(A1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (A2) Tampa Bay Lightning
This isn't going to be like last year. The Lightning are a Cup-favourite, but had to fend off elimination twice against the Red Wings. The Habs are coming off a pretty close series against the Senators. The Lightning are the better team up front (depth), on defense (slightly), behind the bench (#FireTherrien), and possession-wise. However, this series may come down to goaltending, which would favour the Habs. Price was a stud for the Habs in the regular season, and that extended into the playoffs. Bishop was erratic against the Red Wings, but he can be solid starter. That's a bit reason why I can see this series goes the distance, I don't know how well Bishop will perform (I can better guess how Price will do). Tampa Bay in seven (but Go Habs!).
(M1) New York Rangers vs. (M2) Washington Capitals
It must be in the CBA that these teams must face every year in the playoffs (sans last year's playoffs). The Rangers are the more rested team, as they finished off the Penguins early. The Capitals are coming off a battle against the other New York team, the Islanders. The Rangers may have the slight overall advantage. Lundqvist vs. Holtby? Lundqvist. Defense? I'm leaning more toward the Rangers. Nash and St. Louis vs. Backstrom and Ovechkin? Ok, I'd take the Capitals in that duel. The Capitals did have the better possession numbers (both regular season and playoffs). Even though I do like the Capitals chances, I had the Rangers winning this series in my bracket, and dammit I might as well stick with it. The New York in seven.
(C3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (W1) Minnesota Wild
A rematch from last year. Both teams finished off their first round series in six games, as the Blackhawks beat the Predators while the Wild eliminated the Blues. The Blackhawks were the better possession team in the regular season, and they arguably have better skaters. Goaltending may be the downfall though, as both Crawford and Darling looked shaky at times in the first round (it was announced that Crawford would start). At the other end, Dubnyk has been the hero of the Wild's season. Since arriving in January, he has led them into the playoffs (when their season was in doubt) and past the first round. It's not like the Wild will be pushovers, as they did push the Blackhawks to six games last year with a goaltender in a similar situation (Bryzgalov was trying to rebound after being bought out by the Flyers, and was traded to Minnesota). This series will likely go the distance, but the Blackhawks are playoff-savvy enough to get through this round. Chicago in seven.
(P1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (P3) Calgary Flames
This is the only series were I cannot see it going seven games. The Ducks breezed by the Jets in the first round and will be well-rested for this series. The Flames are coming off an emotional series against the Canucks. The Ducks have an advantage up front, on defense, in possession numbers, and have a habit of winning one goal games (three of the four against the Jets were decided by a single goal). Again though, it is hard to outright dismiss the Flames. They also have a habit, this one involves coming back when they are down, and Bob Hartley will no doubt do what he can to have everyone firing on all cylinders. The Flames also have an advantage in goal, enhance by the fact Hiller will want to stick it to his former team for giving up on him during last year's playoffs. I doubt it, but I do hope we see this series go long enough so that Giordano can make an appearance. Overall, this series looks like it's the Ducks to lose, and I just cannot see them blowing it. Anaheim in five.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions - Round 2
Round 2 is upon us, so it's time to pick who will move on to the Conference Finals.
Eastern Conference
(A1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (A2) Tampa Bay Lightning
Brad: Tampa Bay Lightning
MDK: Montreal Canadiens
(M1) New York Rangers vs. (M2) Washington Capitals
Brad: New York Rangers
MDK: New York Rangers
Western Conference
(C3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (W1) Minnesota Wild
Brad: Chicago Blackhawks
MDK: Minnesota Wild
(P1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (P3) Calgary Flames
Brad: Anaheim Ducks
MDK: Calgary Flames
After Round 1
Brad: 7-1
MDK: 3-5
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Showing Some International Love: 2015 IIHF World Championship Review - Division I Group A
It was Kazakhstan's to lose, and didn't, going undefeated to win the tournament and get a promotion. The other promotion spot came down to the last day, as Hungary faced the host and surprise of the tournament Poland. Aggressive tactics by Poland would end up backfiring, as Hungary won a close 2-1 game to finish second and be promoted to the top tournament. Poland settled for the bronze. Japan had a bad start, but did enough in their last couple of games to end up in fourth place. It was the opposite for Italy, as they started well before faltering later in the tournament. The start saved them though, as they ended in fifth place. That leaves Ukraine, who could not find the win column, causing a sixth place finish and a demotion to Group B for next year.
Note: Most information from the (fancy) IIHF website.
Standings
Results
April 19
Hungary 4 - Japan 2
Ukraine 2 - Kazakhstan 5
Poland 1 - Italy 2
April 20
Kazakhstan 5 - Hungary 0
Italy 2 - Ukraine 1 (OT)
Japan 0 - Poland 2
April 22
Kazakhstan 7 - Japan 2
Italy 1 - Hungary 4
Poland 3 - Ukraine 2
April 23
Japan 3 - Italy 2
Ukraine 2 - Hungary 4
Kazakhstan 3 - Poland 2
April 25
Japan 3 - Ukraine 1
Italy 0 - Kazakhstan 3
Hungary 2 - Poland 1
Team Recap
Kazakhstan: The Kazakhs started off facing Ukraine. It was all Kazakhstan early on, as they scored twice in the first. The second was a little more even, but it was still Kazakhstan who found the back of the net. A Kazakh penalty in the third help end Pavel Poluektov's shutout bid, as Ukraine scored their first of the game. Kazakhstan answered back soon after to regain their 3-goal lead. Both teams swapped goals near the end, as Kazakhstan took the game 5-2. Kazakhstan's powerplay helped them against Hungary. They capitalized early on, as Konstantin Rudenko scored on a 2-man advantage just under two minutes into the game. The Kazakhs scored three times in the second (twice on the powerplay) and once in the third. Poluektov had a light workload, stopping 12 shots, as Kazakhstan shut out Hungary 5-0. Kazakhstan looked to continue rolling as they faced Japan. They would start out well, scoring three times in the first period. The second saw Kazakhstan actually being outshot, but the game would remain 3-0. An early goal in the third by Japan must have awaken Kazakhstan, as they answered back with four goals in 10 minutes. Another goal by Japan did not matter, as Kazakhstan won the game 7-2. Against Poland, it took a while for Kazakhstan to find the back of the net. A powerplay chance midway in the second was when Roman Savchenko scored to open the scoring. Poland tied the game minutes later, thanks to Kazakhstan taking a couple penalties to go down two men. Roman Starchenko scored a minute and a half later to put the Kazakhs back in the lead. They held the lead until midway though the third, when once again Poland managed to tie the game. With under 5 minutes to go, Starchenko would score his second of the game, once again putting Kazakhstan out front. They would hold on to win the game 3-2. With promotion in hand, Kazakhstan would face Italy to end their tournament. Poluektov stood tall in the game, turning aside 24 shots. A goal in the first and two in the third was all Kazakhstan needed, as they shut out Italy 3-0. Kazakhstan had little trouble, finishing first in the tournament and earning a spot in next year's World Championship.
Hungary: The Hungarians kicked off the tournament facing Japan. Hungary would fall early, giving up the first goal of the game in less than two minutes. Daniel Koger scored midway through the first to tie the game. Hungary fell behind midway through the second, but quickly struck back to once again tie the game. The game was tied 2-2 until late in the third, when Frank Banham scored on a powerplay to give Hungary their first lead of the game. An empty net sealed it, as Hungary won the opening game 4-2. Hungary had a tougher time against Kazakhstan. A couple of penalties early in the game hurt their chances, as they gave up Kazakhstan's first goal while down two men. They fell further behind in the second, as they let up three goals. They would surrender one more, as Hungary was shut out by Kazakhstan 5-0. Looking to rebound against Italy, Hungary would have a good start. They outshot the Italians 6-1 in the first, and ended the period up 2-0. The score remained that way until early in the third, when Istvan Sofron scored to extend Hungary's lead. The shutout did not last though, as Italy responded minutes later. Hungary added an empty netter, as they won the game 4-1. Against Ukraine, Hungary would outplay them in the first, but the game stayed scoreless. A penalty by Hungary early in the first saw them concede the first goal of the game, as Ukraine scored on the man advantage. Hungary fell behind 2-0 before breaking through, as Andrew Sarauer scored to put them on the board. Midway though the third, Hungary would get a 2-man advantage. Koger scored on the opportunity to tie the game. With four minutes left, Sarauer scored his second goal of the game to put Hungary in the lead. A shorthanded goal by Sofron add to their lead, as Hungary went on to take the game 4-2. Hungary faced Poland in the last game of the tournament, which was also the second place game. The Hungarians had the lead in shots, but the game remained scoreless through two periods. Janos Hari scored a minute and a half into the third to put Hungary in the lead. It lasted until late in the period, when Poland pulled the goalie and scored with the extra man. Poland once again pulled the goalie, but this time Hungary scored on the empty net. That stood as the winner, as Hungary took the game 2-1. Hungary's win put them in second place, which gives them a promotion to the main tournament for next year.
