Quafilying Round Group E: Host through to QFS, Russia finishes 1st

The Qualifying Round wrapped up today with 4 games that helped determined the Quarterfinal matchups which will be headed by Russia and Sweden having the top seeds for the Quarterfinals. Also Denmark are through to the last 8 for the first time ever while the hosts Germany are through the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2003.

Every inch was battled for in the Germany Slovakia game as the hosts felt the pressure of getting back to the Quarterfinals, while Slovakia had missed out on the IHWC Playoffs for the 3rd straight year. 2008 saw the worst year when a German win sent them down to the relegation round.

It took a two game sweep of Slovenia in the Relegation Round that year to keep their spot, while in 2009 3 straight losses in the 2nd round against Finland and the Czech Republic. Only a 3-2 OT Win was the only saving grace for the Slovaks, as they finished 2 points back of Belarus for the 4th and final spot in the Quarterfinals.

Regardless of the Quarterfinal result, Germany will hope to use this a springboard after two very bad performances in the last year.

After a 15th place finish in the IHWC last year and finishing 11th in the Olympics. Germany is hoping to use thier upcoming Quarterfinal Matchup against Switzerland as a successful end to a great event and maybe pull off a great upset after Switzerland had been slipping a bit after losing 5-0 to Sweden earlier today.


Slovakia 1 Germany 2 (0-1, 1-1, 0-0)

Slovakia VS. Germany Game Photos: www.iihf.com/channels10/iihf-world-championship-wc10/pictures/page/0/game/SVK%20-%20GER.html

By Risto Pakarinen

In Colonge, Germany: Every inch of the ice was a battlefield as Germany and Slovakia went head-to-head for a spot in the Quarterfinal. Backed by their home crowd, the Germans pushed through with a 2-1 win. Alexander Barta and Daniel Kreutzer scored a goal each, Dennis Endras made 20 saves in route to the win.

"Sure, they was pressure to get back after what happened in Switzerland. We got a lot of pressure after that tournament and I think we deserved it," said German Defensemen Christian Ehrhoff.

It's the first time since 2003 under then coach Hans Zach that the Germans reached the Quarterfinals.Seven years ago the Germans lost eventual gold medal winners Canada 3-2 in OT. Third period goals by Lasse Kopitz and Daniel Kreutzer tied up the score before Eric Brewer scored the game-winner 37 seconds into OT.

After twenty something games this season, and a few days of frenetic computing about different matchups to see who'd advance and who would not, the game between Germany and Slovakia came down to an easy set up. The team that got more points out of the game would advance to the playoff stage. This time it was the Germans while Slovakia missed out on the Quarterfinals for the 3rd straight year.

"We knew it was going to be a big fight, and a low-scoring game. We knew we'd be fighting for every inch of the ice. Maybe we didn't have hockey luck or hockey sense, but we couldn't score a second goal," said Slovakia's captain Richard Linter.

Germany got a perfect start to the game when Alexander Barta scored the first goal of the game at 7:19. Barta came flying down the right wing, and found Daniel Kreutzer waiting for the puck at the far post. Barta got the puck him, but Kreutzer's shot missed the net. Fortunately for Germany, it bounced from the backboard to Barta, who had half the net to choose where to place his backhander.

Slovakia had only five shots on Germany's goal in the first period.

Germany took command of the game early in the 2nd period again. At 4:42, Barta and Kreutzer made it a two goal game, this time Kreutzer getting the goal. Barta and Sven Felski put pressure on the Slovak defense behind the net, Barta grabbed a loose puck and found Kreutzer alone in the slot and this time, he didn't miss, and beat Peter Budaj high on the stick side.

Felix Schultz 4 minute high sticking penalty gave Slovakia its chance to get back in the game. With 20 seconds remaining in Schutz's latter penalty, Marek Savtos got the puck at the hash marks, he cut to the middle, went around the German defensemen, and fired a hard and accurate wrist shot to top shelf, beating Endras on the glove side, at 19:17.

Slovakia made a final push with one minute remaining, but the game ended in Germany's victory dance in front of Endras's net.

"You just want to get your body in front of the shots and guys out in front of the net. Once you hear the siren you are relieved," Ehrhoff said.

"We're just going to enjoy the night and see what happens tomorrow," he added.

Slovak Captain Richard Linter said the teams was "disappointed, but not upset."

