Latvia created the first surprise in the 2009 IIHF World Championship when they beat Sweden 3-2 in shootout. The three other games on 27 April featured slightly different versions the classical tale of the alpha-dog's play with the underdog. The Czech Republic quickly subdued Norway with an early 3-0 lead and skated to a 5-2 win. USA and Finland let their opponents Austria and Denmark play for a while, but eventually flexed their muscles and won convincingly 6-1 and 5-1.

GROUP C

USA - Austria 6-1 (1-0, 1-1, 4-0)
27 April 2009, Postfinance Arena, Att: 3,779
1-0 15:11 Dustin Brown 1 (O'Sulllivan, Niskanen)
2-0 31:04 Drew Stafford 2 (Foligno)
2-1 34:26 Markus Peintner 1
3-1 40:25 Patrick O'Sullivan 2 (Brown, Blake)
4-1 47:56 Jason Blake (Brown, Liles) PP2
5-1 54:06 Lee Stempiak 1 (Hainsey, Wilson) PP1
6-1 55:55 Matt Niskanen 1 (Ballard) PP2
USA 4x2, AUT 9x2, SOG 38:26 (14:7, 7:12, 12:7)
Best players: USA: Dustin Brown, AUT: Andreas Kristler

USA: Robert Esche; Ron Hainsey, Ryan Suter, Patrick O'Sullivan, Dustin Brown, Jason Blake - Jack Johnson, John Michael Liles, Kyle Okoposo, David Backes (4), T. J. Oshie - Keith Ballard, Matt Niskanen, Nick Foligno, Drew Stafford, Ryan Shannon - Zach Bagosian, Peter Harrold, Lee Stempiak (2), Colin Wilson, Colin Stuart (2)
AUT: Jürgen Penker; Gerhard Unterluggauer (2), Darcy Werenka (2), Thomas Koch (4), Matthias Trattning (2), Thomas Vanek - Jeremy Rebek (2), Martin Oraze, David Schuller (2), Christoph Harand, Oliver Setzinger - Philippe Lakos, Andre Lakos (4), Roland Kaspitz, Michael Raffl, Markus Peintner - Paul Schellander, Andreas Kristler, Gregor Baumgartner.
Refs: Vladimir Sindler (CZE) & Derek Zalaski (CAN)
Linesmen: Eric Bouguin (FRA) / Chris de Hann (CAN)

The matinée game in Group C appeared even for two periods until USA turned up the heat in the third frame with four unanswered goals to win 6-1. USA opened the scoring at 15:11 when Dustin Brown deaked his way into the slot and slickly backhanded the puck behind Austria's goaltender, Jürgen Penker. USA extended the lead halfway at 31:04 when Drew Stafford tucked in a loose puck to finish off a rush with Nick Foligno. Austria cut the deficit to 2-1 at 34:26 thanks to a blunder by Robert Esche. The U.S. goalender came out of his net to clear the puck off the sideboards but gave it away to Markus Peintner who shot it in from inside the blueline. The goal injected new life to Austria's hopes as well as the game that had remained tepid so far. USA came out in the third period with much more steam and muscles and were immediately rewarded when Patrick O'Sullivan scored his second goal of the tournament to make it 3-1 after 40:25.  As the U.S. pressure mounted, Austria ran out of steam and started to take penalties. The rest of USA's goals were scored on the powerplay, two of them in 5-on-3.

"We were a little casual in the first half of the game", USA's head coach, Ron Wilson said,  "I challenged the team to show that we have a killer instinct and to not let Austria think that they had a chance to win the game."

Latvia - Sweden 3-2 SO (0-1, 2-0, 0-1, 0-0, 1-0)
27 April 2009, Postfinance Arena, Att: 4,421
0-1 15:26 Linus Omark 1 (Harju, Thörnberg)
1-1 30:20 Krisjanis Redlihs (Ankipans, Karsums) PP1
2-1 39:15 Lauris Darzins 1 (M. Redlihs, Lavins)
2-2 40:44 Magnus Johansson 2 (Eriksson) PP1
3-2 65:00 SO Aleksandrs Nizivijs
LAT 5x2, SWE 3x2, SOG 22:40 (6:13, 10;11, 3:14, 2:2, 1:0)
Shootout: 0-1 Weinhandl (SWE), Nizivijs (LAT) (misses), 0-2 M. Johansson (SWE), 1-2 Karsums (LAT), Berglund (SWE) (misses), 2-2 Vasiljevs (LAT), M. Johansson (SWE) (misses), 3-2 Aleksandrs Nizivijs
Best players: LAT: Janis Sprukts, SWE: Magnus Johansson