Poland: The hosted faced Italy for their first game. Poland could not get much going early, and eventually saw Italy score first to take the lead. The second was a different story, as Poland started to take over. Grzegorz Pasiut scored in the first half of the period to tie the game. Poland had a couple of powerplay chances, but it may have been to their detriment, as Italy scored a shorthanded goal. Poland was dominated in the third, giving them little chance of scoring an equalizer. Polish goalie Rafal Radziszewski was assessed a 5 and a game for charging Italian Mark Gander (Gander was getting a slashing call before the charge). Poland lost the game 2-1. Poland looked to rebound against Japan. The game remained scoreless until the third, when Tomasz Malasinski scored on the powerplay to give the host a 1-0 lead. Marcin Kolusz scored midway through the period to extend Poland's lead. Przemyslaw Odrobny stopped 26 shots, as Poland shut out Japan 2-0. The host faced Ukraine next. The game stayed scoreless until midway though the second, when Adam Baginski scored shorthanded to put Poland on the board. Poland entered the third on a 2-man advantage, and made good on that opportunity, as Mateusz Rompkowski found the back of the net. Their 2-0 lead would quickly go away, as Ukraine scored twice in three minutes to tie the game. Poland received one more powerplay midway through the third, and it was all they needed. Rompkowski added his second of the period, which stood as the winner. Poland held on to win the game 3-2. Against Kazakhstan, Poland would hold their own. The game remained 0-0 until midway through the second. A Polish penalty lead to a Kazakh goal. Poland would get a powerplay chance of their own later in the period, and made good of it. The tie did not last long, as Kazakhstan responded soon after. Midway though the third, Kolusz scored to once again tie the game. Poland could not hold off Kazakhstan's attack though, and ended up conceding the winning goal with four and a half minutes left. Poland lost the game 3-2. Poland had a shot at the silver medal, as they needed a regulation win over Hungary. Poland held Hungary's attack at bay, as both would go into the third period without a goal. Hungary struck early in the third, putting Poland behind 1-0. Just over four minutes left in the period, Poland's coach channeled his inner Patrick Roy and pulled the goalie. It worked a minute later, as Mateusz Bryk scored to tie the game. Going all-or-nothing for the regulation win, once again Poland pulled there goalie when they got the chance. Sadly, it did not pay off this time, as Hungary scored an empty netter to seal the game. The host suffer a 2-1 loss in their final game. Poland finished in third place, and while they did not get promoted, they did get the bronze medal.
Japan: Japan faced Hungary in the tournament's opening game. It didn't take long for Japan to strike, as Daisuke Obara scored under two minutes in to give Japan the 1-0 lead. That would be erased later in the period, as the first ended tied 1-1. Japan scored midway though the period to take the lead again, but Hungary scored seconds later to once again tie the game. A late penalty would cost Japan, as Hungary capitalized with the extra man. Japan could not find an equalizer, as they ended up losing their first game 4-2. Japan had a pretty uneventful game against Poland. While they outshot them in all three period, they could not solve the Polish goalie. Conversely, they held their own defensively until the third, when Poland scored twice (once on the powerplay). Japan were shut out by the host 2-0. It did not get better for Japan, as Kazakhstan opened the game with an early tally en route to a 3-goal first period. Japan fought back in the second, outshooting the Kazakhs 13-3, but could not find the back of the net. Shuhei Kuji scored early in the third to finally get Japan on the board. Any momentum Japan had built up was quickly destroyed, as Kazakhstan went on to score four unanswered. Go Tanaka added one more, but that was it, as Japan were blown out 7-2. Japan had a slow start against Italy, as they were heavily outshot, yet managed to escape the period down 1-0. It flipped in the second, as Japan turned it on, outshooting Italy 14-5. Mei Ushu scored late in the period to tie the game. Japan found themselves fall behind again in the third. Down 2-1, it wasn't until late in the third when Japan stormed back. Shinya Yanadori scored with just over four minutes left to tie the game. Just over a minute later, Yushiroh Hirano scored to give Japan the lead. That was enough as Japan held on to win 3-2. The Japanese faced Ukraine to end their tournament. The game remained scoreless until midway through the second, as a Japan penalty lead to a Ukrainian goal. Half a minute later it was reverse, as Japan capitalized on a Ukraine penalty. Hiroki Ueno scored three minutes later to put Japan ahead. Obara added a powerplay goal, as Japan ended period up 3-1. It remained that way for the rest of the game, as Japan won their last game. Japan ended the tournament in fourth place, just missing out of a medal.
Italy: The Italians first opponent was Poland. They managed to open the scoring midway through the first, as Brian Ihnacak scored to put the Italians up 1-0. Italy would be outplayed in the second, and surrendered the tying goal under seven minutes into the period. Midway though the period, Anton Bernard scored a shorthanded goal to retake the lead for Italy. The Italians controlled the third, and gave Poland little chance at tying the game. Things would heat over in the third, as Mark Gander slashed Polish goalie Rafal Radziszewski, who then was ejected for charging Gander. It got more civil from there, and Italy cruised the rest of the way to the 2-1 victory. Italy had another low-scoring affair, this time against Ukraine. Italy scored first, as Ihnacak capitalized on a powerplay early in the second period. It did not take long for Ukraine to respond, as they tied the game two minutes later. Despite dominating the shot counter, Italy could not find the go-ahead goal in regulation. Overtime was needed, but only for 16 seconds. Marco Insam scored in the extra frame, as Italy won another game 2-1. Italy had a tough time against Hungary, as they only managed one shot in the first while giving up two goals. They gave up one more goal (early in the third) before finally breaking through and getting on the board. Unfortunately that was all they could muster, as Italy lost to Hungary by a score of 4-1. Italy dominated the first period against Japan, and would be reward late, as Luca Frigo scored the opening goal with 26 seconds left in the period. It would flip in the second, as Italy were the ones being dominated then giving up a late goal. The third was less one-sided, and it didn't take as long for a team to score. Joachim Ramoser scored over seven minutes in to give Italy the lead. They could not hold on though, as Japan not only scored the tying goal late, but added the winner a minute later. Italy suffered another loss, this time by a score of 3-2. Italy faced Kazakhstan in their final game. It wasn't good for the Italian side, as they could not find the back of the net on any of their 24 shots on goal. They saw their opponents score though, as Kazakhstan scored once in the first and twice in the third. Italy ended the tournament with a 3-0 loss. Italy finished safely in fifth place, and will be back in Group A next year.
Ukraine: It was a battle of former Soviet countries, as Ukraine faced Kazakhstan. It was not good for Ukraine in the first, as their shot total for the period equaled Kazakhstan's goal total (2). They picked up their play in the second, but still saw Kazakhstan extend their lead. Finally, a powerplay opportunity in the third helped Ukraine get on the board, as Dmytro Nimenko scored on the man advantage. Ukraine surrendered two more goals before ending the game with one of their own. Ukraine lost their first game 5-2. Ukraine faced Italy next. It remained scoreless until the second, when Italy scored after Ukraine took a too many men penalty. It didn't take long for Ukraine to tie the game though, as Viktor Zakharov scored two minutes later. The game stayed 1-1 for the remaining of regulation, meaning overtime was needed. Overtime was short-lived though, as Italy scored 16 seconds in, giving Ukraine another tally in the loss column. Ukraine looked to have a similar game against Poland, as the first period remained scoreless. Ukraine gave up a shorthanded goal midway through the second. Two penalties late the second helped Poland in the third, as Ukraine fell behind 2-0 after giving up a goal while down two men. It did not take long for Ukraine to respond though, as they scored twice in a three minute span to tie the game. Once again, a penalty would cost Ukraine, as Poland took the lead on a powerplay goal midway through the third. This time, Ukraine did not have a response, as they wound up losing the game 3-2. Against Hungary, Ukraine would get outplayed in the first, but both teams ended the period 0-0. Ukraine stuck first in the second period, as Roamn Blagy scored on the powerplay. Both teams swapped goals later in the period, as Ukraine held a 2-1 lead going into the third period. Ukraine's fortunes turned in the third, as a couple of penalties by them midway though the third saw Hungary tie the game. Ukraine conceded two more, as they ended up losing the game 4-2. With relegation guaranteed, Ukraine would play out the strings against Japan. Ukraine controlled the play in the first, but could not beat the Japanese goalie. They broke through in the second, as Blagy scored on the powerplay. Ukraine took a penalty shortly after the goal, and it cost them the lead. Ukraine saw the game slip from them, as Japan scored twice more before the end of the period. Ukraine could not rebound, and lost their final game 3-1. Ukraine went winless in this tournament, finishing sixth and being relegated to Group B.
Note: Most information from the (fancy) IIHF website.
