Showing Some International Love: Final Olympic Qualification - Group F Review

Note: Most information from the IIHF website.

Standings

Team	Win	OT/SOW	OT/SOL	Loss	Points	Goal Diff.
Slovenia	3	0	0	0	9	+8
Belarus	2	0	0	1	6	+5
Denmark	1	0	0	2	3	0
Ukraine	0	0	0	3	0	-13

Results

February 7
Belarus 2 - Slovenia 4
Denmark 2 - Ukraine 0

February 8
Belarus 6 - Ukraine 0
Slovenia 2 - Denmark 1

February 10
Ukraine 6 - Slovenia 1
Denmark 2 - Belarus 3

Notes

• Goals Leader: David Rodman (Slovenia) - 4
• Points Leader: David Rodman (Slovenia) - 6
• GAA Leader: Frederik Andersen (Denmark) - 1.01
• Save % Leader: Frederik Andersen (Denmark) - 0.960
• The "No Surprise" Game: Belarus shutting out Ukraine 6-0
• The "Upset" Game:  Slovenia holding on against Denmark 2-1

What Now?

Slovenia: Anze glad they made it through? After getting promoted to the World Championship last year, they go out and qualify for the Olympics. Everything is coming up Slovenia.

Belarus: They probably feel disappointed after coming into the tournament with one of the better teams. Now, they have to focus on the World Championship.

Denmark: Along with Belarus, the host Danes must feel disappointed that they could not qualify. Will now get ready for the World Championship.

Ukraine: Coming in with a weaker roster didn't help the lower-ranked Ukraine in their qualifying bid. They will now get ready for Division II Group B in hopes they can earn a promotion back to Group A.

Showing Some International Love: Final Olympic Qualification - Group E Review

Note: Most information from the IIHF website.

Standings

Team	Win	OT/SOW	OT/SOL	Loss	Points	Goal Diff.
Latvia	2	0	1	0	7	+4
Kazakhstan	2	0	0	1	6	+6
France	1	1	0	1	5	+2
Great Britain	0	0	0	3	0	-12

Results

February 7
France 2 - Kazakhstan 3
Latvia 6 - Great Britain 2

February 8
France 4 - Great Britain 2
Kazakhstan 2 - Latvia 3

February 10
Great Britain 0 - Kazakhstan 6
Latvia 2 - France 3 (OT)

Notes

• Goals Leader: Lauris Darzins (Latvia), Roman Starchenko (Kazakhstan) - 3
• Points Leader: Lauris Darzins (Latvia) - 5
• GAA Leader: Vitali Yeremeyev (Kazakhstan) - 0.51
• Save % Leader: Vitali Yeremeyev (Kazakhstan) - 0.980
• The "No Surprise" Game: Latvia beating Great Britain 6-2
• The "Upset" Game: Kazakhstan getting by France 3-2.

What Now?

Latvia: As expected, Latvia qualifies for the Olympics. They end up in the weaker (by structure) group. A good showing in the World Championship would help them going into the Olympics.

Kazakhstan: Came close to qualifying. Will now get ready for Division I Group A, hoping to get back into the main tournament after being relegated last year.

France: Seems like they should have done better. Need to get really for the World Championships after failing to qualify for the Olympics.

Great Britain: While not having as strong a team as the other thee countries, it still feels like they should have made a bit more noise. Will now gear up for Division I Group A in April.

Showing Some International Love: Final Olympic Qualification - Group D Review

Note: Most information from the IIHF website.

Standings

Team	Win	OT/SOW	OT/SOL	Loss	Points	Goal Diff.
Austria	2	0	1	0	7	+5
Germany	1	1	1	0	6	+4
Italy	1	1	0	1	5	+3
Netherlands	0	0	0	3	0	-12

Results

February 7
Austria 3 - Italy 2
Germany 5 - Netherlands 1

February 8
Austria 6 - Netherlands 1
Italy 2 - Germany 1 (OT)

February 10
Netherlands 1 - Italy 4
Germany 3 - Austria 2 (OT)

Notes

• Both Austria and Germany did not lose in regulation.
• Goals Leader: Daniel Oberkofler (Austria), Vincent Rocco (Italy) - 3
• Points Leader: Alexander Barta (Germany) - 6
• GAA Leader: Robert Zepp (Germany) - 1.48
• Save % Leader: Bernhard Starkbaum (Austria) - 0.934
• The "No Surprise" Game: Germany beating Netherlands 5-1
• The "Upset" Game: Italy squeezing out a 2-1 OT win against Germany

What Now?

Austria: Big boost for the Austrians. They got promoted to the main tournament last year and now are in the Olympics.

Germany: This must be disappointing for the Germans. Being the favourite and ending up short. They will now get ready for the World Championship.

Italy: The Italians were close, but an early loss against Austria was too much for a comeback. They will now get ready for Division I Group A in hopes to make it back to the main tournament.

Netherlands: Will now gear up for Division I Group B action, but should be happy for making it to the final qualification round.

Showing Some International Love: Euro Hockey Tour Preview - Oddset Hockey Games Review

The host (Sweden) did not fare well. How bad was it? Keep reading to find out.

(Note: Most information from Eurohockey.com)

Oddset Hockey Games Standings

Team	Win	OT/SOW	OT/SOL	Loss	Points	Goal Diff.
Finland	2	0	1	0	7	+5
Czech Republic	2	0	0	1	6	0
Russia	1	1	0	2	5	+3
Sweden	0	0	0	3	0	-8

Results

February 6
Russia 4 - Finland 3 (SO)

February 7
Czech Republic 2 - Sweden 0

February 9
Finland 3 - Czech Republic 0
Sweden 1 - Russia 4

February 10
Russia 1 - Czech Republic 2
Sweden 2 - Finland 5

Team Recap

Finland: An Aaltonen hat trick opened the scoring (first 2 goals) and tied the game (last goal) for the Finnish squad in the opening game, but it wasn't enough as Russia won in the shootout. Metsola helped the team bounce back with a 30-save shutout against the Czechs. Finland closed out the tournament with a win against Sweden that seemed easy, but the Finns were out shot 40-21. They end the tournament in first place and close the gap between them and first place Russia in the overall standing.

Czech Republic: Salak opened the tournament for the Czechs with a 40-save shutout against Sweden. Their next game against Finland was the opposite, as they were on the side that got shut out. Their last game against Russia was close, but the Czechs were still able to prevail, scoring 2 while holding Russia to one. The Czechs second place finish keeps them in second in the overall standing.

Russia: The Russians gave up a late tying goal in their first game, but where able to pull out the win in the shootout. Against Sweden, they were able to take the lead and keep it, as Koshechkin stopped 36 shots to preserve the victory. They finished the tournament with a close lost to the Czech Republic. The third place finish kept the Russians as the overall leader, but the gap they had is closing.

Sweden: This was a tournament the host country hopes to forget. Despite outshooting their opponents in all three games, they could only find the back of the net three times. The last place finish officially eliminates Sweden from a first place finish, and they'll need to run the table (and get some help) in the next tournament if they don't want to finish last. Essentially, they are just playing for pride now.

Overall Standings

Team	Win	OT/SOW	OT/SOL	Loss	Points	Goal Diff.
Russia	5	1	1	2	18	+14
Finland	4	1	1	3	15	+3
Czech Republic	5	0	0	4	15	-7
Sweden	2	0	0	7	6	-10