save from Brodeur from Suchinsky. Great end to end play, hard hits and a thoroughly entertaining game. Huge hit by hard man Kasperitis and Gagne is shaken up and stays down for a while. 2 mins to go in the period and McCabe lets go a rocket from the blue line which just misses the net. The period ends with a good chance at both ends. 0-0 at the end of 20 mins with the Russians on top. Brodeur is having a stormer.

 

3:07 gone in the second and Russia are in the box with Suchinsky gone for interference as he caught the goalie on the way through. Huge hits on both sides as Korolov flattens Smith and Yashin gets creamed by Doan. Superb physical game and still scoreless after 28 minutes. Russia come close to taking the lead after marvellous play by Ovechkin. Brodeur again with the save. Half way through the game and still 0-0. The rest of the period is more of the same with huge hits by both sides. Canada finish strong on the powerplay with two good chances. End of 40 mins and 0-0.

Third period gets under way and its still hard and fast. Russia take the lead at 41:30 as Canada fail to clear their lines and superstar Ovechkin scores from close in. Canada have a chance soon after as Gonchar goes to the box for hooking. First raid and Iginlia comes close and Nabakov just gets enough on it. 8 mins gone in the third and Canada waste another powerplay. Russia defending resolutely as Canada search for the equaliser. 50mins on the clock and a great chance for Canada but Smith just lost control at the last second allowing Nabakov to slide and block. 53:25 and another chance for Russia through Malkin and Brodeur holds at the second attempt. 3:04 left and Thornton cons the ref as Markov brushes him with the stick and gets 2 mins for tripping. On the powerplay Canada thought they had scored as the puck is squeezed from under Nabakov into the net but the whistle had gone. It all kicks off in the last minute as Canada press. Le Cavalier gets 2 mins for roughing. Malkin gets a match penalty for trying to strangle Le Cavalier.  It all ends with a 4 on 4 for the last minute. Brodeur is pulled as Canada try with the extra man. It goes wrong as Canada turn the puck over and Pronger takes 2 minutes. As the clock runs down Kovalev makes it 2-0 and its game over. Russia deservedly go through to the semis.

 

 

Last quarter final is the battle of the brothers with the Czech Republic taking on their near neighbours and ex countrymen Slovakia. This game too is end to end stuff with chances for both teams. 8:30 and Martin Straka comes close and forces a glove save from Budaj. The Czechs have had the best of the first 10 minutes but Slovakia are good on the break. 12 mins gone and Kaberle goes to the box for 2 mins. 1-0 to the Czechs as they score shorthanded at 12.51. Rucinsky with thebreakaway and forces Budaj to go left and he hit it right on the backhand to make it 1-0.

Into the last minute and Jagr has a go at Chara and is caught by the referee and an innocent looking Jagr goes to the box as the period ends. Czech Republic outshooting Slovakia 13 to 4 and are in command. End of the 1^st and 1-0 to the Czech Republic.

 

The second period is a slow turgid affair as the Czechs keep control. Nothing of note until a slapshot from Demitra hits the plexi and dislodges a pane. A minute later and Hejduk makes it 2-0 as a shot from Kaberle breaks loose and Hejduk is on hand to score. End of the period and the Slovaks have not found a way through 2-0 to Czech Republic and they are 20 mins away from the semi final.

 

Third period underway and the Slovaks trying hard to get themselves back into this game. 3:38 gone and a slip by Zidlicky sets Gaborik free on the left and he sent an unstoppable shot into the net and its 2-1. Game on.

Surprisingly not a lot happening in the game. Chances on the powerplay to Slovakia as we move into the last 5 mins. Demitra took  a nasty blow to the face with the puck and has gone for treatment. Lucky he was wearing a half visor or it could have been serious. Great chance for Slovakia as time runs down. Goalie is pulled and another stramash in the crease and the Czech goalie sat on the puck. 10 seconds to go and Straka score the empty net and its 3-1 Czech Republic and they are through to the semi finals.

 

Ok that’s it for today and we have Finland, Russia, Sweden and Czech Republic in Friday’s semi finals.  See you then!

 

Tambo