Standings
|
Team
|
Wins
|
OTW/SOW
|
OTL/SOL
|
Losses
|
Points
|
Goal Diff.
|
|
Kazakhstan
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
15
|
+17
|
|
Hungary
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
12
|
+3
|
|
Poland
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
6
|
0
|
|
Japan
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
6
|
-6
|
|
Italy
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
5
|
-5
|
|
Ukraine
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
-9
|
Results
April 19
Hungary 4 - Japan 2
Ukraine 2 - Kazakhstan 5
Poland 1 - Italy 2
April 20
Kazakhstan 5 - Hungary 0
Italy 2 - Ukraine 1 (OT)
Japan 0 - Poland 2
April 22
Kazakhstan 7 - Japan 2
Italy 1 - Hungary 4
Poland 3 - Ukraine 2
April 23
Japan 3 - Italy 2
Ukraine 2 - Hungary 4
Kazakhstan 3 - Poland 2
April 25
Japan 3 - Ukraine 1
Italy 0 - Kazakhstan 3
Hungary 2 - Poland 1
Team Recap
Kazakhstan: The Kazakhs started off facing Ukraine. It was all Kazakhstan early on, as they scored twice in the first. The second was a little more even, but it was still Kazakhstan who found the back of the net. A Kazakh penalty in the third help end Pavel Poluektov's shutout bid, as Ukraine scored their first of the game. Kazakhstan answered back soon after to regain their 3-goal lead. Both teams swapped goals near the end, as Kazakhstan took the game 5-2. Kazakhstan's powerplay helped them against Hungary. They capitalized early on, as Konstantin Rudenko scored on a 2-man advantage just under two minutes into the game. The Kazakhs scored three times in the second (twice on the powerplay) and once in the third. Poluektov had a light workload, stopping 12 shots, as Kazakhstan shut out Hungary 5-0. Kazakhstan looked to continue rolling as they faced Japan. They would start out well, scoring three times in the first period. The second saw Kazakhstan actually being outshot, but the game would remain 3-0. An early goal in the third by Japan must have awaken Kazakhstan, as they answered back with four goals in 10 minutes. Another goal by Japan did not matter, as Kazakhstan won the game 7-2. Against Poland, it took a while for Kazakhstan to find the back of the net. A powerplay chance midway in the second was when Roman Savchenko scored to open the scoring. Poland tied the game minutes later, thanks to Kazakhstan taking a couple penalties to go down two men. Roman Starchenko scored a minute and a half later to put the Kazakhs back in the lead. They held the lead until midway though the third, when once again Poland managed to tie the game. With under 5 minutes to go, Starchenko would score his second of the game, once again putting Kazakhstan out front. They would hold on to win the game 3-2. With promotion in hand, Kazakhstan would face Italy to end their tournament. Poluektov stood tall in the game, turning aside 24 shots. A goal in the first and two in the third was all Kazakhstan needed, as they shut out Italy 3-0. Kazakhstan had little trouble, finishing first in the tournament and earning a spot in next year's World Championship.
Hungary: The Hungarians kicked off the tournament facing Japan. Hungary would fall early, giving up the first goal of the game in less than two minutes. Daniel Koger scored midway through the first to tie the game. Hungary fell behind midway through the second, but quickly struck back to once again tie the game. The game was tied 2-2 until late in the third, when Frank Banham scored on a powerplay to give Hungary their first lead of the game. An empty net sealed it, as Hungary won the opening game 4-2. Hungary had a tougher time against Kazakhstan. A couple of penalties early in the game hurt their chances, as they gave up Kazakhstan's first goal while down two men. They fell further behind in the second, as they let up three goals. They would surrender one more, as Hungary was shut out by Kazakhstan 5-0. Looking to rebound against Italy, Hungary would have a good start. They outshot the Italians 6-1 in the first, and ended the period up 2-0. The score remained that way until early in the third, when Istvan Sofron scored to extend Hungary's lead. The shutout did not last though, as Italy responded minutes later. Hungary added an empty netter, as they won the game 4-1. Against Ukraine, Hungary would outplay them in the first, but the game stayed scoreless. A penalty by Hungary early in the first saw them concede the first goal of the game, as Ukraine scored on the man advantage. Hungary fell behind 2-0 before breaking through, as Andrew Sarauer scored to put them on the board. Midway though the third, Hungary would get a 2-man advantage. Koger scored on the opportunity to tie the game. With four minutes left, Sarauer scored his second goal of the game to put Hungary in the lead. A shorthanded goal by Sofron add to their lead, as Hungary went on to take the game 4-2. Hungary faced Poland in the last game of the tournament, which was also the second place game. The Hungarians had the lead in shots, but the game remained scoreless through two periods. Janos Hari scored a minute and a half into the third to put Hungary in the lead. It lasted until late in the period, when Poland pulled the goalie and scored with the extra man. Poland once again pulled the goalie, but this time Hungary scored on the empty net. That stood as the winner, as Hungary took the game 2-1. Hungary's win put them in second place, which gives them a promotion to the main tournament for next year.
Poland: The hosted faced Italy for their first game. Poland could not get much going early, and eventually saw Italy score first to take the lead. The second was a different story, as Poland started to take over. Grzegorz Pasiut scored in the first half of the period to tie the game. Poland had a couple of powerplay chances, but it may have been to their detriment, as Italy scored a shorthanded goal. Poland was dominated in the third, giving them little chance of scoring an equalizer. Polish goalie Rafal Radziszewski was assessed a 5 and a game for charging Italian Mark Gander (Gander was getting a slashing call before the charge). Poland lost the game 2-1. Poland looked to rebound against Japan. The game remained scoreless until the third, when Tomasz Malasinski scored on the powerplay to give the host a 1-0 lead. Marcin Kolusz scored midway through the period to extend Poland's lead. Przemyslaw Odrobny stopped 26 shots, as Poland shut out Japan 2-0. The host faced Ukraine next. The game stayed scoreless until midway though the second, when Adam Baginski scored shorthanded to put Poland on the board. Poland entered the third on a 2-man advantage, and made good on that opportunity, as Mateusz Rompkowski found the back of the net. Their 2-0 lead would quickly go away, as Ukraine scored twice in three minutes to tie the game. Poland received one more powerplay midway through the third, and it was all they needed. Rompkowski added his second of the period, which stood as the winner. Poland held on to win the game 3-2. Against Kazakhstan, Poland would hold their own. The game remained 0-0 until midway through the second. A Polish penalty lead to a Kazakh goal. Poland would get a powerplay chance of their own later in the period, and made good of it. The tie did not last long, as Kazakhstan responded soon after. Midway though the third, Kolusz scored to once again tie the game. Poland could not hold off Kazakhstan's attack though, and ended up conceding the winning goal with four and a half minutes left. Poland lost the game 3-2. Poland had a shot at the silver medal, as they needed a regulation win over Hungary. Poland held Hungary's attack at bay, as both would go into the third period without a goal. Hungary struck early in the third, putting Poland behind 1-0. Just over four minutes left in the period, Poland's coach channeled his inner Patrick Roy and pulled the goalie. It worked a minute later, as Mateusz Bryk scored to tie the game. Going all-or-nothing for the regulation win, once again Poland pulled there goalie when they got the chance. Sadly, it did not pay off this time, as Hungary scored an empty netter to seal the game. The host suffer a 2-1 loss in their final game. Poland finished in third place, and while they did not get promoted, they did get the bronze medal.
Japan: Japan faced Hungary in the tournament's opening game. It didn't take long for Japan to strike, as Daisuke Obara scored under two minutes in to give Japan the 1-0 lead. That would be erased later in the period, as the first ended tied 1-1. Japan scored midway though the period to take the lead again, but Hungary scored seconds later to once again tie the game. A late penalty would cost Japan, as Hungary capitalized with the extra man. Japan could not find an equalizer, as they ended up losing their first game 4-2. Japan had a pretty uneventful game against Poland. While they outshot them in all three period, they could not solve the Polish goalie. Conversely, they held their own defensively until the third, when Poland scored twice (once on the powerplay). Japan were shut out by the host 2-0. It did not get better for Japan, as Kazakhstan opened the game with an early tally en route to a 3-goal first period. Japan fought back in the second, outshooting the Kazakhs 13-3, but could not find the back of the net. Shuhei Kuji scored early in the third to finally get Japan on the board. Any momentum Japan had built up was quickly destroyed, as Kazakhstan went on to score four unanswered. Go Tanaka added one more, but that was it, as Japan were blown out 7-2. Japan had a slow start against Italy, as they were heavily outshot, yet managed to escape the period down 1-0. It flipped in the second, as Japan turned it on, outshooting Italy 14-5. Mei Ushu scored late in the period to tie the game. Japan found themselves fall behind again in the third. Down 2-1, it wasn't until late in the third when Japan stormed back. Shinya Yanadori scored with just over four minutes left to tie the game. Just over a minute later, Yushiroh Hirano scored to give Japan the lead. That was enough as Japan held on to win 3-2. The Japanese faced Ukraine to end their tournament. The game remained scoreless until midway through the second, as a Japan penalty lead to a Ukrainian goal. Half a minute later it was reverse, as Japan capitalized on a Ukraine penalty. Hiroki Ueno scored three minutes later to put Japan ahead. Obara added a powerplay goal, as Japan ended period up 3-1. It remained that way for the rest of the game, as Japan won their last game. Japan ended the tournament in fourth place, just missing out of a medal.
