2019 IIHF World Championship – Kosice/Bratislava, Slovakia

[alberto]

Clearly Canada's best game at this affair today against Germany. Be nice if somebody other than Stone or Mantha scored occasionally but can't complain.

Absolutely great game. Canada controlled the play from start to finish except for that little blip when the Germans scored. Stone and Mantha were beasts out there.

On another note, the relegation battle is down to France vs Great Britain and Austria vs Italy. I can't see GBR or Italy winning anything. Italy has been dreadful and don't deserve to stay up. The Brits have been a little better but, seriously, they don't belong at this level. Too bad the IIHF don't reduce the amount of teams at the elite level to 14. Way too many blowouts.

[Chuck Wagon]

I agree on the fewer teams angle. Two advantages I see, first fewer blow-outs and 2nd 1 less game/shorter tournament which might help attract beaten-up NHL players. I understand the rationale for 16 teams to help the 2nd tier teams but at some point it's not worth it.

[jaaa]

spicks, congrats on avoiding relegation!

Think this can bring more focus on the sport in GB?

[alberto]

Wow!!! Talk about a stunning upset. Down 3-0, the Brits come all the way back to win in overtime. That was one of the most entertaining games I have seen at this tournament. What about Ben Davies, screws up a breakaway chance in the 1st period and goes on to score the winner in overtime. Crazy, crazy game.

[GeoffH]

Wow, well done GBR. Another year in the top flight next year. Maybe they’ll get a chance against Norway next year !

Geoff

[Franco]

caramba!! Well done GBR! What a game for the Brits! Another year in the TOP!

[Heatleysucks]

caramba!! Well done GBR! What a game for the Brits! Another year in the TOP!

And now Italy just beat Austria in a shootout to stay up.
I wouldn't have given a plugged nickel for either one's chances but surprise, surprise.

[Bennison]

Big surprise in the relegation games. Didn’t think Italy would pull it off.

[Chuck Wagon]

Yeah, congrats to the Brits. Wild & crazy finale. Good for them. Italy staying up too and since they have been everyones punching bag I'm not sure thats a good thing. As per the conversation earlier, why have teams at this level who play 7 games but are only concerned about one ? Austria is probably the better team...although SVK probably deserves to be in the quarters too. Oh well.

CAN-USA tomorrow should be a good game. Usually CAN has a much better roster but not this year. One problem with the blow-outs is teams can develop bad habits. Important for CAN to get in the game ASAP and ramp the intensity from the start.

[jaaa]

Yeah, congrats to the Brits. Wild & crazy finale. Good for them. Italy staying up too and since they have been everyones punching bag I'm not sure thats a good thing. As per the conversation earlier, why have teams at this level who play 7 games but are only concerned about one ? Austria is probably the better team...although SVK probably deserves to be in the quarters too. Oh well.

CAN-USA tomorrow should be a good game. Usually CAN has a much better roster but not this year. One problem with the blow-outs is teams can develop bad habits. Important for CAN to get in the game ASAP and ramp the intensity from the start.

Slovakia will only deserve QFS once the team learns to play whole 60 minutes. Last year, they let in a goal that lost them points which would have secured a QF game in the opening game against Czech. This year, 2 seconds against Canadians and half a minute against Germans. There is a certain pattern that they should work on.

Austrians had a chance they belonged against Italy yesterday as did France against Brits. I know both teams were missing players, but still. The French threw away a 3:0 lead and once Brits scored the 3:1 goal, the French just didn't show the same desire to stay as the Brits did.

[Heatleysucks]

Yeah, congrats to the Brits. Wild & crazy finale. Good for them. Italy staying up too and since they have been everyones punching bag I'm not sure thats a good thing. As per the conversation earlier, why have teams at this level who play 7 games but are only concerned about one ? Austria is probably the better team...although SVK probably deserves to be in the quarters too. Oh well.

CAN-USA tomorrow should be a good game. Usually CAN has a much better roster but not this year. One problem with the blow-outs is teams can develop bad habits. Important for CAN to get in the game ASAP and ramp the intensity from the start.

