The (Ice) Hockey Thread

[MusicChick]

CZ playing UK in an hour.

I can't watch this!

[XDr]

6-1
Now Russia-Switzerland to determine the group lead...

[swissotter]

	Quote:	XDr
	6-1 Now Russia-Switzerland to determine the group lead...

RUS got in - so they’re group leaders now - SUI second.

[XDr]

Still an easy path for Switzerland.

Slovakia has played one less game and has a shot at the top of the group though their GF:GA needs work.

Otherwise, especially if RUS dispatches SWE, I sense a CZE-SKV nailbiter to make the next round (and avoid the USA juggernaut). The tension...

[MusicChick]

	Quote:	XDr
	Still an easy path for Switzerland. Slovakia has played one less game and has a shot at the top of the group though their GF:GA needs work. Otherwise, especially if RUS dispatches SWE, I sense a CZE-SKV nailbiter to make the next round (and avoid the USA juggernaut). The tension...

Those are good nerves. I miss the atmosphere. Hope we win. If not, Slovaks will represent well.

I am surprised st the high score of goals at some games, looks like it's more a state of mind of the team - either bend down or buldozer with a shower of goals, fast. Sudden death.

[XDr]

	Quote:	MusicChick
	Those are good nerves. I miss the atmosphere. Hope we win. If not, Slovaks will represent well. I am surprised st the high score of goals at some games, looks like it's more a state of mind of the team - either bend down or buldozer with a shower of goals, fast. Sudden death.

Slovakia won and even got their GF:GA > 1. Now Czechia had better beat Denmark too, and hope Slovakia beats Sweden.



One of the games had the first goals 25 seconds in, I think on GBR. With scores this high and lopsided, we are not in football (soccer) land... That said, the Switzerland blowouts only grew from period to period. No fun to be on the losing side of that.



In group B, Canada has 2 wins in seniors so far even though their U18s won their worlds and their U21s came second. Despite a roster with 22 NHLers. If they don't make the quarterfinals, the horror...

[swissotter]

	Quote:	XDr
	That said, the Switzerland blowouts only grew from period to period. No fun to be on the losing side of that.

As much as I'm happy SUI won, you are right - these scores are getting crazy...and i do feel for that losing side...today again...

[XDr]

	Quote:	swissotter
	As much as I'm happy SUI won, you are right - these scores are getting crazy...and i do feel for that losing side...today again...

First goal at 00:36, sixth goal at 57:43... long day at the office for the defense

[swissotter]

	Quote:	XDr
	First goal at 00:36, sixth goal at 57:43... long day at the office for the defense

The Swiss goalie was amazing though and deservedly won player of the game for Switzerland.

[MusicChick]

CZ won over Denmark! Yesssssssss.

A bit shy, but still a win.

[XDr]

	Quote:	MusicChick
	CZ won over Denmark! Yesssssssss. A bit shy, but still a win.

Czechia with three times the shots, that Danish goalie was a beast until penalties.

And Russia just beat Sweden but also in OT (on last penalty shot). Sweden's counter is blocked at 10 points but 3 wins. I think this means Czechia needs to avoid an outright loss against Slovakia.

Meanwhile in group B, Canada needs a win or a lot of luck. That other red and white flag is barely hanging on.

[Flying Kite]

...CZ is qualified as is have 4 wins, one more than Sweden...in Group A everything is clear: RUS, SUI, SVK, CZ are qualified...meanwhile in B: FIN and USA are qualified, CAN and GER have to fight for, but we could see KAZ and LAT qualified, KAZ with more chances...

[XDr]

	Quote:	Flying Kite
	...CZ is qualified as is have 4 wins, one more than Sweden...in Group A everything is clear: RUS, SUI, SVK, CZ are qualified...meanwhile in B: FIN and USA are qualified, CAN and GER have to fight for, but we could see KAZ and LAT qualified, KAZ with more chances...

Right you are.

https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2021/...in_group_stage

Used to be that wins trumped overtime wins. Since most overtimes are won on penalties, the risk is of hockey becoming a defend-and-gamble-on-penalties sport like football. But mostly not, in this tournament.


If both Canada and Sweden fall in the first round...

[MusicChick]

Cz vs SK will be magnificent. I want CZ to win of course, but SK are still our brothers. If they win, it will not hurt so much.

[swissotter]

	Quote:	XDr
	Right you are. https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2021/...in_group_stage Used to be that wins trumped overtime wins. Since most overtimes are won on penalties, the risk is of hockey becoming a defend-and-gamble-on-penalties sport like football. But mostly not, in this tournament. If both Canada and Sweden fall in the first round...