Italy: The Italians first opponent was Poland. They managed to open the scoring midway through the first, as Brian Ihnacak scored to put the Italians up 1-0. Italy would be outplayed in the second, and surrendered the tying goal under seven minutes into the period. Midway though the period, Anton Bernard scored a shorthanded goal to retake the lead for Italy. The Italians controlled the third, and gave Poland little chance at tying the game. Things would heat over in the third, as Mark Gander slashed Polish goalie Rafal Radziszewski, who then was ejected for charging Gander. It got more civil from there, and Italy cruised the rest of the way to the 2-1 victory. Italy had another low-scoring affair, this time against Ukraine. Italy scored first, as Ihnacak capitalized on a powerplay early in the second period. It did not take long for Ukraine to respond, as they tied the game two minutes later. Despite dominating the shot counter, Italy could not find the go-ahead goal in regulation. Overtime was needed, but only for 16 seconds. Marco Insam scored in the extra frame, as Italy won another game 2-1. Italy had a tough time against Hungary, as they only managed one shot in the first while giving up two goals. They gave up one more goal (early in the third) before finally breaking through and getting on the board. Unfortunately that was all they could muster, as Italy lost to Hungary by a score of 4-1. Italy dominated the first period against Japan, and would be reward late, as Luca Frigo scored the opening goal with 26 seconds left in the period. It would flip in the second, as Italy were the ones being dominated then giving up a late goal. The third was less one-sided, and it didn't take as long for a team to score. Joachim Ramoser scored over seven minutes in to give Italy the lead. They could not hold on though, as Japan not only scored the tying goal late, but added the winner a minute later. Italy suffered another loss, this time by a score of 3-2. Italy faced Kazakhstan in their final game. It wasn't good for the Italian side, as they could not find the back of the net on any of their 24 shots on goal. They saw their opponents score though, as Kazakhstan scored once in the first and twice in the third. Italy ended the tournament with a 3-0 loss. Italy finished safely in fifth place, and will be back in Group A next year.
Ukraine: It was a battle of former Soviet countries, as Ukraine faced Kazakhstan. It was not good for Ukraine in the first, as their shot total for the period equaled Kazakhstan's goal total (2). They picked up their play in the second, but still saw Kazakhstan extend their lead. Finally, a powerplay opportunity in the third helped Ukraine get on the board, as Dmytro Nimenko scored on the man advantage. Ukraine surrendered two more goals before ending the game with one of their own. Ukraine lost their first game 5-2. Ukraine faced Italy next. It remained scoreless until the second, when Italy scored after Ukraine took a too many men penalty. It didn't take long for Ukraine to tie the game though, as Viktor Zakharov scored two minutes later. The game stayed 1-1 for the remaining of regulation, meaning overtime was needed. Overtime was short-lived though, as Italy scored 16 seconds in, giving Ukraine another tally in the loss column. Ukraine looked to have a similar game against Poland, as the first period remained scoreless. Ukraine gave up a shorthanded goal midway through the second. Two penalties late the second helped Poland in the third, as Ukraine fell behind 2-0 after giving up a goal while down two men. It did not take long for Ukraine to respond though, as they scored twice in a three minute span to tie the game. Once again, a penalty would cost Ukraine, as Poland took the lead on a powerplay goal midway through the third. This time, Ukraine did not have a response, as they wound up losing the game 3-2. Against Hungary, Ukraine would get outplayed in the first, but both teams ended the period 0-0. Ukraine stuck first in the second period, as Roamn Blagy scored on the powerplay. Both teams swapped goals later in the period, as Ukraine held a 2-1 lead going into the third period. Ukraine's fortunes turned in the third, as a couple of penalties by them midway though the third saw Hungary tie the game. Ukraine conceded two more, as they ended up losing the game 4-2. With relegation guaranteed, Ukraine would play out the strings against Japan. Ukraine controlled the play in the first, but could not beat the Japanese goalie. They broke through in the second, as Blagy scored on the powerplay. Ukraine took a penalty shortly after the goal, and it cost them the lead. Ukraine saw the game slip from them, as Japan scored twice more before the end of the period. Ukraine could not rebound, and lost their final game 3-1. Ukraine went winless in this tournament, finishing sixth and being relegated to Group B.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Series Review: (P1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (W2) Winnipeg Jets
Going into the series, it was expected to be a hard-fought, black-and-blue series. It did not disappoint when it came to the hits, as the short series saw both teams combined for 349 hits. What the series did lack was longevity. Winnipeg was expected to give Anaheim a run for its money, and were able to do so until the third period. The first three games saw the Jets lead going into the third, and all three games saw the Ducks come back to win. It's not something that can be easily blamed on the Jets goaltending, as Ondrej Pavelec was good during the series, making some big saves in the process. The Ducks ability to move the puck and create a lot of backdoor opportunities, which help them beat the Jets in four games.
Games
Winnipeg Jets 2 - Anaheim Ducks 4
Anaheim would strike first, thanks to a Sami Vatanen point shot that beat a screened Pavelec. It didn't take long for Winnipeg to respond, as Adam Lowry redirected a pass from Jacob Trouba past Frederik Andersen to tie the game. The physicality picked up thereafter, as both teams combined for 39 hits in the period. Drew Stafford would give the Jets the lead in the second, skating from his zone to the faceoff circle in the Ducks zone then snapping it past Andersen. It was almost 3-1 for the Jets, as they had another odd-man rush soon after, but Andersen would make the cross-crease save to keep the score at 2-1. The Ducks would respond with a powerplay goal early in the third, as Corey Perry put home a loose puck beside the net to tie the game. Perry would put the Ducks in the lead later on, as a drive to the net ended with him poking in his own rebound. It initially looked like Pavelec made the toe save, but after a review it was determined that the puck crossed the line clear enough to count. Ryan Getzlaf would add an insurance goal on a powerplay. Anaheim's 4-2 win gave them a 1-0 series lead.
Winnipeg Jets 1 - Anaheim Ducks 2
The Ducks were more prevalent in the first, outshooting the Jets 17-9 and having a couple good chances on the powerplay, yet the game remained scoreless. Adam Pardy would finally break the tie in the second, scoring on a wraparound. The goal was under question at first, as Lee Stempniak was shoved into the net and made contact with Andersen on his attempt to get out of the way. The goal would stand after a discussion by the refs. Anaheim had a couple of chances in the first half of the third, but could not solve Pavelec. The Ducks would need a powerplay to finally tie the game, as Patrick Maroon tipped a Cam Fowler point shot to put Anaheim on the board. The game looked to be heading to overtime, until Jakob Silfverberg said "no thanks", stepped out from under the goal line, and beat Pavelec to give the Ducks with 19 seconds left. That goal stood as the winner, as the Ducks won the game and extended their series lead to two games.
Anaheim Ducks 5 - Winnipeg Jets 4 (OT)
It was the first playoff game in Winnipeg in nearly two decades, and it showed, as the fans were deafening. They would be rewarded midway though the first, as Lowry tipped a rebound to Stempniak, who put the puck in the yawning cage. The Jets had a couple of opportunities to go up 2-0, but fail to put the puck in the net. Instead, it was the Ducks who had the next goal. Fowler would corral a loose puck in the offensive zone and snap it past Pavelec with just seven seconds left in the period. Early in the second it was the Ducks who had a couple of chances to take the lead, but Pavelec managed to stop their attempts. Perry did find a way past Pavelec, sweeping a pass from Hampus Lindholm into the net. The celebration was short-lived though, as Dustin Byfuglien punched Perry from behind, earning himself a trip to the penalty box for doing so. Just before that penalty ended, the Ducks would take a too many men penalty. The Jets would take advantage of the Ducks mistake, as a Tyler Myers wrist shot would find its way past Andersen. Blake Wheeler would score minutes later to put the Jets back in the lead. The bodies would start flying, as both teams had a couple of huge hits. The Ducks would tie the game once again, as Silfverberg received a pass in the slot and snapped it pass Pavelec. The Jets would come back with a couple of odd-man rushes, but could not do much with them. Just under two minutes left in the period, Bryan Little would pick off a pass in the high slot and blast the puck into the net to once again put the Jets in the lead. Both teams would have chances in the third, but could not make good on them. The Ducks would tie the game late in the third, as Ryan Kesler buried a backdoor pass. Vatanen would get a delay of game penalty with just under two minutes left in regulation. Try as they might, the Jets could not beat Andersen. This game need overtime to determine a winner. Just over five minutes into the extra frame, Rickard Rakell would redirect Francois Beauchemin's point shot past Pavelec. The goal gave Anahiem another win and pushed Winnipeg to the brink of elimination.
