IIHF WC Day 8 Thread: Regional Rivals Take Over
by Bruce Peter on May 6, 2011 9:43 AM EDT
in IIHF World Championship
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Four more qualification round games take place today, highlighted by the USA vs. Canada, and the hosts Slovakia vs. Czech Republic.
Germany 
(2-0-0-0) vs. Finland 
(1-0-0-1) - 4:15 PM local, 10:15 AM EST
The Germans have already knocked off Slovakia and Russia so far, and look to continue their giant-killing reputation when they take on Finland today. Germany has gone with a 'score by committee' approach, backed by excellent team defence and goaltending from Dennis Endras. Finland, meanwhile, have been led offensively by Jarkko Immonen and Mikael Granlund, while being very stingy defensively, giving up few shots. This game is more important for Finland, but Germany will have wrapped up a quarterfinal spot with a regulation win here.
Canada 
(1-1-0-0) vs. United States 
(1-0-0-1) - 4:15 PM local, 10:15 AM EST
Canada/USA has become the key international rivalry of the 21st century, but at the IIHF World Championships it really hasn't been all that memorable. These are very young teams for both sides, with Canada being led by the likes of Jordan Eberle, John Tavares and Jeff Skinner offensively. For the Americans, they counter with Derek Stepan, Nick Palmieri, and NCAA player Craig Smith, plus Cam Fowler playing a key role from the blueline. Many of these players have experienced the Canada vs. USA rivalry at either the U20 or U18 level, and this will be their first taste of it at the senior level.
Czech Republic 
(2-0-0-0) vs. Slovakia 
(0-0-0-2) - 8:15 PM local, 2:15 PM EST
The crowd in Bratislava will be rocking for this one, as the home side needs a win desperately. The breakup of Czechoslovakia was one of the most amicable in human history, and this rivalry has never really developed a nasty side, but with the Slovak desperation don't rule anything out. The Czechs offence has been rolling so far, led by Milan Michalek, Michael Frolik, Martin Havlat, Patrik Elias and Roman Cervenka all with three points in three games. Ondrej Pavelec has been dominant in goal so far, unlike his counterpart Jaroslav Halak for Slovakia. They'll need Halak to be better, but Slovakia will also need more offensively out of Marion Gaborik and Marian Hossa. Ladislav Nagy and Miroslav Satan lead Slovakia in scoring so far.
Sweden 
(1-0-1-0) vs. France 
(0-0-1-1) - 8:15 PM local, 2:15 PM EST
Every game in this group is important, so Sweden can't afford to take the surprising French team lightly. Sweden has already been beaten by Norway in this tournament, so don't expect any such underestimating in this one. The Tre Kronor has been led by Patrik Berglund, David Petrasek, and Robert Nilsson offensively, while Viktor Fästh has taken over as the team's go-to goalie after Erik Ersberg faltered against Norway. France has relied on a team commitment to defense, while getting a lot of production out of 6'5" Czech Extraliga forward Sacha Treille. Ultimately, Cristobal Huet is the team's last line of defence and he has been excellent so far in his first national team action since 2008.
Join us today for updates and discussion in the comments.
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1-0 Finland
Ruutu from Koivu, 13 seconds in.
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Conklin in goal for US after poor game from Montoya vs. Sweden.
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Finland outshooting Germany 18-4 so far.
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While Canada outshoots USA 10-3.
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1-1 FIN/GER
Andre Rankel reaches for the rebound, puts it past Teemu Lassila for the tying goal.
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Score holds after 1. Shots are 19-6 for Finland.
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0-0 CAN/USA after 1
Shots are 14-4 Canada. Canada 0/2 on the PP, USA 0/1.
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1-0 USA
Mike Komisarek, with a weird chip-in shot from the point. Crazy puck movement on it.
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2-1 GER
Felix Schutz gives Germany the lead, who have been the better team in the 2nd period.
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3-1 GER
Kai Hospelt gives Germany a two goal lead now. Amazing.
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1-1 CAN/USA
Brent Burns on the PP.
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3-2 GER
Janne Pesonen, off his head. Seriously.
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rimshot
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2-1 USA
Jack Johnson, out of the penalty box, is sprung on a breakaway and does a backhand deke to beat Reimer fivehole.
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3-3 FIN/GER
Jarkko Immonen with a more traditional, by the book goal. Great cross ice passing on a delayed German penalty.
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4-3 GER
Patrick Reimer with a low wrister. Lassila should’ve had it.
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And that’s it for Lassila. Vehanen in.
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After 2
Germany 4, Finland 3. Shots 35-15 Finland.
USA 2, Canada 1. Shots 30-11 Canada.
Apparently the goal of these games is not to put too many pucks on net.
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2-2 CAN/USA
John Tavares eventually scores on the PP. Lots of great chances and finally cashes in a garbage goal.
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3-2 CAN
Slapshot by James Neal on the PP. Thought it was Spezza at first.
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3-3 CAN/USA
Derek Stepan, who I think will score a lot of goals for the USA in his lifetime.
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4-4 FIN/GER
Tuomo Ruutu with his 2nd of the game.
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Finally home from taking my finals..
And to commenting on Puck Worlds, perhaps my favorite SB Nation site, again! I don’t know if you remember me bruce but i used to comment all the time when your first started. Had to make a new SB nation account.
Yep, I recall. Hopefully we get a few more back from those early days as we get closer to the knockout stage. Thanks for coming back!
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Oh, and a question
If the flyers lose tonight (and they hopefully wont, i am a hardcore flyers fan), can team USA add JVR? Would they want to?