"I know for sure that all our guys left 100% on the ice," he said.

On another note for the Germans, the org. committee announced during the game that with tonight's attendance, 15,100, they also met the attendance goal for the tournament, 400,000 fans.

Germany was the fourth team to qualify for the Quarterfinals, and with the win. The Germans overtook Denmark for 3rd and will face Switzerland, who finished 2nd in Group F.

Russia 5 Finland 0 (1-0, 2-0, 2-0)

By Risto Pakarinen

From Colonge, Germany: Russia rolled over Finland 5-0, getting goals by five different players and a shutout by Semyon Varlamov, Ilya Kovalchuk got two assists and Maxim Afinogenov got a goal and assist as well.

"With the new rules its all about the special teams and I think our penalty killing was great and the power play worked tonight. It is important for the Quarterfinals," Kovalchuk said.

The last time Russia left a World Championship rink as a loser was in 2007 when they lost to the Finns 2-1 in OT. Since then, the team has raked in 23 wins. Before their game against Finland. Now the win count is at 24.

Finland started the game very strong, they came out of the gate like they meant business. And they did. Finland Pressured the Russian defensemen, and created several good scoring chances. Unfortunately for the Finns, when it was time to put the puck to the back of the net, they hit the posts instead, three times.

"They played very well in the beginning," Kovalchuk admitted.

Russia got into some penalty trouble halfway through the period, with Alexi Emelin and Demitri Kulikov taking penalties with a minute from each other. But the Russian defense, and goaltender Semyon Varlamov kept the Finns off the scoreboard.

Then it was Finland who ran into penalty trouble. The Russian power-play showed why it needs to be feared. Finland's defensemen Topi Jaakola injured itself, turning the situation into a 5-on-3 play. Alexander Ovechkin one-timer failed but the puck found its way to Sergei Federov, who was waiting for it at Petri Vehanen's doorstep, and tapped in the puck at 16:42.

"We are pretty good. We have almost all the guys who played in the Olympics and we have some great atmosphere in the room," said Kovalchuk said.

In the 2nd period, Finland lost players when Defensemen Jusso Hietanen and Pusi Puistola were injured and Jukka Jalonen to shuffle the lines - and - having already decided to rest defensemen Lasse Kukkonen and Petteri Nummelin - moved team captain Sami Kapanen down to defense.

"I wasn't trying to hurt him, but I play in front of the on our power play, and have to make sure I make some room for our guys," Kovalchuk said about the situation where Hietanen was injured.

Maybe that's why Finland also ran into major penalty trouble in the 2nd period, taking six minors, and Jussi Jokinen's ten minute penalty for hitting to the head.

"Kapanen was excellent tonight. We hang five defensemen for half of the game, and he was our top-two defensemen," coach Jalonen said.

Given multiple chances, Russia finally scored at 13:52 when Ilya Kovalchuk got the puck in the slot, and waited until a Finnish defensemen hit the ice to block a shot, then stepped around him and fed the puck to Evgeni Malkin, who shot the puck through Vehanen's five hole to make it 2-0.

Right after the faceoff Maxim Afinogenov got the puck deep into the Finnish zone, and took the shot that Vehanen's was able to stop with his leg pad. The rebound escaped the Finnish defense but not from Nikolai Kulemin who gave Russia a three goal lead at 14:02.

"We started well, but didn't stick to our system tonight," and didn't have the speed we need in our game," said Kapanen.

Russia put the game to bed, for good, early in the 3rd period. Frist Kovalchuk sent a pass from the hash marks to the point and Emelin one-timed it high on Vehanen's stick-side to make it 4-0 2:15 into the 3rd period.

But Russia wasn't done yet, a mere 40 seconds after the fourth goal Afinogenov grabbed a loose puck on the Finnish blueline, took a step into the slot, and banged the puck past Vehanen for the fifth time in the game.

Russia won Group E and meets Canada in the Quarterfinals. In the other Olympic Quarterfinal rematch, Finland will take on the Czech Republic.