Anaheim Ducks 5 - Winnipeg Jets 2
Winnipeg had their backs against the wall, as a loss would end their playoffs. Little would get the home side on the board in the first, beating Andersen high glove to give the Jets a 1-0 lead. That lead was short-lived though, as Emerson Etem scored a spectacular goal a minute and a half later to tie the game. A three-prong attack in the second would give the Ducks the lead. First, Lindholm carried the puck into the attacking zone and dropped it to Perry. Perry dangled past a defender and passed to Andrew Cogliano, who finished off with a one-timer beside the net. The Ducks extended the lead in the third. A three-on-one saw Pavelec stop the initial shot by Simon Despres, but left a rebound for Ryan Kesler, who tapped it in to put the Ducks up by two. The Jets responded minutes later, as Mark Stuart's point shot would bounce off Andersen's blocker and into the net. The Jets tried, but could not find the tying goal. Kesler would score to complete his hat trick, and Vatanen added an empty netter. The Ducks finished off the Jets with a 5-2 win, and are moving on to Round 2.
Three Thoughts on the Series
Look, I get the love affair with Jets fans and (sans Katy Perry chant) they were pretty good in the series. This though, this is really too much.
Highlight of the Series
What a goal by Emerson Etem.
Games
Winnipeg Jets 2 - Anaheim Ducks 4
Anaheim would strike first, thanks to a Sami Vatanen point shot that beat a screened Pavelec. It didn't take long for Winnipeg to respond, as Adam Lowry redirected a pass from Jacob Trouba past Frederik Andersen to tie the game. The physicality picked up thereafter, as both teams combined for 39 hits in the period. Drew Stafford would give the Jets the lead in the second, skating from his zone to the faceoff circle in the Ducks zone then snapping it past Andersen. It was almost 3-1 for the Jets, as they had another odd-man rush soon after, but Andersen would make the cross-crease save to keep the score at 2-1. The Ducks would respond with a powerplay goal early in the third, as Corey Perry put home a loose puck beside the net to tie the game. Perry would put the Ducks in the lead later on, as a drive to the net ended with him poking in his own rebound. It initially looked like Pavelec made the toe save, but after a review it was determined that the puck crossed the line clear enough to count. Ryan Getzlaf would add an insurance goal on a powerplay. Anaheim's 4-2 win gave them a 1-0 series lead.
Winnipeg Jets 1 - Anaheim Ducks 2
The Ducks were more prevalent in the first, outshooting the Jets 17-9 and having a couple good chances on the powerplay, yet the game remained scoreless. Adam Pardy would finally break the tie in the second, scoring on a wraparound. The goal was under question at first, as Lee Stempniak was shoved into the net and made contact with Andersen on his attempt to get out of the way. The goal would stand after a discussion by the refs. Anaheim had a couple of chances in the first half of the third, but could not solve Pavelec. The Ducks would need a powerplay to finally tie the game, as Patrick Maroon tipped a Cam Fowler point shot to put Anaheim on the board. The game looked to be heading to overtime, until Jakob Silfverberg said "no thanks", stepped out from under the goal line, and beat Pavelec to give the Ducks with 19 seconds left. That goal stood as the winner, as the Ducks won the game and extended their series lead to two games.
Anaheim Ducks 5 - Winnipeg Jets 4 (OT)
It was the first playoff game in Winnipeg in nearly two decades, and it showed, as the fans were deafening. They would be rewarded midway though the first, as Lowry tipped a rebound to Stempniak, who put the puck in the yawning cage. The Jets had a couple of opportunities to go up 2-0, but fail to put the puck in the net. Instead, it was the Ducks who had the next goal. Fowler would corral a loose puck in the offensive zone and snap it past Pavelec with just seven seconds left in the period. Early in the second it was the Ducks who had a couple of chances to take the lead, but Pavelec managed to stop their attempts. Perry did find a way past Pavelec, sweeping a pass from Hampus Lindholm into the net. The celebration was short-lived though, as Dustin Byfuglien punched Perry from behind, earning himself a trip to the penalty box for doing so. Just before that penalty ended, the Ducks would take a too many men penalty. The Jets would take advantage of the Ducks mistake, as a Tyler Myers wrist shot would find its way past Andersen. Blake Wheeler would score minutes later to put the Jets back in the lead. The bodies would start flying, as both teams had a couple of huge hits. The Ducks would tie the game once again, as Silfverberg received a pass in the slot and snapped it pass Pavelec. The Jets would come back with a couple of odd-man rushes, but could not do much with them. Just under two minutes left in the period, Bryan Little would pick off a pass in the high slot and blast the puck into the net to once again put the Jets in the lead. Both teams would have chances in the third, but could not make good on them. The Ducks would tie the game late in the third, as Ryan Kesler buried a backdoor pass. Vatanen would get a delay of game penalty with just under two minutes left in regulation. Try as they might, the Jets could not beat Andersen. This game need overtime to determine a winner. Just over five minutes into the extra frame, Rickard Rakell would redirect Francois Beauchemin's point shot past Pavelec. The goal gave Anahiem another win and pushed Winnipeg to the brink of elimination.
Anaheim Ducks 5 - Winnipeg Jets 2
Winnipeg had their backs against the wall, as a loss would end their playoffs. Little would get the home side on the board in the first, beating Andersen high glove to give the Jets a 1-0 lead. That lead was short-lived though, as Emerson Etem scored a spectacular goal a minute and a half later to tie the game. A three-prong attack in the second would give the Ducks the lead. First, Lindholm carried the puck into the attacking zone and dropped it to Perry. Perry dangled past a defender and passed to Andrew Cogliano, who finished off with a one-timer beside the net. The Ducks extended the lead in the third. A three-on-one saw Pavelec stop the initial shot by Simon Despres, but left a rebound for Ryan Kesler, who tapped it in to put the Ducks up by two. The Jets responded minutes later, as Mark Stuart's point shot would bounce off Andersen's blocker and into the net. The Jets tried, but could not find the tying goal. Kesler would score to complete his hat trick, and Vatanen added an empty netter. The Ducks finished off the Jets with a 5-2 win, and are moving on to Round 2.
Three Thoughts on the Series
- STILL THE THRASH-ERS clap clap clap-clap-clap
- It does suck that the Jets, who in the first 3 games lead heading into the third period, could not close out 1 of those games.
- On the other hand, shame on you Jets for not winning at least one game, and making us all wait until October to see Nikolaj Ehlers' NHL debut (I'll miss watching you in person Nik).
Look, I get the love affair with Jets fans and (sans Katy Perry chant) they were pretty good in the series. This though, this is really too much.
Highlight of the Series
What a goal by Emerson Etem.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Showing Some International Love: 2015 IIHF World Championship Review - Division I Group B
It was a nail-biting final day, as South Korea and Great Britain were in a battle for first. South Korea played first and won their game. Great Britain only needed a point against Lithuania to advance, and were oh-so-close to earning it. The win by Lithuania not only helped South Korea finish first and kept Great Britain in second, it also propelled themselves to the bronze position. Croatia, a favourite coming into the tournament, would flatter and end up outside the podium. Estonia and the Netherlands had a final day battle of their own, as it determined who would be relegated. Estonia would end up victorious, keeping themselves up while sending the host Netherlands down to Division II.
Note: Most information from the (fancy) IIHF website.
