We had repeat champions this year, as Canada wins back-to-back gold medals for the first time since they did it in 2003-04 (Russia also pulled off this feat in 2008-09). Finland went undefeated until the last game, getting shut out in the gold medal game, and settling for silver. The host Russians had no problems winning the bronze in front of the home crowd. The United States could not repeat last year's performance, and went home empty-handed.
Note: Most information from the fancy IIHF website.
Quarter Finals
Czech Republic 1 - United States 2 (SO)
The Czechs would outshoot the Americans in the first, and got an excellent chance to open the scoring late in the period. Tomas Zohorna was hooked on a breakaway, resulting in a penalty shot being awarded. He made good on the attempt, beating Keith Kinkaid to put the Czechs in the lead. The United States would pick up their play in the second. It paid off early, with Auston Matthews scoring 87 seconds into the period to tie the game. Interference was the name of the game later in the second, with both teams getting called multiple times for it. It remained tied 1-1 at the end of the second. Neither team would find the back of the net in the third, meaning overtime would be played. The United States had a couple good chances in the extra frame, but Dominik Furch was there to keep the puck out of the net. Ten minutes decided nothing, making a shootout necessary. Matthews was once again the hero for the Americans, as he scored the lone goal in the event. The United States move on to the semi-finals with a 2-1 win.
Finland 5 - Denmark 1
It was mostly Finland in the first, but despite being in control, it wasn't until the later half of the period when they opened the scoring. Mikael Granlund roofed one over Sebastian Dahm to put Finland up 1-0. The Finns extended their lead early in the second thanks to Jarno Koskiranta. Denmark managed to get one back midway through the second. Lars Eller scored on the powerplay, pulling the Danes to within a goal. Finland restored their two-goal lead late in the period. Patrik Laine worked his magic, getting into the slot and beating Dahm. Denmark tried, but could not get any closer to tying the game. Goals by Jussi Jokinen and Granlund capped off the scoring. Finland moves on to the next round thanks to their 5-1 win over Denmark.
Russia 4 - Germany 1
The Germans shocked the host Russians with an early goal in the first. Some pressure led to Patrick Reimer beating Sergei Bobrovski to put Germany up 1-0. They managed to hang on to the lead for the rest of the first period. Things changed in the second, with Vadim Shipachyov scored 40 seconds into the period to tie the game. Shipachyov then set up Yevgeni Dadonov over six minutes later to put Russia in the lead. Shipachyov capped off an amazing period with a goal 14 minutes into the second. Russia coasted the rest of the game, with Alexander Ovechkin scoring early in the third. The 4-1 win pushed Russia past Germany and into the semi-finals.
Canada 6 - Sweden 0
This game would be Canada's for the taking. It took a while, but the Canadians got on the board late in the first, when Mark Scheifele tipped Ryan O'Reilly's point shot into the Swedish net. A bad hit by Andre Burakovsky gave Canada a powerplayin the second. They took advantage of having the extra man, as Matt Dumba scored to extend the lead. Dumba was in on Canada's next goal, as his shot bounced off the back boards and to Brad Marchand, who put the puck into the net. Just 11 seconds after Marchand scored, Max Domi got a goal of his own, making it 4-0 for Canada. Sweden was desparate for a goal in the third, and even pulled Jacob Markstrom for an extra attacker when they had a two-man advantage. Their attempts were all for naught though, as Cam Talbot would not let anything by him. Matt Stone and Derick Brassard added goals midway through the third period. Tablot stopped all 24 shots he faced, as Canada shut out Sweden 6-0 to advance to the semi-finals.
Semi-Finals
Finland 3 - Russia 1
The host had a good start to this game. Sergei Shirokov tucked home a rebound three minutes into the game to put Russia up 1-0. They would outshoot the Finns in the period, but Mikko Koskinen did what he could to keep it a one-goal game. Finland managed to tie the game thanks to a powerplay early in the second. Sebastian Aho one-timer beat Bobrovsky, making it a 1-1 game. Jokinen and Laine connected later in the period, with Jokinen finishing off their play to put Finland in the lead. Minutes later, Aho got his second powerplay goal of the game, as Finland entered the second intermission up 3-1. Russia dominated in the third period, outshooting Finland 13-2. All 13 shots though would be stopped, as Koskinen showed that he could not be beat. Finland hung on to win 3-1, earning a spot in the gold medal game. The lost put the host Russian in the bronze medal game.
