IIHF U20 WJHC/Spengler Cup Day 5 GDT
by Bruce Peter on Dec 30, 2010 1:44 PM EST
in Junior Hockey
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The Spengler Cup is nearing its end, with the semifinals happening today, while we're starting to figure out the playoff picture for the IIHF U20 World Juniors, though there are some important games to still take place. Stay here for the day's action.
Spengler Cup
SKA St. Petersburg 4, Geneve-Servette 3 (OT)
An overtime winner by SKA role player Anton But has propelled the star-studded Russian team into the Spengler Cup final, sneaking a backhander past Tobias Stephan about mid-way through the extra period. It was the second time the two teams had played each other, and the second time that SKA had won. SKA will try and defend the KHL's honour in the final, as KHL teams have won the past two tournaments.
Team Canada vs. HC Davos, 2:15 PM EST
The hosts and the Canadian NLA All-Stars will do battle for the second time this week, with Davos winning the last game 4-2. Jeff Deslauriers will make his fourth start in four days in goal for Canada, as head coach Mark Messier continues to lean on the Edmonton Oilers' farmhand. Will the strong home team again hold the Canadians at bay? The game will be on TSN2 in Canada and Eurosport2 in Europe.
IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championships
Switzerland 
(1-0-0-1) vs. Slovakia 
(0-1-0-1), 3:00 PM EST at HSBC Arena in Buffalo
Last year, these two teams met on New Year's Eve, and the seeds of the Benjamin Conz and Nino Niederreiter legends were planted, as both players starred in a victory which sent the Swiss to the quarterfinals and Slovakia to relegation. The Slovaks remember that game well, but they'll be trying to win this game without a couple of key players, as Peter Hrasko and Martin Marincin were suspended for headshots against the Americans. Like that game, the winner of this game can book their ticket to the quarterfinals, barring a German surprise tonight. This game is only being broadcast on Slovak TV.
Sweden 
(2-0-0-0) vs. Czech Republic 
(1-0-0-1), 3:00 PM EST at Dwyer Arena in Niagara
Sweden looked like tournament favourites in their win over Russia, and this should be a relatively easy test for them. However, the Czechs will be desperate for a win here in order to avoid the relgation round, so expect a strong effort from them. The Swedes could be guilty of looking ahead to tomorrow's showdown against Canada. Antonin Honejsek has been the star for the Czechs to date, while Patrick Cehlin leads the Swedes in scoring so far. This game will be available on TSN in Canada, CESKE in the Czech Republic, SVT in Sweden, and NTV+ in Russia.
Russia 
(0-0-0-2) vs. Norway 
(0-0-0-3), 7:00 PM EST at Dwyer Arena in Niagara
Well, expect the Russians to get off the schneid here and post their first win after tough losses to open the tournament against Canada and Sweden, even though both were close games. Norway closes out their preliminary round here, and you can bet they're going to be eyeing up the teams in Group A who will be joining them. Norway's respectable loss to the Czechs (0-2) should help them, provided that Russia advances and the Czechs join them in relegation. This game is only on NTV+ in Russia.
USA 
(2-0-0-0) vs. Germany 
(0-0-1-2), 7:00 PM EST at HSBC Arena in Buffalo
The Americans are in full control of their own destiny, as they should finish first in Group A by virtue of their OT win on Boxing Day vs. Finland. First things first: Germany awaits, followed by Switzerland tomorrow on New Year's Eve. Most importantly for USA is to remain healthy while posting the wins, as they probably can't afford to see players being lost like the game against Slovakia. Germany's fate will be officially sealed tonight, as barring a miracle greater than the 1980 USA Olympic team, they will be headed to the relegation round. They'll definitely hope for Slovakia to join them, as their OT loss to Slovakia could help them stay in the top group. This game is on TSN in Canada and the NHL Network in the USA.
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1-0 Canada over Davos after 1
Goal was by Josh Holden.
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I’m working my butt off trying to find Swiss/Slovakia game online. CZE/SWE is coming up now on TSN main network.
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Found it! Live on the station’s website:
http://www.stv.sk/online/?program=3
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1-0 CZE
Hlinka on the PP. Lukas will be happy (he’s at the game).
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1-1 CZE/SWE
Johan Larsson tied it up.
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1-0 SUI
Gregory Hoffman bats in a rebound, while Riecicky didn’t know where the puck was.
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1-1 SUI/SVK
Sisovsky on a sweet behind the back pass from Vandas.
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Sisovsky reacted as if he won gold. You can tell how important this game is to these kids.