Standings
Results
April 13
Great Britain 3 - Croatia 2 (OT)
Estonia 3 - South Korea 7
Netherlands 0 - Lithuania 1
April 14
Estonia 1 - Great Britain 2
Croatia 4 - Lithuania 1
South Korea 7 - Netherlands 1
April 16
Lithuania 6 - Estonia 1
South Korea 2 - Great Britain 3
Croatia 2 - Netherlands 5
April 18
Lithuania 0 - South Korea 5
Croatia 5 - Estonia 2
Great Britain 3 - Netherlands 2
April 19
South Korea 9 - Croatia 4
Lithuania 3 - Great Britain 2
Netherlands 1 - Estonia 3
Team Recap
South Korea: The promotion-favoured Koreans faced the relegation-favoured Estonians in their first game. It didn't take long for South Korea to strike, as Sangwook Kim shot found its way through a screen past the Estonian keeper. Michael Owen Swift scored later in the period to extend the lead before Estonia got on the board. South Korea scored early in the second, but once again Estonia was able to respond to pull within 1. The Koreans would be dealt a blow later in the period, as Jui Hui Ahn was checked into the boards and needed to be stretchered off the ice (he would miss 1 game). South Korean could not capitalize on the ensuing powerplay, but did manage to score twice before the period ended. South Korea gave up a powerplay goal early in the third, but that was the last one that would get by them. Michaels Swift and Testwuide both scored their second of the game, as South Korea won their first game 7-3. South Korea's streak of 7 goals per game continued against the Netherlands. Testwuide went from goalscorer to set-up man, as he was primary assister in both of Korea's first period goals. A powerplay goal early in the second extended South Korea's lead to 3. Swift added a pair later in the period before the Netherlands would respond with a goal of their own. A pair of goals midway through the third was the end of South Korea's scoring, as they took the game by a score of 7-1. The Koreans would face a challenge in Great Britain. It took until the last minute of the first for South Korea to open the scoring. Both teams would score within the first minute of the second. Penalty trouble later in the period hurt Korea, as they would let up the tying goal while down 2 men. South Korea would give up a penalty shot (and subsequent goal) early in the third. While they had multiple powerplay chances in the third, the Koreans could not capitalize on them. They would suffer their first loss of the tournament by a score of 3-2. South Korea would rebound against Lithuania. It took until midway in the second for South Korea to get on the board, but once they did the goals started coming. South Korea added 2 more in the second and scored a pair in the third. Sungje Park had little trouble making 15 saves, as South Korea shut out Lithuania 5-0. Needing a result against Croatia to move into first place, it looked like South Korea would have a battle on their hands. It was a low shooting affair in the first, as both teams combined for 12 shots, each finding the back of the net once. Fortunes would change in the second, as Heyok Kim collided with the Croatian keeper. Croatia would score following a change in goal, but their lead was short-lived. South Korea would go off, scoring 4 unanswered in a 4 minute span to take the lead. Both teams swapped goals in the later half of the period. Both South Korea and Croatia would score powerplay goals midway through the third, but it was Korea who capped off the scoring with 2 more goals. The 9-4 win propelled South Korea into first place, which they maintained after Great Britain failed to gain a point in their game. South Korea ended up at the top of the table, and will play in Group A next year.
Great Britain: The British kicked off the tournament facing Croatia. Penalties were prevalent in the first period. Despite Britain getting more powerplay time, they would find themselves down 1-0 thanks to a shorthanded goal by Croatia. It stayed that way until the third, when Croatia scored on the powerplay to put Great Britain down 2-0. Ben O'Connor responded with a powerplay goal of his own, pulling GB to within 1. With time running out, Great Britain would need a hero, and that hero would be Mark Richardson. Richardson would score with 5 seconds left in the third period to tie the game. His work wasn't done yet, as just 11 seconds into overtime he once again found the back of the net, lifting Great Britain to the 3-2 overtime win. Against Estonia, Great Britain would strike first with a goal late in the first. Their lead lasted until midway though the second, when Estonia found the equalizing goal. With just under 6 minutes left in the third, Robert Farmer would tip home a rebound put GB back in the lead. The Brits held on to take the game 2-1. Great Britain faced South Korea in their next game. Great Britain would give up the first goal of the game late in the first. They fell behind 2-0 before Farmer found the back of the net. O'Connor scored on a 2-man advantage to tie the game. O'Connor would dazzle in the third, scoring on an amazing penalty shot move. That ended up being the game winner, as Great Britain won the game 3-2. The Brits would once again find themselves conceding the first goal of the game, as the Netherlands scored just over 3 minutes into the first. GB struck back quick, as Paul Swindlehurst tied the game a minute later. Goals by Chris Blight and Craig Peacock midway through the period gave the Brits a 2-goal lead. Great Britain would remain in the lead the rest of the way, as they only gave up 1 more goal en route to another 3-2 win. Great Britain needed just 1 point against Lithuania to finish in first place. It looked good in the first, as the Brits outshot Lithuania 9-2 and were up 1-0 thanks to Mark Garside's goal. While they continued to dominate the shot count in the second, it was Lithuania who scored twice in the period. Russell Cowley scored early in the third to tie the game for the Brits. A delay of game penalty hurt GB, as Lithuania capitalized on the opportunity and went back in the lead. Great Britain kept pressuring, but in the end they ran out of time. The 3-2 regulation loss was the only thing Great Britain couldn't do, as they would stay in second place, capturing the silver medal and staying in Group B for another year.
Lithuania: Lithuania start off the tournament facing the Netherlands. It did not take long for Lithuania to take the lead, as Arnoldas Bosas scored 11 seconds into the game. Mantas Armalis would keep the door shut the rest of the way, stopping all 35 shots he faced, as Lithuania started their tournament with a 1-0 win. They looked to continue rolling against Croatia, as they ended the first period up 1-0. The game would slowly slip away from them though. Lithuania gave up the tying goal midway though the second, then gave up the go-ahead goal while down 2 men. They would surrender a pair of goals in the third as well, as Lithuania lost 4-1. Facing Estonia, Lithuania would get out to a good start, as Aivaras Bendzius scored 5 minutes into the game to give them the lead. A powerplay goal late in the period extend Lithuania's lead to 2. The Lithuanias slowed down in the second, and it cost them a bit, as Estonia cut their lead in half. Lithuania picked it back up in the third period though, and would score 4 unanswered. Lithunia beat Estonia 6-1. Lithuania did not have such a good time against South Korea. From the get-go they were outmatched. Mantas Armalis did his best to keep his team in the game, stopping 41 shots. It wasn't enough though, as Lithuania would get shut out 5-0 against a dominating South Korean squad. A lot was at stake in Lithuania's game against Great Britain. For Lithuania, a win gave them the bronze medal. For Great Britain, a win or OT/SO loss ensured them the gold medal. Lithuania had trouble early on, as they only registered 2 shots in the first period. They did enough though to keep Great Britain's offense in check, and finished the period only down by a goal. Lithuania managed to tie the game halfway through the second period. A 2-man advantage late in the period helped Lithuania take the lead, as Nerijus Alisauskas beat the British goalie. The lead did not last long, as Great Britain tied the game early in the third. Lithuania would escape a couple penalties unscathed, and then find themselves up a man a few times. The second time was when Lithuania capitalized, as Paulius Gintautas scored to put Lithuania back in the lead. Lithuania's chances of keeping the lead were in serious doubt moments later, as Donatas Kumeliauskas was give a 5 and a game for head-butting. The Lithuanians would hold the fort, keeping Great Britain's offense at bay and the puck out of their net. The 3-2 score line was the final, as Lithuania ended their tournament on a high note. Lithuania's win gave them a third place finish, leapfrogging Croatia and taking home the bronze medal.
Croatia: The Croatians played Great Britain in their first game. Croatia (and Britain to some extent) got into penalty trouble in the first. Despite this, Michael Glumac would open the scoring late in the period while Croatia was shorthanded. The game would remain 1-0 until the third, when Nathan Perkovich scored on the powerplay to extend Croatia's lead. Croatia surrendered a powerplay goal midway through the period. It looked like Croatia was on their way to winning the game, but then came the most disappointing 16 seconds they had all tournament. Great Britain would tie the game with 5 seconds left in regulation, then the winning goal 11 seconds into overtime. Croatia suffered a stunning 3-2 loss to start the tournament. Against Lithuania, Croatia would get off on the wrong foot, as they found themselves down 1-0 after the first. They would come back in the second, with Perkovich tying the game before Andy Sertich put them ahead on a 2-man advantage. The powerplay would strike once more in the third, and an empty net sealed the game, as Croatia rebounded to win the game 4-1. Croatia struck early against the Netherlands, as Perkovich opened the scoring 12 seconds into the game. It would stay that way until later in the period, as Croatia surrendered 2 goals in a 3 minute span. They did score one more before the period ended to tie the game 2-2. the score would stay that way until late in the second, when the Netherlands scored to break the deadlock. Croatia would not find an equalizer in the third, as 2 more goals by the Netherlands gave Croatia a 5-2 loss. Things got worst against Estonia before it go better for Croatia. They would fall behind 2-0 before Ryan Kinasewich score to put Croatia on the board. Perkovich scored early in the second period to tie the game. Matija Milicic's goal late in the second gave Croatia its first lead of the game. Croatia would hang on to the lead, and managed to add a couple of insurance goals, as they took the game 5-2. Looking to end the tournament with a medal, Croatia would have to face South Korea. Chances looked few-and-far between in the first, with both teams ending the period tied at 1-1. Croatia's chances of winning too a major hit in the second, as a collision forced Mark Dekanich out of net and put in Mate Tomljenovic for his first taste of action in this tournament. Croatia scored on the powerplay to take a 2-1 lead. That would not last long, as South Korea's offense exploded soon after, scoring 4 times. Ivan Brencun scored shorthanded midway through the second, but Korea would respond before the end of the period. Croatia would continued to be outplayed in the third. They managed to swap powerplay goals with the Koreans, but would give up a pair of goals later in the period. Croatia's 9-4 loss to South Korea combined with Lithuania's result bumped them off the podium. Croatia ended the tournament in fourth place.