Do you know anything about the Canadian team? Are they newbies/ young team?
What happened this championship?

[XDr]

	Quote:	swissotter
	Do you know anything about the Canadian team? Are they newbies/ young team? What happened this championship?

Don't know a ton, but experience does not seem to be the problem. Whereas the USA features three NHL rookies, Canada features only one (same as Switzerland btw): https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2021/...kies_into_riga

Of their three non-NHLers, Owen Power (yep, what a name, though he is a defender) is a hot prospect. https://www.broadstreethockey.com/20...dylan-guenther
That is, if he does not have too much ear damage after playing at Yost: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dB49ezJ-p0

Canada have 22 current NHL players on the roster. If you look at the three players that they have among the top 6 overall scorers in the tournament, Adam Henrique is 31 and a regular 40+ scorer in the NHL, Brown Connor is good for 30, and Andrew Mangiapane likewise.

They had some players in quarantine early, including Mangiapane, but so did other teams.

Andrew Podnieks, a respected Canadian author, certainly saw them as a strong team: https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2021/...oks_to_the_top

	Quote:
	this is a very talented group and is perfectly capable of getting to the final weekend. After that, chemistry will decide Canada’s fate, medal or no medal – and if medal, what colour?

They sure started slow, but I guess that could still happen...

Anyway, a preview of today, so no need to double-guess the qualification rules: https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2021/...uesday_group_b

BTW, Sweden's "fiasco" is more understandable given that they started with a weaker team and had injuries. https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2021/...swedish_fiasco

[Flying Kite]

…then as expected for quarters... how teams played by now, expect semi-finals RUSxFIN, USAxSUI, but difference between teams are not big, then anything can happen...

[XDr]

Well what do you know...

Germany comes from two goals behind to tie and then squeaks by on penalties to eliminate Switzerland 3-2.

More predictably, USA puts Slovakia on the defensive early, scores three goals late in the first period and rolls from there for a 6-1 win.

Czechia makes a go of it with strong goal-keeping and keeps it close, but once Finland manages to score the lone goal after half the time, it is over (0-1).
(Apparently the dastardly Finns went into lockdown mode and played ugly, including a gastly hit from behind for a 2+10 penalty, to deprive the valiant Czech of all but one or two chances to score. Still, with a seventh-place finish, Czechia (almost) keeps up with its fearsome Big Six reputation.)

And lo and behold, Canada comes back from one goal behind to score a second goal in overtime and eliminate Russia (2-1). Will the real Canada please stand up?

Next, we will get the answer to that question as Canada faces USA.

In what promises to be a more defensive affair, Germany faces Finland. Other than perhaps the odd vicarious thrill from the unfairly vanquished, this one may not be for the ages. But someone has to make the finals.

[swissotter]

	Quote:	XDr
	Well what do you know... Germany comes from two goals behind to tie and then squeaks by on penalties to eliminate Switzerland 3-2. More predictably, USA puts Slovakia on the defensive early, scores three goals late in the first period and rolls from there for a 6-1 win. Czechia makes a go of it with strong goal-keeping and keeps it close, but once Finland manages to score the lone goal after half the time, it is over (0-1). (Apparently the dastardly Finns went into lockdown mode and played ugly, including a gastly hit from behind for a 2+10 penalty, to deprive the valiant Czech of all but one or two chances to score. Still, with a seventh-place finish, Czechia (almost) keeps up with its fearsome Big Six reputation.) And lo and behold, Canada comes back from one goal behind to score a second goal in overtime and eliminate Russia (2-1). Will the real Canada please stand up? Next, we will get the answer to that question as Canada faces USA. In what promises to be a more defensive affair, Germany faces Finland. Other than perhaps the odd vicarious thrill from the unfairly vanquished, this one may not be for the ages. But someone has to make the finals. Attachment 141976

good sum up. I missed the SUI-GER game and it's a good thing too. Germany were strong in their first half of the pre-lim. Just tough luck for SUI in the end. Also the last four I did not expect CAN to be there. I will watch the US-CAN game. Though it's going to be tough for team CAN as US have been pretty unbeatable this tournament.

[XDr]

	Quote:	swissotter
	good sum up. I missed the SUI-GER game and it's a good thing too. Germany were strong in their first half of the pre-lim. Just tough luck for SUI in the end. Also the last four I did not expect CAN to be there. I will watch the US-CAN game. Though it's going to be tough for team CAN as US have been pretty unbeatable this tournament.

Yes, USA-Canada should be a good one. After that bad start, Canada showed they could score, and in the last game especially, defend. USA has been dominant, but here is to a competitive, high-scoring game.