IIHF World Championships roundup: Germany and Latvia clinch playoff berths, USA top group
Thursday's quarter-finals will be as follows:
Switzerland - Germany (15:20 CET Riga)
USA - Czech Republic (15:20 CET Tampere)
Sweden - Latvia (19:20 CET Riga)
Canada - Finland (19:20 CET Tampere)
Group A
Finland 7 Denmark 1
Thanks to Germany’s win earlier on Tuesday, Denmark had no way of qualifying for the playoffs when they came up against Finland in Tampere in the teams’ final group match. The Finns, meanwhile, knew that they would finish third in Group A regardless of the result.
As hosts and reigning champions, much was expected of the Finnish team at this World Championships but they got off to a slow start in the group stage. It seems they may have been saving their best form for their later games as they turned it on against the already-eliminated Danes.
Marko Anttila, Atte Ohtamaa and Ville Pokka all scored in the first period to give the home side a healthy lead at the first break. Hannes Bjorninen, Juho Lammikko and Kasperi Kapanen all added goals in the second period.
Nikolas Matinpalo put Finland in seventh heaven before the Danes added a late consolation through Nikolaj Ehlers.
Sweden 3 USA 4 (OT)
Sweden and the USA had both secured their paths to the quarter-finals thanks to their respective unbeaten runs leading into their final group match on Tuesday. There was still something to play for, however, as the winner would take the top seed in Group A.
As their similar records would predict, this proved to be a close encounter with the sides matching each other in the first period. Leo Carlsson opened Sweden’s account with a power-play goal before US veteran Nick Bonino levelled the scores before the first break in a power-play as well.
Conor Garland scored the game’s third power-play goal to make it 2-1 to the US in the second period and Lane Hutson gave the Americans some breathing space with another goal before the third.
It looked like the USA were going to run away with it when Matt Coronato scored but his goal was reversed after a coach’s challenge. Then Carlsson and Timothy Liljegren both added goals for Sweden to level the scores and force overtime.
Despite Sweden holding the momentum going into the extra period, the US scored the decisive goal via Dylan Samberg to secure the top spot in Group A.
Germany 5 France 0
Going into their final Group A match, Germany knew that a win would confirm them as the fourth quarter-final seed from the group. France, meanwhile, were playing for pride and hadn't managed a regular-time win yet in the tournament.
The Germans got off to a flying start under pressure thanks to an Alexander Ehl opener in the fourth minute. Frederik Tiffels made it 2-0 going into the first break.
Germany picked things up where they left off in the second when John-Jason Peterka added a third goal soon after resuming play. They put the game to rest in the third period with power-play goals from Daniel Fischbuch and Maximilian Kastner.
Germany clinched the fourth playoff place in Group A with the victory.
Group B
Switzerland 3 Latvia 4 (OT)
Switzerland had wrapped up the top spot in Group B before the day’s play but co-hosts Latvia had it all to play for. Slovakia’s win earlier in the day meant that the Latvians just needed not to lose in regular time to secure a playoff spot but, up against one of the best teams in the tournament, it wasn’t going to be easy.
The deadlock was broken after a goalless first period when Ralfs Freibergs scored for Latvia early in the second. Kevin Fiala equalised for the Swiss but Rodrigo Abols almost immediately stole the lead back for Latvia.
Goals from Marco Miranda and Andres Ambuhl in the third period put the Swiss into a 3-2 lead before Kaspars Daugavins levelled the game and sent the pulsating encounter to overtime.
Rudolfs Balcers was the hero for the hosts, scoring a power-play winner midway through the extra period. The two points gained from the overtime victory meant Latvia went level with the Czech Republic in the group on points but pipped them to third place thanks to their head-to-head record.
Canada 3 Czech Republic 1
The Czech Republic and Canada were two of the six sides that had confirmed a spot in the quarter-finals before Tuesday’s matches. The winner would take second place in Group B behind unbeaten Switzerland.
Neither side had fully hit their straps in the tournament so the match also provided a chance to build a head of steam going into Thursday’s playoffs.
After a tight opening period, Peyton Krebs slotted the game’s first goal in a power-play right before the break. The Czechs didn’t take long to respond in the second period, however, as Martin Kaut slid one between Samuel Montembeault’s legs to level the scores.
Tyler Myers gave the Canadians the lead once again in the third and Crouse popped up with an empty-netter in the dying moments to make it 3-1. The result meant Canada finished second in Group B.
See the full match stats here.
Slovakia 4 Norway 1
Slovakia still had a hope of snatching the final Group B playoff spot when they met already-eliminated Norway in Riga. Unfortunately for the Slovaks, it wasn't in their hands entirely. They had to win and then hope that the co-hosts Latvia would lose to top-of-the-table Switzerland later in the evening.
It's safe to say the Slovaks were up for this one and, given the context, it's no surprise. They raced into a 2-0 lead in the opening eight minutes with goals from Marek Hrivik and Peter Cehlarik before Robert Lantosi added a third before the first break.
Given the cushion, you could forgive Slovakia for lifting their foot off the gas somewhat. Markus Vikingstad grabbed a second-period score for Norway to narrow the gap but it proved to be but a consolation prize for his side. A late Richard Panik goal made it 4-1.
Slovakia faced an anxious wait to see whether the Swiss could do them a favour by beating Latvia to keep their tournament alive. Unfortunately for them, the Latvians won in overtime meaning the Slovaks will head home.