Estonia: Estonia would start off against tough competition in South Korea. They would give up 2 goals before Andrei Makrov scored for Estonia. Estonia gave up an early goal in the second before Makrov scored his second of the game halfway though the period. Estonia's comeback bid may have been dashed thanks to Kevin Parras, who was assessed a 5 for charging and a game for checking a Korean player into the boards. Estonia didn't give up a goal while a man down, but did give up 2 goals later in the period. Estonia could only muster a powerplay goal in the third, as they would be scored on twice more en route to a 7-3 loss. Estonia had a better game against Great Britain. They would get a penalty shot in the first, but Robert Rooba could not convert. The Brits scored minutes later, as Estonia ended the period down 1-0. Rooba corrected his penalty shot attempt in the second, as he scored to tie the game. Estonia would fall behind in the third, and could not tie the game again. Estonia suffered another loss, this time by a score of 2-1. Estonia's woes would continue against Lithuania. They would get outshot 15-7 in the first, and ended the period down 2-0. Their play picked up in the second, and Aleksei Sibirtsev would score to pull Estonia to within 1. The third period was not kind to Estonia, as they gave up an early goal and could not come back. Estonia surrendered 3 more goals en route to losing the game 6-1. Estonia would look good against Croatia early on, as they scored the first 2 goals of the game. Croatia would respond shortly after, but Estonia ended the period up 2-1. It would slowly go downhill for Estonia, as they gave up the tying goal early in the second and the go ahead goal late in the period. Estonia could not find the tying goal, and would surrender 2 more in the third. Estonia's losing streak extended to 4 games thanks to the 5-2 loss. Estonia needed to win against the host Netherlands in order to stay up in Division I. It was nothing a couple of powerplays couldn't handle, as Makrov scored on both PP opportunities to give Estonia a 2-0 lead after the first. Estonia would surrender a goal midway in the second, as the Netherlands would pull to within a goal. Estonia stifled the Netherlands attack in the third though, as they only gave up 2 shots in the whole period. Makrov scored on an empty net to complete his hat trick, as Estonia won the game 3-1. The win gave Estonia a fifth place finish, which allows them to stay up in Division I for another year.
Netherlands: The host would face Lithuania in their first game. It did not start off well, as they let up a goal 11 seconds into the game. Try as they might, the Netherlands could not find an equalizer. They were shut out 1-0 in their opening game. It did not get better for the host, as South Korea would run rampant on them. The Netherlands would find themselves down 5-0 before breaking through with a powerplay goal late in the second. The Netherlands would give up 2 more goals in the third, as they suffered a 7-1 loss. The host would give the home crowd something to cheer about against Croatia. Despite giving up a goal just seconds into the game, the Netherlands would eventually take the lead later in the period. They would give up 1 more goal, ending the period tied 2-2. The host would turn it on in the second, and it paid off, as Ronald Wurm scored late in the period (and just seconds after stepping out of the penalty box). Their play slowed in the third, but the Netherlands would bookend the period with goals, en route to a 5-2 win, their first of the tournament. The host opened the scoring against Great Britain, as Steve Mason one-timed the puck into the net. Things went sour for the host soon after, as the Brits scored 3 unanswered. The Netherlands would be outplayed the rest of the way, but did managed to close the gap in the third thanks to a goal by Levi Houkes. That was as close as they go though, as the Netherlands suffered a close 3-2 loss. The Netherlands would close out the tournament against Estonia in what was the relegation game. It did not look good for the host in the first, as penalty trouble saw them fall behind 2-0. Erik Tummers scored 9 minutes into the second to cut Estonia's lead in half. The Netherlands could not get anything going in the third, and ended up surrendering an empty net goal. The host lost their final game 3-1. The Netherlands finished in sixth place, and is relegated to Division II.
Note: Most information from the (fancy) IIHF website.
Standings
Team
|
Wins
|
OTW/SOW
|
OTL/SOL
|
Losses
|
Points
|
Goal Diff.
|
South
Korea
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
12
|
+19
|
Great
Britain
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
11
|
+3
|
Lithuania
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
9
|
-1
|
Croatia
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
7
|
-3
|
Estonia
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
3
|
-11
|
Netherlands
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
3
|
-7
|
Results
April 13
Great Britain 3 - Croatia 2 (OT)
Estonia 3 - South Korea 7
Netherlands 0 - Lithuania 1
April 14
Estonia 1 - Great Britain 2
Croatia 4 - Lithuania 1
South Korea 7 - Netherlands 1
April 16
Lithuania 6 - Estonia 1
South Korea 2 - Great Britain 3
Croatia 2 - Netherlands 5
April 18
Lithuania 0 - South Korea 5
Croatia 5 - Estonia 2
Great Britain 3 - Netherlands 2
April 19
South Korea 9 - Croatia 4
Lithuania 3 - Great Britain 2
Netherlands 1 - Estonia 3
Team Recap
South Korea: The promotion-favoured Koreans faced the relegation-favoured Estonians in their first game. It didn't take long for South Korea to strike, as Sangwook Kim shot found its way through a screen past the Estonian keeper. Michael Owen Swift scored later in the period to extend the lead before Estonia got on the board. South Korea scored early in the second, but once again Estonia was able to respond to pull within 1. The Koreans would be dealt a blow later in the period, as Jui Hui Ahn was checked into the boards and needed to be stretchered off the ice (he would miss 1 game). South Korean could not capitalize on the ensuing powerplay, but did manage to score twice before the period ended. South Korea gave up a powerplay goal early in the third, but that was the last one that would get by them. Michaels Swift and Testwuide both scored their second of the game, as South Korea won their first game 7-3. South Korea's streak of 7 goals per game continued against the Netherlands. Testwuide went from goalscorer to set-up man, as he was primary assister in both of Korea's first period goals. A powerplay goal early in the second extended South Korea's lead to 3. Swift added a pair later in the period before the Netherlands would respond with a goal of their own. A pair of goals midway through the third was the end of South Korea's scoring, as they took the game by a score of 7-1. The Koreans would face a challenge in Great Britain. It took until the last minute of the first for South Korea to open the scoring. Both teams would score within the first minute of the second. Penalty trouble later in the period hurt Korea, as they would let up the tying goal while down 2 men. South Korea would give up a penalty shot (and subsequent goal) early in the third. While they had multiple powerplay chances in the third, the Koreans could not capitalize on them. They would suffer their first loss of the tournament by a score of 3-2. South Korea would rebound against Lithuania. It took until midway in the second for South Korea to get on the board, but once they did the goals started coming. South Korea added 2 more in the second and scored a pair in the third. Sungje Park had little trouble making 15 saves, as South Korea shut out Lithuania 5-0. Needing a result against Croatia to move into first place, it looked like South Korea would have a battle on their hands. It was a low shooting affair in the first, as both teams combined for 12 shots, each finding the back of the net once. Fortunes would change in the second, as Heyok Kim collided with the Croatian keeper. Croatia would score following a change in goal, but their lead was short-lived. South Korea would go off, scoring 4 unanswered in a 4 minute span to take the lead. Both teams swapped goals in the later half of the period. Both South Korea and Croatia would score powerplay goals midway through the third, but it was Korea who capped off the scoring with 2 more goals. The 9-4 win propelled South Korea into first place, which they maintained after Great Britain failed to gain a point in their game. South Korea ended up at the top of the table, and will play in Group A next year.
Great Britain: The British kicked off the tournament facing Croatia. Penalties were prevalent in the first period. Despite Britain getting more powerplay time, they would find themselves down 1-0 thanks to a shorthanded goal by Croatia. It stayed that way until the third, when Croatia scored on the powerplay to put Great Britain down 2-0. Ben O'Connor responded with a powerplay goal of his own, pulling GB to within 1. With time running out, Great Britain would need a hero, and that hero would be Mark Richardson. Richardson would score with 5 seconds left in the third period to tie the game. His work wasn't done yet, as just 11 seconds into overtime he once again found the back of the net, lifting Great Britain to the 3-2 overtime win. Against Estonia, Great Britain would strike first with a goal late in the first. Their lead lasted until midway though the second, when Estonia found the equalizing goal. With just under 6 minutes left in the third, Robert Farmer would tip home a rebound put GB back in the lead. The Brits held on to take the game 2-1. Great Britain faced South Korea in their next game. Great Britain would give up the first goal of the game late in the first. They fell behind 2-0 before Farmer found the back of the net. O'Connor scored on a 2-man advantage to tie the game. O'Connor would dazzle in the third, scoring on an amazing penalty shot move. That ended up being the game winner, as Great Britain won the game 3-2. The Brits would once again find themselves conceding the first goal of the game, as the Netherlands scored just over 3 minutes into the first. GB struck back quick, as Paul Swindlehurst tied the game a minute later. Goals by Chris Blight and Craig Peacock midway through the period gave the Brits a 2-goal lead. Great Britain would remain in the lead the rest of the way, as they only gave up 1 more goal en route to another 3-2 win. Great Britain needed just 1 point against Lithuania to finish in first place. It looked good in the first, as the Brits outshot Lithuania 9-2 and were up 1-0 thanks to Mark Garside's goal. While they continued to dominate the shot count in the second, it was Lithuania who scored twice in the period. Russell Cowley scored early in the third to tie the game for the Brits. A delay of game penalty hurt GB, as Lithuania capitalized on the opportunity and went back in the lead. Great Britain kept pressuring, but in the end they ran out of time. The 3-2 regulation loss was the only thing Great Britain couldn't do, as they would stay in second place, capturing the silver medal and staying in Group B for another year.