LAT: Edgars Masalskis (65:00 Sergeis Naumovs); Karlis Skrastins, Krisjanis Redlihs, Janis Sprukts, Martins Karsums (2), Girts Ankipans (2) - Rodrigo Lavins, Kristaps Sotnieks, Lauris Darzins (2), Mikelis Redlihs, Armands Berzins - Guntis Galvins, Georgijs Pujacs, Herberts Vasiljevs, Aleksandrs Nizivijs (2), Martins Cipulis - Aleksandrs Jerofejevs, Olegs Sorokins, Guntis Dzerins, Roberts Jekimovs, Aigars Cipruss (2).
Refs: Vladimir Baluska (SVK) & Brent Bauer (SUI).
SWE: Stefan Liv; Nicklas Grossman, Dick Tärnström, Patrik Berglund, Rickard Wallin, Kristian Huselius - Magnus Johansson, Tobias Enström, Tony Mårtensson, Loui Eriksson, Mattias Weinhandl - Johan Åkerman, Kenny Jönsson, Martin Thörnberg, Linus Omark (2), Johan Harju - Johan Andersson, Niklas Persson (2), Marcus Nilsson (2).
Linesmen: Petr Blumel (CZE) / Felix Winnekens (GER).

Latvia came out stronger than many expected in the first period, skilfully neutralising the Swedish offense. Speedy Latvian forwards kept the Swedish defense on their toes, especially after Swedish captain Kenny Jönsson had to step down due to injury. Still, Sweden managed to score late in the period behind excellent Latvian goaltender Masalskis.

In the second period Latvia came out roaring and dominated Sweden for most of the period. The Swedish offense looked sluggish and lacking in speed and ideas. A quick power play goal at the midway point and an excellent combination from Darzins and Redlihs just before the buzzer put Latvia ahead 2-1 after the middle period.

Sweden started the third period with a man advantage and after just 44 seconds converted that and scored the equalizer. Sweden kept pressing the Latvian defense in the third period and at times it was just amazing play by Masalskis that kept the game tied. In the middle of the period Swedish defender Tobias Enström was knocked out by a powerful hit and had to be led off the ice. With only four defenders left some of the Swedish offense was neutralized.

The game went into overtime and shootout, where Latvia came out on top and pulled off the historic first win against Sweden.

Standings

			GP	W	OTW	OTL	L	GF:GA	P
1		USA	2	2	0	0	0	10:3	6
2		Sweden	2	1	0	1	0	9:4	4
3		Latvia	2	0	1	0	1	5:6	2
4		Austria	2	0	0	0	2	2:13	0

GROUP D

Czech Republlic - Norway 5-2 (3-0, 1-2, 1-0)
27 April 2009, Arena Zürich Kloten , Att: 3,583
1-0 05:20 Jan Marek 2 (Polak)
2-0 09:35 Petr Cajanek 2 (Hemsky, Jagr) PP1
3-0 12:19 Josef Vasicek 1 (Cervenka, Plekanec)
3-1 21:49 Tommy Jakobsen 1
4-1 32:34 Miroslav Blatak 1 (Olesz, Kotalik)
4-2 39:52 Mats Z. Olsen 1 (Vikingstad) PP2
5-2 51:14 Jakub Klepis 1 (Caslava, Cajanek)
CZE 7x2, NOR 4x2, SOG 37:24 (15:8, 9:10, 13:6)
Goaltender split: NOR: Grotnes (12/15 - 20:00), Lysenstøen (20/22 - 40:00)
Best players: CZE: Roman Polak, NOR: Anders Bastiansen

CZE: Martin Pruse; Marek Zidlicky (4), Petr Caslava, Petr Cajanek (2), Jaromir Jagr (2), Ales Hemsky - Ondrej Nemec, Karel Rachunek (2), Jan Marek (2), Zbynek Irgl, Tomas Rolinek - Roman Polak, Miroslav Blatak (2), Ales Kotalik, Jaroslav Hlinka, Rotislav Olesz - Michal Barinka, Roman Cervenka, Tomas Plekanec, Jakub Klepis, Josef Vasicek.
NOR: Pål Grotnes (20:00 Andre Lysenstøen); Mats Trygg, Anders Myrvold, Per-Åge Skrøder (2), Tore Vikingstad, Patrick Thoresen (2) - Jonas Holøs, Tommy Jakobsen (2), Marius Holtet, Morten Ask (2), Mats Zuccarello Olsen - Juha kaunismäki, Lars Erik Lund, Mads Hansen, Lars Erik Spets, Anders Bastiansen - Alexander Bonsaksen, Peter Lorentzen, Martin Røymark, Kristian Forsberg, Martin Laumann Ylven.
Refs: Soeren Persson & Marcus Vinnerborg (SWE)
Linesmen: Christian Kaspar (AUT) / Andris Kicha (UKR)