Personally I think there are four teams too many.
Even before yesterday's games, I thought Austria and France were no more deserving of staying in the top group than GB or Italy.
The results kinda bore that out.

Canada and the US are gunning for first today, which I honestly didn't expect.
I thought the Finns would get by Germany but it didn't happen.
No matter where they finish its a tough QF match but nobody wants to see Russia in the quarters.

[Bennison]

Russia is crazy good. What a second period against Sweden.

[Chuck Wagon]

Russia is crazy good. What a second period against Sweden.

Yeah...I'm glad CAN will avoid them for a while. D might possibly be weak but you have to get the puck away from their forwards first.
Pretty close to their O team.

[Chuck Wagon]

CAN played a really complete game today. Good to beat the USA after losing twice last year. Murray was really solid and that may have been the difference this time.

[Cabal]

Russia and Canada in Gold Medal Game this Year i think.

Great tournament from Germany by the way.

[Heatleysucks]

Russia and Canada in Gold Medal Game this Year i think.

Great tournament from Germany by the way.

Thank you Germany for giving Canada the chance to finish first...much obliged.

[Chuck Wagon]

So I'm guessing Mantha will sit a game for the hit to the head which means Bertuzzi will play. He had an OK season in the NHL although Mantha has been huge so far.

I hope we don't see a repeat of last year...the Swiss have been a problem for CAN recently.

I haven't heard if Larkin is OK. He took a shot to what looked like "a sensitive area".

[Heatleysucks]

So I'm guessing Mantha will sit a game for the hit to the head which means Bertuzzi will play. He had an OK season in the NHL although Mantha has been huge so far.

Yep, you're right, a one game suspension.
Even with him out of the lineup Canada should have enough firepower to get by the Swiss.
As terrific as Mantha has been, Mark Stone has been tearing it up as well.

[Chuck Wagon]

One little bit of intrigue this year is both Jack Hughes, USA (projected #1 pick in upcoming NHL draft) and Kakko Kaapo, Finland (projected #2) are playing. Hughes was a healthy scratch for the US against Canada. I don't know what that means and there is nothing on the USA Hockey website about it. Why was he was sat against Canada ? Meanwhile Kakko has been having an OK tournament with a few highlight reel plays but no points in his last 3 games.

[Heatleysucks]

One little bit of intrigue this year is both Jack Hughes, USA (projected #1 pick in upcoming NHL draft) and Kakko Kaapo, Finland (projected #2) are playing. Hughes was a healthy scratch for the US against Canada. I don't know what that means and there is nothing on the USA Hockey website about it. Why was he was sat against Canada ?

For one thing Johnny Gaudreau was reinserted in the lineup so somebody had to sit.
And that somebody is someone who has one point in six games.
We might be forgetting just one thing about Jack Hughes.
He's a kid...a very talented player but still a kid.
He only just turned 18 four days after the tournament commenced.
Playing against his peers in the U18 tournament or even competing in the U20 is one thing.
But playing against 25-30 year olds is another situation entirely.
I mean his DOB is May 14, 2001...I've got stuff in the back of my fridge that's probably older than him.
He's getting valuable experience playing in this tournament but Team USA has to go with the proven vets come crunch time.

[Chuck Wagon]

Well sure, but the Finnish kid has 7 pts and is +7 after 6 games while Hughes has 1 assist. Does this potentially change who goes #1 ?
Nobody doubts Hughes is the real deal....but...is the kid from Finland a bit more ready ?

[jaaa]

I think that at number one you go for the player who you think will be the better player down the line, not the player who is more ready.

So what are everyone's prediction/wishes for tonight's games?

Canada - Switzerland -> the only chance Switzerland has in this one is to stay out of the box, if they don't manage them, Canada will deal with them on the PP. Also the Swiss will need a major improvement to their own PP as they are currently ranked 13th in that stat and it's what has stopped them from getting any extra points in round robin

Russia - USA -> if Russians continue as well as they have so far on defense, they are the favourites, but maybe team US will finally show up big time?