Final Group E Standings

1. Russia 5-0-0-0 15 PTS 20-6

2. Finland 3-0-0-2 9 PTS 11-11

3. Germany 2-0-1-2 7 PTS 8-8

4. Denmark 2-0-0-3 6 PTS 12-10

5. Belarus 1-1-0-3 4 PTS 5-10

6. Slovakia 1-0-0-4 3 PTS 8-18


Clinched Quarterfinal Berth

Elinamted from the IHWC


Final Group E Schedule

5/14: Slovakia 0 Denmark 6 (0-6, 0-0, 0-0)

5/14: Finland 2 Belarus 0 (0-0, 2-0, 0-0)

5/15: Russia 3 Germany 2 (1-0, 1-1, 1-1)

5/16: Denmark 1 Russia 6 (0-2, 1-1, 0-3)

5/16: Germany 1 Belarus 2 (OT) (0-1, 0-0, 1-0, 0-1)

5/17: Finland 5 Slovakia 2 (0-0, 3-0, 2-2)

5/17: Belarus 2 Denmark 1 (0-1, 1-0, 1-0)

5/18: Slovakia 1 Germany 2 (0-1, 1-1, 0-0)

5/18: Russia 5 Finland 0 (1-0, 2-0, 2-0)


Quarterfinal Matchups on 5/20

Colonge

#1E Russia VS. #4F Canada

#2E Finland VS. #3F Czech Republic


Mannheim

#1F Sweden VS. #4E Denmark

#2F Switzerland VS. #3E Germany

Finland comes back to win Bronze Medal

Slovakia's first ever Olympic Hockey Medal will have to wait at least another 4 years after the Slovaks good start where after Slovakia was up 3-1 going into the 3rd period with 3 2nd period goals by Slovak Superstars Marian Gaborik, Marian Hossa and Pavol Demitira all on the Special Teams (2 PP, 1 SH). After the 2nd intermission, Slovakia's fans were looking to celebrate the teams best ever hockey success.

However, Finland proved that they are still among worlds hockey elite when the Finns scored 4 goals in the 3rd period, inclduing 3 in 3 and a half minutes by Niklas Hagman and 2 by Olli Jokinen to turn the tide midway through the 3rd period. Despite playing better in the game and with shots being nearly equal with the excption of the 1st period to keep the game going.

Slovakia had a great effort starting with with 1:38 left in the game when Slovakia pulled Jaroslav Halak including a couple of great saves by Finnish Goalie Mikka Kiprusoff who despite being crushed in the 1st period of the Semifinal against the U.S.A., he was able to big when he needed to be.

Then with just 11 seconds left when Valtteri Filppula scored the Bronze Medal Winner to end the game 5-3 to win 3rd place and Slovakia who finished 4th with that being the best finish ever for Slovakia in the Olympic Games.

Despite the stagness of the team, hopefully this can put the SVK Hockey Assocation back on track and contuine to help grow the number of players that can make the NHL and make org. like the SVK Extraliga and the Junior Teams to help contuine to play and be successful in the Winter Olympics in the near future.

The problem for Slovakia right now is that they haven't had any big time players that have developed and been able to make it big. Players like Marian Gaborak, Marin Hossa are on the back side of their careers and this was probably they last Olympic WInter Games parctipation.

Will the Slovaks be able to successfully turn the page and help out the next generation of Slovak Hockey Players do well in the NHL, the Olympics and other big international events, or will the federation be on the down slide when making the Olympics will no longer be a given, that maybe an issue they may have to deal with is Olympic Qualification with teams like Germany, Norway, Denmark and Austria amongst others who are looking to get in or improve in 2014 in Sochi Russia.

Finland came short of redeeming themsevles for Olympic Gold, but they still have a great finish of Winning a Hockey Medal in back to back Olympics on the Men's side, and the First Olympic Hockey Medal on the Women's side since 1998. Finns still have a great mix of youth and experience to help them out to build up on this for both the U18 World Championship coming up in April and bring the nations first World Championship in over a decade when the tournament heads to Germany in May.

Last season, the Finns won Bronze at the U18 World Championship last season and they looking to get back after a few years of poor performances. Which includes a 7th place finish in 2007 when they hosted the tournament.

Then at the recent U20 World Championship, a 5th place finish was a nice step up, but they still got elinmated in the Quarterfinals. The Finns do a great job of getting ready their teams for international events reguardless of the level or age group and they looking to get back on the Medal Podium. Not just at the Olympics, but covering the board as much as possible.

