There were some interesting games, but none were quite so shocking as the last one of the day.
Game 1: The Swiss and the Slovaks have a real fine competitive battle, Slovakia wins 2-1
I think 58 shots split dead even between two teams is downright gentlemanly, don’t you?
Game notes:
- You can’t be mad at the Swiss effort. This game was in real danger of going to OT had Jan Chovan not gotten the gift of all gifts this holiday season, and both teams played very hard. Unfortunately, it was also Switzerland’s best shot at playing spoiler, because from now on your best shot at a win is playing the Kazakhs.
- Slovakia gets the Czechs next. We’re gonna see just how strong Hrabel really is and just how hard Sam Urban has rebounded.
Game 2: Finns get back on track to beat Germany 3-1
Is it possible to play a good game and get great goaltending and still walk away with a game that felt a little closer than it needed to be?
Game Notes
- Look the Finns killed Der Eismannschaft. At least on paper. They got one goal per period, Petteri Rimpinen showed up bright-eyed and ready to make life difficult for the German forecheck, and they absolutely stomped them out on the shot total. That said…Germany got 32 shots on Finland. Wildly outshot them in the 2nd, too. Were I Coach Mikkola, I think that would be a point of emphasis at practice? After all, you gotta face the US next; they like picking apart a weaker defense.
- The Germans get Canada next. Good luck with that! They’ve got a LOT of local unrest to quell!
Game 3: Sweden processes Kazakhstan like freshly caught fish. Win 8-1
Gonna be real the idea that the Kazakhs scored at all should be considered a major success for them.
Game Notes
- Big shoutouts to Artur Gross, who may or may not end up the sole goalscorer in Kazakhstan’s tournament. It’s nothing against them, the gap in talent between their squad and the rest of the field is just a little too great.
- Meanwhile the Swedes treated this like another day at the office. I know they still need to prove it against a real power but they really feel like the team to beat this tournament. Especially since….
Game 4: LATVIA BEAT CANADA! LATVIA BEAT CANADA! LATVIA BEAT CANADA!
WE’RE SACKING THE VALMIERMUIŽAS PLANT IN CELEBRATION
Game Notes
- Sure. Canada led for like 95% of this game. Canada probably beats Latvia 99 times out of 100 games played. But guess what? Latvia rallied in the Third, and took the measuring stick of the sport all the way to a shootout, where they stuck the dagger in them. This is why you keep the tournament so open. This is why this tournament rocks. Well done indeed, Latvia. Now go do it again against the Americans.
- Canada dropped 57 shots on Linards Feldbergs, a grand total of about 10 being any sort of danger. Hockey Canada will get the chance to rebound a bit, but the people who put this team together are sitting on a sizzling pan at the moment; this was a rough loss for Canada and it became abundantly clear that this once in a lifetime defensive effort by Latvia was more than enough to close any gaps in talent. Better take that Germany game seriously or we’re having some fun conversations about how HC built this squad, and it probably ends with a lot of pink slips.
Today’s Games
Game 1 – Kazakhstan vs. Czechia – 1pm EST
This is gonna be a pretty dull day at the tourney and this is the kind of game that explains why. Czechia is probably gonna sleepwalk to a win and that isn’t very interesting.
Game 2 – Latvia vs. USA – 3:30pm PT
I know it’s better to be less romantic about a stunner victory, but this one really got my blood pumping. It’s gonna suck when the US, who showed up ready to take some skulls, torches Latvia.
But! You never know!