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2-1 SUI
Oh boy…. Swiss score from centre ice.
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Schlumpf on the dump-in.
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2-0 CAN over Davos
Mark Bell from Glen Metropolit.
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3-0 CAN
JP Vigier scores from McLean and Westcott.
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3-1 SWE
Friberg first of all, and now Jesper Fasth with a softie.
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First period in the books, 3-1 Sweden.
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Penalty Shot!
Slovakia gets a penalty shot on a shorthanded break.
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Conz stones Majadan.
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3-1 SUI
Bartschi on the PP gets his first.
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Slovaks in tough, down 2 in a must win game after 1 period.
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Sweet!
Slovnaft Extraliga hilites in the intermission!
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Juraj Holly replaces Dominik Riecicky in the Slovak goal to start the 2nd.
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3-2 SUI
Hrivik from Vandas. Two assists for Vandas. Goal was on a 2 on 1.
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5-1 SWE over CZE
I think we can quit watching this one.
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4-0 CAN
Pascal Pellettier scores shorthanded, should be all they wrote for the Spengler Cup game. SKA St. Petersburg takes on Team Canada in final tomorrow. Canada playing fifth game in five days.
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5-2 SWE
FRK!!!!
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4-2 SUI
El Nino goes top shelf.
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5-3 SWE
Frk again. Single handedly bringing the Czechs back in this one.
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It got really exciting at this point and the Czechs were battling really hard. Frk was invisible in the first period and is a very awkward skater (bowlegged like Afinogenov)… he’s also very slight. So when I saw the Czechs had him on the point for the powerplay my first comment was ‘how the hell is this non skating runt going to take a shot, this is just plain stupid!!!’. Anyways, his first one timer damn near killed a Swede – I mean he nailed him and knocked him the f**k out! His next one timer was a goal so I stand corrected. His first goal was a sensational shot. He did take another stupid penalty in the first (he’s know taken a stupid penalty in every game) but he’s clearly a shooter which I didn’t know. Other Czechs that stood out were Holik and Strake (Culek was invisible to me as well). Holik is about 5’5 if I were to guess and one of the hardest working Czechs out there and gets a lot of minutes. The Czechs biggest problems were size and speed… Sweden simply was bigger, faster and stronger. Anytime there was a battle for a puck, the Swede one. It looked like the U20 team facing the U18 one. The first Czech goalie played really well and made a few sensational saves but also let in 2 bad ones and was pulled. Novotny also played really well. The Swedes pulled off a powerplay goal in 4 seconds.. right off the draw, it was a gorgeous setup. The Czechs played hard and kept it interesting… I think they are the 5th best team in the tournament but won’t be able to prove that as they might get relegated tomorrow -shame about their draw as I think they’d handle Germany, Switzerland and Slovakia with relative comfort. Finland would be an excellent game IMO… obviously not in the same league as the Swedes, Canadians or Americans for this particular tournament. Tomorrow will show if they can keep up with the Russians…after tonights effort I am much more confident in believing a win would not be a major upset… they really do play well but the TOP 3 are just way too good. Sweden is VERY hard to dislike… all 4 lines roll and play awesome, they backcheck and attack extremely hard, they are very precise, play excellent systems and are not dirty at all. They are definitely the best out of Europe!!! However, I think the media will make it sound like a ‘battle of the titans’ when it’ll be Canada winning relatively comfortably tomorrow night. They were able to rest Lehner today which might help but I think Canada will be too strong.
I don´t know how it is in the Czech team, but most of the Swedes play senior hockey at the highest level back home (the Swedish Elitserien) And not just as a 4th-liner with a few minutes toi. For example, Calle Järnkrok is 1st-2nd center in his team. Anton Lander is an “A” and has a leading role in his. Adam Larsson, Patrik Nemeth, Tim Erixon, all of them top-4 defensmen, and the list could be made longer. I would say that this is a big reason to why the Swedes are faster and stronger.
4-2 SUI after 2
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4-3 SUI
Andrej Stastny on another great feed by Vandas.
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6-3 SWE
Jarnkrok from Thornberg.
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4-4 SUI/SVK
PANIK ATTACK!!!!!!!!
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5-4 SUI
Walser scores on a rebound, 5:54 to play the Swiss re-take the lead.
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6-3 SWE over CZE
Now a final. Sets up battle for 1st tomorrow between Canada and Sweden, battle for 3rd (assumedly) between Russia and the Czechs.
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6-4 SUI
Empty netter by Pestoni. Swiss to quarterfinals, Slovaks to relegation round. Again.
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