Finland - Sweden -> I don't dare make a prediction about this one, though when I don't cheer for Slovakia, I cheer for Sweden, but I would be ok with Finland taking this one too as I lived there for a bit

Czech republic - Germany -> I will be cheering for the Czechs on this one, would be neat for them to finally medal again on what is almost home ice. I think that they have a lot of experience with a trap game themselves, but the German can still give them a hard time especially if Draisaitl is on top of his game

[Heatleysucks]

Well sure, but the Finnish kid has 7 pts and is +7 after 6 games while Hughes has 1 assist. Does this potentially change who goes #1 ?
Nobody doubts Hughes is the real deal....but...is the kid from Finland a bit more ready ?

I think Kaapo Kakko has performed better at this tournament perhaps because he already has a lot of experience playing against men.
He has played about 50 games with TPS in the Finnish Liiga, the top league in the country.
Hughes has no comparable experience, having played almost exclusively with the US National Development team.
As Jaaa pointed out you pick a player based on his projected upside not where he is currently at.

[Chuck Wagon]

So...I know some people don't believe in Jinxes...but Ferraro keeps talking about how uncomfortable the Swiss goalie looks but nothing goes in, and how bad the Swiss PP is and immediately they score.

[Heatleysucks]

OMG. 0.4 seconds away....as a Canadian I feel more relief than joy but I do feel for the Swiss.
What a heartbreaker.

[alberto]

And Stone scores in overtime to win the game for Canada. A little too close for comfort but the hockey Gods are with us today.

[Chuck Wagon]

Like I always say...better to be lucky then good. And I don't feel sorry for the Swiss since they won last year under very similar circumstances.

Not an impressive Win but a W nonetheless. US gives the Bear a battle but not quite enough.

[jaaa]

Wow, Canadians continue to break fans' heart with goals scored in the last seconds of a game.

Meanwhile the U.S. awakened late to the game with Russia, you just can't allow them to get the lead first.

[Heatleysucks]

The Finns score late in regulation and then stun Sweden 5-4 in OT.
On paper, the mostly no name Finns should have been no match for the star studded two time champion Swedes.
But then again, no hockey game has ever been played on paper.

I hate to blame any individual for a loss but this was a game Lundqvist would not have lost in his prime.
But King Henry is 37 and looked a lot older than that today.
He had a mediocre year with the Rangers and it ended today with one of his worst big game performances.

[Chuck Wagon]

Didn't see the RUS-USA game but I wonder what changes the US made after the first period ? Seems they got blown away the first 10 minutes but played more or less even the rest of the way.

jaaa - are you at any of these games ?

[jaaa]

@Heatleysucks, Lundqvist was not really on the top of his game in this tourney, but I wouldn't put the blame only on him. Finnish no name team dominated the game for most of the second period. Swedish players looked way too content with a one goal lead any time they had one. If they wanted to win they should have controlled the puck for most of the game which they did not. Then again Finns are well known for playing a top game even with a no name team.

@Chuck, I think the US players had not yet recovered from their train ride from Kosice in the first. Also, maybe they were just getting used to the ice in Bratislava.

Unfortunately I have not been to any of the games because I'm a bit short on money these days to be honest, so it's not been my priority to attend.

[GeoffH]

Interesting that none of last year’s top 4 made it to the semis this year. Never a predictable tournament.

Geoff

[Heatleysucks]

Interesting that none of last year’s top 4 made it to the semis this year. Never a predictable tournament.

Geoff

Such is the nature of this tournament, where the contending nations have vastly different rosters from year to year.
Of this year's final four, three were knocked out in the quarters last year.
Last year Russia was without Ovie who was too busy winning a Stanley Cup.

[spikc]

Just returned from a holiday away and I was stuck glued to the Tv to watch the games.
We tried hard but after ups (v Germany and USA) and downs (v Denmark) thought our games went as expected. Woud always struggle but wow we made it pay v France. Look forward to nezxt year but we have to build stronger for then.Not much can happen in a year but we can but compete as well as possible.

