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The second last day of round 2 was a busy affair with Russia clinching top seeding in their group with an easy win against Kazakhstan. Germany finally got things right with a hammering of Slovenia.

 

 

 

Russia powered their way to top of their group with a convincing win over Kazakhstan. After a cagey defensive first period, Russia exploded with a 3 goal second stanza. Detroit Redwing’s Pavel Datsyuk scored at 23.46 with a lovely deke on the Kazakh defence and hit a backhand past Kolesnik. Ovechkin made it 2-0 on 27.42 when he took a pass from Datsyuk and showed some lovely stick handling which left Kolesnik sprawled on the ice before depositing the puck into the empty net. The game was over at 35.47 when Zinoviev broke clear of the defence on the left and poked his own rebound through the legs of Kolesnik. End of the period and 3-0 to the Russians.

 

The Kazakhstan coach gave his starting goalie Kolesnik a well-earned rest for the third period, giving the back up, Ogureshnikov his first action of the tournament. Despite dominating the period, Russia were unable to add to their lead and Kazakhstan spoiled Sokolov’s shut out at 57.38 as Dudarev lifted a high forehand over the goalie for 3-1. Final shots on goal were 48-19 in favour of the Russians as they coasted to the quarterfinals.

 

 

 

The Swiss made the quarterfinals for the third year in a row with a tight win over Belarus.

Switzerland jumped into an early lead on 1.55 with both teams having a man in the penalty box for roughing. Jeannin travelled through the neutral zone and backhanded a pass to Bezina who wristed a high shot over Mezin. That was it for the game, as the Swiss seemed content to sit back and let Belarus come at them. They finished the game off at 59.34 with an empty netter from Ziegler as Belarus tried to get back in the game with the extra outfield skater.

 

 

 

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	4	3	0	1	10:4	6	6
3	SVK	4	2	1	1	9:10	-1	5
4	SUI	5	2	1	2	9:10	-1	5
5	BLR	4	1	0	3	3:6	-3	2
6	KAZ	4	0	0	4	2:8	-6	0

 

Russia top the group and will play the 4^th placed team in Group F in the quarterfinals. The Czechs should clinch second place with a win against Belarus.

 

 

 

The 0-0 tie between Latvia and Finland did neither team a favour with Latvia needing a win against Sweden in their last game to edge Finland for the last available quarterfinal slot.

 

This game certainly was not a drab 0-0 as both teams went at each other like hammer and tongs. In a match of surprisingly few penalties considering the tempo of the game, best chances went to Timonen and Hentunen for the Finns. The third was a nervy, tense affair with both teams deciding one goal would win it and neither wanted to lose that goal.

 

 

 

 

Team USA are fast getting the reputation of the Jekyl and Hyde team of the tournament. They looked woeful for long periods of the game against a chippy, narky Ukraine. The Ukrainians set their stall out to stifle the American big guns of Weight, Nash, Knuble and Modano and they were doing a good job of it too. Very little to report on the first 20 mins with USA huffing and puffing and getting nowhere against the tight Ukrainian defence.

 

Ukraine took the lead midway through the second period at 30.15 when Kasianchuk scored and a shock really looked on the cards. USA just could not get their game going.

 

USA tied the game at 42.51 with a power play goal. Doug Weight controlled the puck from a face off and pushed it to the point for Brett Hauer to blast it past Simchuk. For the rest of the game, Ukraine played the sort of hockey that has not won them many friends at this tournament, taking liberties with a few of their more illustrious opponents. Even the mild mannered Mike Modano lost his cool with them and spent 2 mins in the box for retaliatory roughing. Key moment of the game came with only 1.25 remaining. Simchuk in the Ukrainian goal was adjudged to have deliberately knocked the goal off its moorings for a delay of game. Under IIHF rules, if this happens in the final two minutes of a game then a penalty shot must be awarded. Strangely, the US coach chose Zach Parise to take the shot even though he had Modano, Weight and Roach available to him. Parise came in fast on Simchuk and went backhand straight into the goalie’s chest for the miss.  That was it and the US had thrown away a point.

 

Group Qualifying F

R	Team	GP	W	T	L	GF:GA	GDF	PTS
1	USA	5	2	2	1	14:10	4	6
2	SWE	4	3	0	1	14:12	2	6
3	CAN	4	2	1	1	16:13	3	5
4	FIN	5	1	3	1	12:13	-1	5
5	LAT	4	1	1	2	8:9	-1	3
6	UKR	4	0	1	3	4:11	-7	1

 

The tie with Ukraine has put the US temporarily on top of the table but wins for Sweden or Canada should see them slip to third by tomorrow evening and a probable meeting with Slovakia in the quarterfinals. Finland must hope their neighbours Sweden beat Latvia for them to progress to the knockout round at Latvia’s expense.

 

 

 

In the day’s relegation game, Germany finally showed what their offence is capable of with a 9 goal hammering of Slovenia. Goc, Kreuzer and Hecht all scored in the first period to ease German nerves in this key relegation game. A five goal second period with marks from Benda, Furchner, Hecht, Boos and Goc put Germany in easy street. The Slovenian coach finally replaced shell-shocked goalie Glavic with Hocevar after the eighth goal. The third was a quieter affair and Slovenia’s solitary marker by Kontrec countered a ninth German goal from Martinec. Germany outshoot Slovenia by a massive 52-20 in a game they just had to win.

 

Group Relegation G

R	Team	GP	W	T	L	GF:GA	GDF	PTS
1	GER	2	1	1	0	11:3	8	3
2	SLO	2	1	0	1	5:12	-7	2
3	DEN	2	1	0	1	7:7	0	2
4	AUT	2	0	1	1	5:6	-1	1

 

 

Denmark now needs to beat Germany in Tuesday’s game to avoid relegation. The final game on Wednesday is Austria v Slovenia in which the loser will drop out of next years Championship.

 

One day to go in the qualifying round before we get to the knockout stages on Thursday.

 

More tomorrow!