Men’s Olympic Hockey Recap: Standings Picture Getting Clearer
Peter Casey-United states Now Athletics
Russia Shuts Out Denmark
Russia has improved to 2- in men’s Olympic hockey motion just after a shutout victory about Denmark on Friday.
The Danes were being hoping to play the shocker function following beating the Czech Republic to open the match previously this 7 days. Denmark, playing in its initially Olympic event, was led by a strong effectiveness by Montreal Canadiens prospect Frederik Dichow. Dichow was enjoying in its 1st men’s countrywide staff match for the Danes and produced 31 stops to maintain his group in contention to win.
He was, nonetheless, overwhelmed at 28:18 for the 1st target of the contest. Pavel Karnaukhov scored on a seemingly open up cage just after the puck bounced off of an Anton Slepyshev shot, with Karnaukhov creating no oversight with the added home. The Russians couldn’t capitalize on its five electric power plays, but it wouldn’t matter as an vacant-netter from Kirill Semyonov would seal the offer.
Philadelphia Flyers prospect Ivan Fedotov recorded his next consecutive shutout right after halting every little thing Switzerland despatched his way on Wednesday. Fedotov designed 16 stops towards Denmark, such as a flurry of late probabilities.
Russia sits first in Group B enjoy and will facial area off against the Czech Republic subsequent on Saturday at 8:10 AM ET. The Danes will enjoy Switzerland at the same time, a game that could established Denmark to possibly keep next in Team B.
Sweden Remains Fantastic
A sturdy very first-interval effort was the variance as Sweden sailed to a 4-1 earn about Slovakia.
With the reduction, Slovakia has fallen to -2 and will perform in the qualification spherical subsequent 7 days to check out and pressure a spot in the quarterfinals. Sweden has assured them selves a prime-two spot in Team C with the victory.
A fantastic puck-moving engage in at 11:22 resulted in a objective for Sweden. Lukas Bengtsson obtained the puck deep into the zone to Max Friberg, who had a handful of defenders crowding him. Friberg then identified Joakim Nordstrom standing by yourself and established him up for a seemingly open-web aim, putting the Swedes on the board initially.
Sweden would acquire a commanding 3- guide into the 1st break of the game. Lucas Wallmark’s third of the tournament would double Sweden’s advantage just after he made use of some added house on the energy perform to send a shot about Matej Tomek’s arm and in at 18:10. Then, with five seconds left in the first, Friberg scored a purpose of his own to finish the interval whilst pouring far more salt in the wound for Slovakia.
The Slovaks designed a goalie modify in the next to try and spice items up, pulling Tomek in favor of Patrik Rybar, Slovakia’s third goalie to engage in in 5 intervals of play. Slovakia observed an boost in offensive prospects, outshooting Sweden 16-9, but couldn’t find a way to defeat Magnus Hellberg in the next.
Carl Klingberg would add Sweden’s fourth intention on an vacant-netter, but the Slovaks would not go away without having a little something to rejoice. With just above a minute remaining in the sport, 2022 NHL draft prospect Simon Nemec stored the puck from crossing above the blue line and located fellow 17-yr-outdated Juraj Slafkovsky in the slot. Slafkovsky spun and beat Hellberg to end the shutout, with Slafkovsky scoring his third of the event – and Slovakia’s 3rd target, period of time. At that point, nevertheless, the harm had currently been finished and Sweden was able to hold on for the 4-1 win.
The two groups will complete the spherical-robin on Feb. 13, with Slovakia participating in Latvia in the early video game just before Sweden battles Finland in the mid-working day contest.
Czechs Need to have Shootout to Conquer Switzerland
David Krejci was the lone scorer in the shootout as the Czech Republic held on to conquer Switzerland 2-1 on Friday.
The acquire places the Czech Republic in 3rd put in Team B, with Denmark’s gain more than the Czechs on opening night time proving to be the latest tiebreaker for next position.
A privileged bounce went the Czech Republic’s way at 4:33 to open the scoring. Jiri Smejkal’s shot bounced off a defender in front and previous Swiss goaltender Leonardo Genoni for the opener, two minutes prior to the Swiss answered back again.
Gaetan Haas had a bounce go his way right after a scramble in front of the internet, with Haas finding in the right location to poke in the free disk previous Simon Hrubec to make it 1-1.
The video game was even just after that, with the goaltending duel having heart phase. Switzerland’s Leonardo Genoni was chaotic with 34 stops, while Simon Hrubec despatched 24 pucks absent from the back of the web for the Czechs. But that intended the offense at both sides experienced dried up, forcing a shootout to determine the winner.
In the abilities level of competition, previous Boston Bruins star David Krejci scored the sport-winner to seal the deal on the Czech Republic’s to start with shot. It gave the Czechs its next win in its earlier 4 conferences with Switzerland, having the earlier two conferences in 2018 and 2022.
Both groups will finish the spherical-robin on Feb. 12, with the Czechs on the lookout to spoil Russia’s excellent operate although Switzerland battles against Denmark to try and keep away from final area in Group B.
Finns Sturdy From Latvia
Latvia gave it everything they had, but it wasn’t plenty of to spark a late-recreation collapse as Finland skated to a 3-1 win to shut out Friday’s motion.
Finland has taken regulate of Group C by using purpose-differential heading into its very anticipated remaining preliminary spherical game against Sweden on Sunday. Latvia, in the meantime, joins Slovakia in the -2 club prior to their ultimate conference that similar day to decide who will take the 3rd spot in the group.
The very first 50 {cf07cd047201b183b19c0b335dbd7d35a498f84568531c8abe8643bd3ccfd494} of the video game failed to have significantly to speak about, with no plans in the 1st 37:58 of enjoy. Goaltending was the identify of the game, with Latvia’s Janis Kalnins and Finland’s Harri Sateri actively playing spectacularly at both equally ends. They produced 35 and 19 stops, respectively.
But with two minutes to go in the next interval, the Finns finally managed to break via and rating. Valteri Kemilainen would crack the deadlock with a place shot that blasted by means of site visitors and conquer Kalnins to make it 1-.
Then, at 43:01, Rodrigo Abols’ ability-perform aim set Latvia back in the game, drawing comparisons to the team’s late-activity hard work in opposition to Sweden to open up the event. But a tip from Leo Komarov at 54:42 place Finland back again out in entrance and Marko Anttila’s marker 4 minutes afterwards erased any late momentum the Latvians could have had to seal the offer.
——
Information & Notes
– Denis Malgin was cleared to engage in for Switzerland but did not gown in the lineup soon after paying out the start out of the event in isolation.
– Slovakia’s Marko Dano was suspended a single game by the IIHF soon after swinging his adhere and hitting Finnish ahead Iiro Pakarinen in the confront on Thursday. Dano skipped the activity versus Sweden but is suitable to return on Sunday against Latvia.
– Jake Sanderson has arrived in China and is training with the United States. It is unclear if he’ll participate in in opposition to Canada or no matter whether the crew will sit him to get him more relaxation.
—–
A few Stars
1. Frederik Dichow, DEN: Allowed just a single target against the Russians and gave his underdog squad a chance to get. Wonderful men’s national workforce debut for the Canadiens prospect.
2. Max Friberg, SWE: A goal and an help in the initially time period assisted set Sweden very well in advance above Slovakia.
3. Leo Komarov, FIN: Scored the match-winner, laid out some opponents and generally experienced a potent video game. Good work, Uncle Leo.