I recall the last time we were in the top flight in 1994 in Italy. Then a 12 team event. I understand the flaws of us playing with only one game a real chance to stay up. Such is the problem with a world wide sport but a massive gulf in play. Most teams out skating us but GB played with heart.

[Chuck Wagon]

Shocked that FIN knocked off Russia. Wow. Earlier I was thinking there hadn't been any real upsets at this thing. Considering the stacked Russian roster vs the no-name Fin roster, well this is a huge upset. Can't believe it.

[spikc]

Shocked that FIN knocked off Russia. Wow. Earlier I was thinking there hadn't been any real upsets at this thing. Considering the stacked Russian roster vs the no-name Fin roster, well this is a huge upset. Can't believe it.

I like to see upsets and maybe Finland can do this again?
This seems to be a mirror image of the last time they won?

[amoracing]

"On paper", Finland doesn't have a very strong team. Only a couple of NHL guys and not big names. But...the Finns are always tough it seems. Find out soon.

- How good of an insight that turned out to be!

Shocked that FIN knocked off Russia. Wow. Earlier I was thinking there hadn't been any real upsets at this thing. Considering the stacked Russian roster vs the no-name Fin roster, well this is a huge upset. Can't believe it.

- Finns beating the Swedes was kinda upset already if you look at the rosters on paper (as referred several times already). However, the Finns dominated the game from mid-2nd period onwards, so from that perspective it wasn't a such a surprise, after all. Finns pulling the goalie off late 3rd period and then scoring even against any team, not to mention the defending 2 times Champion, World Ranking #1 and usually the best defense in the world, that doesn't happen every day.

Finns outshooting Russians until the halfway of the Semi, making slightly more and better scoring chances, that was already a tremendous upset. Moreover, how Russians reacted to that, that was quite frankly a surprise to me. Typically, as game go tighter, they tend to go ununited, fall to individual pushing and at the end, great frustration. But not this time! They played well as a team, disciplined, with focus to their game plan the whole way. I find that as one of the best, if not the best Russian team as a whole I've ever seen in these tournaments.

The result could have turned either way. Whereas the Finns scored late minute against the Swedes, that great talent of Russians were expected to make the same against the Finns. Another upset it didn't happen, and wasn't really close to be honest.

Meanwhile, Canada demonstrated against the Chechs where they're coming from. No domination on ice anywhere but how to capitalize their scoring chances. The Chechs could be seen quite similar and even with the Finnish team against Canada, however the Finns may have a little more solid goalie Kevin Lankinen to put on a net.

As far as the presumptions and expectations to the Final, the Canadiens unify as a team and with the game plan as touneys go by. That's what's happened this year, once again. The Finns have already exceeded their potential, at least what they had on paper. There's no question about the Finland's focus and mentality in the final. But that's not what really counts here. It's most of a question of how motivated the Canucks really are, how they can capitalize their dominance in individual talent. As mentioned, we saw a piece of that yesterday in their Semi.

As a Finn, I sure hope for the Finns to replay the Bratislava -11 but to be honest, I'm not very confident it will happen. Looking forward to a good and tight Final tonight, though.

[amoracing]

I think the Russians will come as favorites against the Chechs to the Bronze Medal game. However, it could turn out to be much tighter than expected. Sure hope so. Giving the very best they've got, we could be seeing a very entertaining match of hockey.

[Heatleysucks]

As a Finn, I sure hope for the Finns to replay the Bratislava -11 but to be honest, I'm not very confident it will happen. Looking forward to a good and tight Final tonight, though.

Well, you can take that 'paper' and throw it in the wastebasket.
Finland wins gold and in doing so confounded both their opponents and the experts.
Really, what a phenomenal season it has been for Finnish hockey.
Gold at the Worlds, gold in the U20 men's and almost gold (some will say that they did win) in the Women's Worlds.

[Chuck Wagon]

Well, Finland proven what a motivated but unheralded group can accomplish. Congratulations to them.

[jaaa]

What a fairy tale tournament for the underdog team from Finland.

I bet the Finns are wishing they could play the Worlds in Slovakia every year, too bad we don't have the arenas to host the tournament in the future.