After a Bronze Medal here, they will contuine to a world power at the different tournaments to follow and will contuine to play well at both the club and international level. Also the fact that despite losing to Sweden in the Group Stage, they were able to still be the best of the 2nd place teams and get the last of the 2nd Round Byes.

Reguardless of the Medal, hockey in Finland is still the top sport for the most part. But just imagine it would have been if the Finns could have brought home Finland's 1st ever Olympic Hockey Gold Medal after coming so close in 2006.

Finland VS. Slovakia Bronze Medal Game Photos: www.iihf.com/channels10/olympics-2010/pictures/page/0/game/FIN%20-%20SVK%20%28B%29.html

Finland VS. Slovakia Bronze Medal Game Summary: www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-hockey/schedule-and-results/mens-bronze-medal-game---game-29_ihm400102zP.html

From Lucas Aykroyd of the International Ice Hockey Federation Website: www.iihf.com

It was an historic night at Canada Hockey Place, as Finland earned a 5-3 comeback win in its inaugral Olympic Meeting with Slovakia on Saturday to claim the 2010 Bronze Medal.

The gutsy Finns trailed 3-1 heading into the 3rd period, but Olli Jokinen scored a pair of 3rd period goals, including the game winner with 11:19 left in the game. Sami Salo, Niklas Hagman, and Valtteri Flippula also scored for Finland.

For Finland, Saku Koivu, Jere Lehtinen and Ville Peltonen all succeded in tying Vladislav Tretiak, Igor Kravchuk, and Jiri Holik for the most Olympic Medals with 4, the three battle-hardened Finns now have a Silver in 2006 and three Bronze Medals (1994, 1998, 2010).

"I think that shows a lot about them and Finnish Hockey", said Koivu's younger brother, Mikko. "There are always people who question our team and our talent before these tournaments. This achievement shows our character and the strenth of our team."

"When you see players like Lehtinen and Peltonen and Koivu sacrificing their bodies and blocked shots, you realize how many leaders we have," added Finnish forward Tuomo Ruutu. "I'am so incredibly proud of them and honored to be on this team."

Pavol Demitra, a crowd favorite as a member of the Vancouver Canucks, lead the Slovak Attack with a goal and two helpers. He is now first in Olympic Scoring (10 PTS), and shares the tournament lead in assists with 7 with Canada's Jonathan Towes. Marian Hossa added a goal and an assist, and Marian Gaborik had the other Slovak Goal.

This was Finland's 5th Olympic Medal since 1988. Finland has won a medal of shade-though never gold-at four of the last 5 Olympics. The Finns have also taken 3 World Championship Bronze Medals (2000, 2006, 2008) and seem particulary proficient in 3rd place games.

"After the other night it would have been tough to go home in 4th place," said Jarkko Ruutu, alluding to the 6-1 loss to the Americans. "4th or 8th- it dosen't matter, but Bronze really means something."

Instead of going with their backup goalies, as international teams usually do in 3rd place/Bronze Medal Games, both countries stuck with their starters. Finland's Mikka Kiprusoff rebounded after a horrific semi-final performance against the Americans, where he allowed 4 goals on 7 shots. Jaroslav Halak suited up against Slovakia, which he was outshot 33-22 in the game.

The 4th place finish was Slovakia's best ever in Olympic Competition. It came in 5th in Turin in 2006. Slovakia's previous senior IIHF medals at World Championships: Gold in 2002, Silver in 2000 and Bronze in 2003. Still it was disappointing for the Slovaks, who missed a chance to win their countries first ever Olympic Medal. After beating Russia and Sweden and giving Canada a scare in the Semifinals, they head home after empty-handed.

It was probably the final Olympic appearance for veteran stars on both sides: Slovakia's Demitra, Zigmund Palffy, Miroslav Satan, and Finland's Kiprusoff, Teemu Selanne, Saku Koivu Ville Peltonen and Jere Lehtinen, to name a few.

"I played my first national team game 23 years ago," noted Selanne who also said that this would be likely his final NHL Season. "Five Olympics, finishing with Bronze is a dream come. When you win your last game, it's huge. I really rank this very high. Any time you play against the best and can get this kind of medal, it's unbelievably huge."

Selanne also noted that the Bronze Medal was sure the heaviest medal in his collection, and that he'd be open to being "Jarri Kurri's right handed man", in retirement, but not a coach.