They could… they have 2 skater spots left to fill. But they do have extra players with the team, just not registered.
Not sure if they were looking at adding ringers or not. I thought John Carlson would be a good choice, but no word on that yet.
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Finland/Germany headed to OT. Canada/USA coming close.
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Yep.
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US making shots count. 1 freak goal (Komisarek), 1 breakaway goal for Johnson after penalty ended, 1 PPG for Stepan.
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And, of course, Conklin has been very good for USA.
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FIN/GER in shootout now.
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Germany takes early shootout lead.
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Koivu ties it up in second round.
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Granlund and Wolf exchange beautiful, patient goals. Tied after 3 rounds at 2.
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Mikko Koivu wins it in the sudden death round for Finland.
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Yep. Like NHL regular season.
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5-4 FIN in SO
Mikko Koivu wins it in the sudden death round for Finland. Was his second attempt, second goal. You’re allowed to re-use players after first 3 rounds are done.
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Zambonis come out for a do-over. CAN/USA shootout delayed.
Jack Johnson will shoot first for USA.
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BTW, Jack Johnson will probably be the guy that gets to go again for USA should it go past 3 shooters.
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Johnson stopped by Reimer.
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Eberle scores for Canada. Backhand top shelf. Nice deke.
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Nash scores on a deke after Wheeler misses high glove. Canada wins.
USA tried Reimer high glove. I’ve seen other teams just do that on Reimer in the NHL. Really need too precise of a shot… he’s not that weak on his glove.
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4-3 CAN wins in SO
The two teams this morning that dominated the game eventually won in the shootout.
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Briefly updated standings
Bratislava: 1. Germany (7), 2. Czechs (6, game in hand), 3. Russia (6), 4. Finland (5), 5. Slovakia (0, game in hand), 6. Denmark (0)
Kosice: 1. Canada (7), 2. Norway (5), 3. Sweden (4, game in hand), 4. USA (4), 5. Switzerland (3), 6. France (1, game in hand).
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Top 4 in each city makes quarters. Slovakia needs to beat the Czechs in regulation BADLY. Sweden can move into tie with Canada with regulation win over France later today.
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1-0 SWE over FRA
Robert Nilsson with the early goal.
Still scoreless between CZE/SVK
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1-1 CZE/SVK
PPG from Zidlicky in the first, Nagy tied it early in the 2nd.
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3-0 SWE
Ekman-Larsson and Berglund with the 2nd and 3rd goals. Not paying too much attention to this game. Huet was pulled after the first for Fabrice L’Henry.
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Czechs have really picked up the pace as of late, but still tied at 1.
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2-1 CZE
Weird bounces/deflections. Sucks for Halak.
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Havlat gets credit.
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3-1 CZE
Elias as he and Michalek outman the Slovaks in front of Halak.
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3-2 CZE
Tomas Surovy with 2:28 to play. We’re in for a finish.
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Timeout, 1:10 to play, offensive zone faceoff for Slovakia. Halak has been pulled.
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3-2 CZE Final
A very disappointing tournament for the Slovaks. They now need to beat Finland in regulation, same with Denmark and hope Finland loses to Russia on Monday. That Monday game will be meaningless to Russia, they’ve clinched a QF spot as well.
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Happy to be undefeated and the Czechs played awesome but I did not want us to be the dagger that got Slovakia… really unfortunate draw! Czechs were in control most the game. What I’ve noticed about them is that they are playing extremely good team D (zero power play goals against) and are extremely patient. I haven’t really seen crazy long stretch passes or guys going 1 on 3… they just keep playing their game waiting to get a lead. All the lines are playing well… Jagr is clearly only turning it up when necessary and our top line of Elias, Havlat and Michalek are having an awesome tourney. Havlat must be making up for being such a dog at the Olympics. Roman Cervenka has had a tonne of chances but isn’t burying them which would be how I’d sum him up. Plekanec seems to be getting into it but I’m still expecting a bit more from him (however, Jagr might be slowing those 2 up as he’s more about winning than scoring in his old age – really a neat thing to see). Pavelec has played REALLY well and extremely calm. It’s nice to see we have a really good 23 year old goalie. The Czechs commented that he looked like shit at the end of the year in Atlanta but I’m not sure I agree… I think the whole team was meant to suck and were only a playoff contender at Xmas because of Pavelec (Bfugylen got all the credit but I think it was Pavelec doing the heavy lifting). Still, I’m not a fan of us having relatively easy games (we’ve led in every game by 2 goals in the 3rd period until the final few minutes). Our first periods have been very slow and we take stupid penalties (including too many men penalties in every game)…
I still can’t believe the Germans are doing so well.. somebody needs to hire Krupp!
I’ll have my fingers crossed for Slovakia against Finland tomorrow (what a shitty draw!)…
Finland play very well. You must just calm down and breath:)
SLK looks like Russia in Van 2010 not a team more like stars on the ice but they dont have Datsyk to help win games.
To me, the problem for Slovakia is a massive drop in talent between their top 10 and bottom 10 players… also, Halak is not looking great… the 2-1 goal he let in was terrible (seems to be a trend for the Czechs as goalies have been letting in shitty goals for us). Visnovsky is the only D man playing really well ..
Updated standings
Bratislava: 1. Czech Rep (9), 2. Germany (7), 3. Russia (6), 4. Finland (5), 5. Slovakia (0), 6. Denmark (0). Czechs, Germans, Russians have clinched QF spots.
Kosice: 1. Canada (7), 2. Sweden (7), 3. Norway (5), 4. USA (4), 5. Switzerland (3), 6. France (1). No one has clinched a QF spot yet.
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