Lithuania: Lithuania start off the tournament facing the Netherlands. It did not take long for Lithuania to take the lead, as Arnoldas Bosas scored 11 seconds into the game. Mantas Armalis would keep the door shut the rest of the way, stopping all 35 shots he faced, as Lithuania started their tournament with a 1-0 win. They looked to continue rolling against Croatia, as they ended the first period up 1-0. The game would slowly slip away from them though. Lithuania gave up the tying goal midway though the second, then gave up the go-ahead goal while down 2 men. They would surrender a pair of goals in the third as well, as Lithuania lost 4-1. Facing Estonia, Lithuania would get out to a good start, as Aivaras Bendzius scored 5 minutes into the game to give them the lead. A powerplay goal late in the period extend Lithuania's lead to 2. The Lithuanias slowed down in the second, and it cost them a bit, as Estonia cut their lead in half. Lithuania picked it back up in the third period though, and would score 4 unanswered. Lithunia beat Estonia 6-1. Lithuania did not have such a good time against South Korea. From the get-go they were outmatched. Mantas Armalis did his best to keep his team in the game, stopping 41 shots. It wasn't enough though, as Lithuania would get shut out 5-0 against a dominating South Korean squad. A lot was at stake in Lithuania's game against Great Britain. For Lithuania, a win gave them the bronze medal. For Great Britain, a win or OT/SO loss ensured them the gold medal. Lithuania had trouble early on, as they only registered 2 shots in the first period. They did enough though to keep Great Britain's offense in check, and finished the period only down by a goal. Lithuania managed to tie the game halfway through the second period. A 2-man advantage late in the period helped Lithuania take the lead, as Nerijus Alisauskas beat the British goalie. The lead did not last long, as Great Britain tied the game early in the third. Lithuania would escape a couple penalties unscathed, and then find themselves up a man a few times. The second time was when Lithuania capitalized, as Paulius Gintautas scored to put Lithuania back in the lead. Lithuania's chances of keeping the lead were in serious doubt moments later, as Donatas Kumeliauskas was give a 5 and a game for head-butting. The Lithuanians would hold the fort, keeping Great Britain's offense at bay and the puck out of their net. The 3-2 score line was the final, as Lithuania ended their tournament on a high note. Lithuania's win gave them a third place finish, leapfrogging Croatia and taking home the bronze medal.
Croatia: The Croatians played Great Britain in their first game. Croatia (and Britain to some extent) got into penalty trouble in the first. Despite this, Michael Glumac would open the scoring late in the period while Croatia was shorthanded. The game would remain 1-0 until the third, when Nathan Perkovich scored on the powerplay to extend Croatia's lead. Croatia surrendered a powerplay goal midway through the period. It looked like Croatia was on their way to winning the game, but then came the most disappointing 16 seconds they had all tournament. Great Britain would tie the game with 5 seconds left in regulation, then the winning goal 11 seconds into overtime. Croatia suffered a stunning 3-2 loss to start the tournament. Against Lithuania, Croatia would get off on the wrong foot, as they found themselves down 1-0 after the first. They would come back in the second, with Perkovich tying the game before Andy Sertich put them ahead on a 2-man advantage. The powerplay would strike once more in the third, and an empty net sealed the game, as Croatia rebounded to win the game 4-1. Croatia struck early against the Netherlands, as Perkovich opened the scoring 12 seconds into the game. It would stay that way until later in the period, as Croatia surrendered 2 goals in a 3 minute span. They did score one more before the period ended to tie the game 2-2. the score would stay that way until late in the second, when the Netherlands scored to break the deadlock. Croatia would not find an equalizer in the third, as 2 more goals by the Netherlands gave Croatia a 5-2 loss. Things got worst against Estonia before it go better for Croatia. They would fall behind 2-0 before Ryan Kinasewich score to put Croatia on the board. Perkovich scored early in the second period to tie the game. Matija Milicic's goal late in the second gave Croatia its first lead of the game. Croatia would hang on to the lead, and managed to add a couple of insurance goals, as they took the game 5-2. Looking to end the tournament with a medal, Croatia would have to face South Korea. Chances looked few-and-far between in the first, with both teams ending the period tied at 1-1. Croatia's chances of winning too a major hit in the second, as a collision forced Mark Dekanich out of net and put in Mate Tomljenovic for his first taste of action in this tournament. Croatia scored on the powerplay to take a 2-1 lead. That would not last long, as South Korea's offense exploded soon after, scoring 4 times. Ivan Brencun scored shorthanded midway through the second, but Korea would respond before the end of the period. Croatia would continued to be outplayed in the third. They managed to swap powerplay goals with the Koreans, but would give up a pair of goals later in the period. Croatia's 9-4 loss to South Korea combined with Lithuania's result bumped them off the podium. Croatia ended the tournament in fourth place.
Estonia: Estonia would start off against tough competition in South Korea. They would give up 2 goals before Andrei Makrov scored for Estonia. Estonia gave up an early goal in the second before Makrov scored his second of the game halfway though the period. Estonia's comeback bid may have been dashed thanks to Kevin Parras, who was assessed a 5 for charging and a game for checking a Korean player into the boards. Estonia didn't give up a goal while a man down, but did give up 2 goals later in the period. Estonia could only muster a powerplay goal in the third, as they would be scored on twice more en route to a 7-3 loss. Estonia had a better game against Great Britain. They would get a penalty shot in the first, but Robert Rooba could not convert. The Brits scored minutes later, as Estonia ended the period down 1-0. Rooba corrected his penalty shot attempt in the second, as he scored to tie the game. Estonia would fall behind in the third, and could not tie the game again. Estonia suffered another loss, this time by a score of 2-1. Estonia's woes would continue against Lithuania. They would get outshot 15-7 in the first, and ended the period down 2-0. Their play picked up in the second, and Aleksei Sibirtsev would score to pull Estonia to within 1. The third period was not kind to Estonia, as they gave up an early goal and could not come back. Estonia surrendered 3 more goals en route to losing the game 6-1. Estonia would look good against Croatia early on, as they scored the first 2 goals of the game. Croatia would respond shortly after, but Estonia ended the period up 2-1. It would slowly go downhill for Estonia, as they gave up the tying goal early in the second and the go ahead goal late in the period. Estonia could not find the tying goal, and would surrender 2 more in the third. Estonia's losing streak extended to 4 games thanks to the 5-2 loss. Estonia needed to win against the host Netherlands in order to stay up in Division I. It was nothing a couple of powerplays couldn't handle, as Makrov scored on both PP opportunities to give Estonia a 2-0 lead after the first. Estonia would surrender a goal midway in the second, as the Netherlands would pull to within a goal. Estonia stifled the Netherlands attack in the third though, as they only gave up 2 shots in the whole period. Makrov scored on an empty net to complete his hat trick, as Estonia won the game 3-1. The win gave Estonia a fifth place finish, which allows them to stay up in Division I for another year.
Netherlands: The host would face Lithuania in their first game. It did not start off well, as they let up a goal 11 seconds into the game. Try as they might, the Netherlands could not find an equalizer. They were shut out 1-0 in their opening game. It did not get better for the host, as South Korea would run rampant on them. The Netherlands would find themselves down 5-0 before breaking through with a powerplay goal late in the second. The Netherlands would give up 2 more goals in the third, as they suffered a 7-1 loss. The host would give the home crowd something to cheer about against Croatia. Despite giving up a goal just seconds into the game, the Netherlands would eventually take the lead later in the period. They would give up 1 more goal, ending the period tied 2-2. The host would turn it on in the second, and it paid off, as Ronald Wurm scored late in the period (and just seconds after stepping out of the penalty box). Their play slowed in the third, but the Netherlands would bookend the period with goals, en route to a 5-2 win, their first of the tournament. The host opened the scoring against Great Britain, as Steve Mason one-timed the puck into the net. Things went sour for the host soon after, as the Brits scored 3 unanswered. The Netherlands would be outplayed the rest of the way, but did managed to close the gap in the third thanks to a goal by Levi Houkes. That was as close as they go though, as the Netherlands suffered a close 3-2 loss. The Netherlands would close out the tournament against Estonia in what was the relegation game. It did not look good for the host in the first, as penalty trouble saw them fall behind 2-0. Erik Tummers scored 9 minutes into the second to cut Estonia's lead in half. The Netherlands could not get anything going in the third, and ended up surrendering an empty net goal. The host lost their final game 3-1. The Netherlands finished in sixth place, and is relegated to Division II.
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