Last year, Norway reached the quarterfinals and made it clear that it's a team on the rise. It's a team that must no longer be underestimated but subsued as quickly as possible. Czech Republic copied Finland's strategy with a quick 3-0 lead after 12 minutes. In an otherwise eventless 2nd period, the Czechs kept their three goal lead until the relentless Norwegians cut the gap to two on a 5-on-3 PP. However, the Norwegians didn't come closer. The Czechs dominated the third period and were rewarded at 51:14 when a harmless-looking backhand from Jakub Klepis snuck under the arm of Lysenstøen to make it 5-2.
"It looked like they got a little emotion when they scored with the two-man advantage," Czech forward Josef Vasicek said, "but we have more experience, so we were able to keep them on the outside and control the rest of the game."
"You can't get down three goals to the Czechs and expect to win the game," Mats Zuccarello Aasen observed, "so we have to be much smarter when a team comes out and plays with such a high tempo."

Finland - Denmark 5-1 (1-1, 2-0, 2-0)
27 April 2009, Arena Zürich-Kloten. Att: 3,929
0-1 10:03 Julian Jakobsen 1 (M. Christensen, Madsen)
1-1 17:40 Antti Miettinen 2 (Niinimaa)
2-1 21:58 Tuomas Pihlman 1 (Hyvönen, Immonen) PP1
3-1 34:42 Antti Miettinen 3 (N. Kapanen, Hagman)
4-1 51:51 Niko Kapanen 2 (Miettinen, Nummelin) PP1
5-1 59:42 Niko Kapanen 3 (Hyvönen, S. Kapanen)
FIN 5x2, DEN 7x2, SOG 38:19 (12:8, 15:5, 11:6)
Best players: FIN Antti Miettinen, DEN: Mads Bech Christensen

FIN: Karri Rämö, Petteri Nummelin, Mikko Lehtonen, Niklas Hagman, Antti Miettinen, Niko Kapanen (2) - Ville Koistinen (2), Anssi Salmela, Hannes Hyvönen, Sami Kapanan, Jarkko Immonen - Topi Jaakola (2), Janne Niinimaa (2), Kalle Kerman, Tuomas Pihlman, Juha-Pekka Hytönen - Lasse Kukkonen, Tommi Santala, Mika Pyörälä, Jarkko Ruutu.
DEN: Sebastian Dahm, Philip Larsen, Philip Hersby, Kim Staal, Nichlas Hardt, Peter Regin (2) - Jesper Damgaard (4), Mads Bech Christensen (2), Kasper Degn, Morten Green, Mikkel Bødker (2) - Mads Bødker, Daniel Nielsen, Mads Christensen (2), Morten Madsen, Julian Jakobsen (2) - Kasper Pedersen, Kim Lykkeskov, Thor Dresler, Alexander Sundberg, Jesper Jensen.
Refs: Danny Kurmann (SUI) & Thomas Sterns (USA)
Linesmen: Peter Feola (USA) / Miroslav Valach (SVK)

Denmark started the game with a lot more speed and energy than on Saturday vs the Czech. In the first 10 minutes, Denmark played the Finns close a created a few good scoring chances and they were rewarded at 10:03 then Julian Jakobsen on a nifty pass from Mads Christensen fired a slapshot topshelv behind Karri Rämö. From then on, Finland started to flex their muscles, and got the equalizer at 17:40. With only 2 seconds remaining of period 1, Denmark took an unnecessary penalty, and to make matters worse Tuomas Pihlman converted on the powerplay only a second before it expired. In total, Finland scored four goals on the powerplay, while Denmark still haven't converted on 12 powerplays in the tournament. This should raise some concerns before Denmark's all important game vs Norway on Wednesday.
Otherwise, it appeared that Denmark used this game as a preparations for the pivotal game on Wednesday. The team had much more speed than vs the Czechs and all four lines got plenty of icetime. As a further sign that this was a preparation game for Denmark, Daniel Nielsen on the blue line played for 20 minutes. Nielsen has had a groin injury since the Danish playoffs and he needed a lot of minutes to shake of the dust.

Standings

			GP	W	OTW	OTL	L	GF:GA	P
1		Finland	2	2	0	0	0	10:1	6
2		Czech republic	2	2	0	1	0	10:2	6
3		Norway	2	0	0	0	2	2:10	0
4		Austria	2	0	0	0	2	1:10	0