Although this game got off to a cautious start, there were several highlights in the early going. Kiprusoff made some sharp saves during an early Slovak Power Play with Niklas Hagman off for holding. Miroslav Satan dazzled the crowd with a spin-around move while going one-on-one with Finnish Defensemen Joni Pitkanen, but fired high and wide. Then Halak Stymied Lehtinen from point-blank range in the slot.

Finland picked up the pace as the time wore on, and Salo finally opened up the scoring with the man advantage with 1:10 left in the 1st period. The Vancouver Canucks defensemen delighted the home crowd when he unleashed his trademark howitzer, which screamed over Halak's left arm. It was Salo's first goal of the tournament.

The Finns Continued to press in the first half of the 2nd period, but it was Gaborik who tallied the Power Play Equalizer for the Slovaks midway through the game. Showing superb patience, Demitra controlled the puck on the sideboards before sending a centering pass to Gaborik, who zinged a shot over Kiprusoff's right shoulder.

The Slovaks couldn't contrubite on a couple of odd man rushes. But they did capitzlized on a breif 5-on-3 advantage with 4:22 left in the 2nd period when Hossa, standing on the edge of the crease, managed to kick the puck from his skate to his stick and bang it in past Kiprusoff's left skate.

Two minutes later, Branko Radivojevic inadvertently whacked Olli Jokinen in the head with the stick and went off for a four minute high sticking penalty. Yet even shorthanded, the Slovaks found a way to take advantage. After a backward pass by Salo in the Slovak end went bad, Hossa burst right wing on a 2-on-1 and fed the puck across Demitra, who made no mistake, putting it in past Kiprusoff right off a post for a 3-1 lead at 18:45 of the 2nd period.

The Slovaks seemed to be in control. But they ran into penalty trouble in the 3rd period, and this time the Finns made them pay. At the tail end of the extended two-man advantage, Kimmo Timonen's shot tipped twice en route to the net, going off Hagman to make it 3-2 at 5:06. The Finns were fired up now, and they struck quickly for the tying goal at 6:49 when Olli Jokinen wheeled into the high slot, taking a feed from Jarkko Ruutu and whipping it past Halak's blocker side.

Jokinen wasn't done. Taking a long pass from Joni Pitkanen, he split the Slovak defense on a power play solo rush and tucked a backhand shot neatly Halak's legs to put Finland up 4-3 at 8:41.

Three Finnish goals in less then 4 minutes-it was a blow from which stunned Slovaks couldn't recover.

"We didn't get it done in the 3rd period," Palffy admitted. "We took some penalties and let them back in the game. It was very disappointing."

The Slovaks pulled all the stops on a late penalty to Pitkanen, but Kiprusoff made a game saving stop on Richard Zednik at the edge of the crease with a minute and a half left. Twenty seconds later, Demitra nearly snucked one in with sneaky slider from the line. Yet luck wasn't on Slovakia's side.

Flippula sealed the deal with an empty netter with 11 seconds left.

"We have lots of character," said Peltonen. "We reminded each other to trust ourselves, trust our game. It was tough to play after yesterday, which was a total nightmare, but we pulled together."

Selanne ends his Olympic Career as an all time morden day points leader (37), one ahead of the Soviet great Valeri Kharlamov. However, Kharlamov is still the all time assists leader (22), one ahead of Saku Koivu.

Retired Canadian Mark Messier elicited both cheers and boos when he was shown on the big video screen. Messier will serve as Canada's GM at the 2010 IIHF World Championships in Germany. However, he was a longtime foe of the Canucks with the 1980s Edmonton Oilers, spolied Vancouver Canucks Stanley Cup Hopes in the 1994 finals with the New York Rangers, and didn't lead the team to glory when he played with them from 1997 to 2000.

Twitter Updates during Men's Olympic Semifinals

The first of the Semifinal Games will be starting in a few minutes as the U.S.A. will take on Finland while at 4:30 PM PST it will be Canada taking on Slovakia with both games taking place at Canada Hockey Place. It's very simple today, win and your in the Gold Medal Game on Sunday afternoon, lose and you will play for the Bronze Medal on Saturday Evening.

U.S.A. VS. Finland 12:00 PM PST

Canada VS. Slovakia 4:30 PM PST


Bronze Medal Game: Saturday at 7:00 PM PST

Gold Medal Game: Sunday at 12:15 PM PST