United States 3 - Canada 4
It was the battle of North America, with the winner going to the gold medal game. Both teams were nervous in the first, but managed to put up 12 shots a piece in the period. Only Canada managed to find the back of the net though, starting with Brendan Gallagher's goal nine minutes into the period. Marchand converted on a two-on-one late in the period, making it 2-0 for Canada. The United States started their comeback early in the second. Matthews kicked it off with a powerplay goal just over a minute into the period. A few minutes later, David Warsofsky blasted one past Talbot to tie the game. Midway through the period, Tyler Motte scored to put the Americans in the lead. It lasted for seven minutes, as Brassard scored on the powerplay to tie the game. It remained tied until early in the third, when Ryan Ellis scored his first of the tournament to put Canada up by one. The Americans pushed back, looking to tie the game once again. The Canadian squad would hold on though, with Talbot stopping what the Americans threw at him. The 4-3 win clinches Canada's spot in the gold medal game. The United States are bumped down to the bronze medal game as a result.
Bronze Medal Game
United States 2 - Russia 7
The battle between two rival nations saw Russia get the first goal. Vyacheslav Voinov got a point shot threw traffic and past Kinkaid. Sergei Mozyakin got one on the powerplay midway through the period to extend the host nation's lead. Russia played rough late in the first and early in the second, leading to the United States getting a couple of powerplays. The Americans could not capitalize with the extra man though, as they stayed off the scoreboard. Russia continued their scoring ways halfway through the period, with Ivan Telegin getting things started. An odd man rush moments later led to Dadonov getting a goal, making it 4-0 for the host. The United States got another powerplay minutes later, and this time made good on it. Frank Vatrano beat a screened Bobrovski to put the United States on the board. It didn't take long for Russia to strike back, as Artemi Panarin scored 53 seconds later to restore Russia's four-goal lead. A change was needed for the United States in the third, with Mike Condon coming in to replace Kinkaid in net. Vatrano scored his second of the game minutes into the period. That would be as close as the Americans got to a comeback. Mozyakin and Shipachyov scored in the later half of the third to seal the game. Russia won 7-2, winning the bronze and giving the home crowd something to cheer about.
Gold Medal Game
Canada 2 - Finland 0
Going into the game, Canada was looking to repeat (and get a bit of revenge) while Finland was looking at history. The rematch showed it would be a different game, as Connor McDavid quickly corralled a loose puck and snapped it past Koskinen. Laine would get a chance to tie the game later on, receiving a pass in the slot with no one around him. Talbot waited him out though, and made the save to preserve the lead. The second period was all Canada, as they held Finland to just four shots while putting up 13 of their own. They kept up that play in the third, limiting Finland to very few chances. Matt Duchene scored with 0.6 seconds left on the clock to cap the game. Talbot was solid throughout the 60 minutes, stopping 16 shots in the shutout effort. Canada's 2-0 win made them repeat champions, as they won the gold medal. Finland settled for silver after a very good tournament by them.
Final Ranking
1 (Gold) - Canada
2 (Silver) - Finland
3 (Bronze) - Russia
4 - United States
5 - Czech Republic
6 - Sweden
7 - Germany
8 - Denmark
9 - Slovakia
10 - Norway
11 - Switzerland
12 - Belarus
13 - Latvia
14 - France
15 (Relegated) - Hungary
16 (Relegated) - Kazakhstan
Best Power Ranking
Belarus: When in doubt, use more Canadians (May 6)
Canada: Look! It's a Canadian team playing in May! (May 6)
Czech Republic: Birner has his own festival: Birning Man (May 10)
Denmark: Trevor? It's Jim. This is a different Nicklas Jensen, right? (May 14)
Finland: Video reviews are fun because you can drink more beer (May 14)
France: Russia was rough on Napoleon too. (Too soon?) (May 19)
Germany: Cologne. For teams that don't want to stink. (May 22)
Hungary: French kissing is banned (May 17)
Kazakhstan: "Love in an elevator/ Livin' it up while I'm goin' down" (May 17)
Latvia: [Inserts naughtys Latvians words] (May 12)
Norway: The Stavanger Oilers win more than the other Oilers (May 21)
Russia: Vicotry is ours! (Unless we massively screw up.) (May 17)
Slovakia: We begged Gallagher to jump Marchand (May 14)
Sweden: We mention Nyqvist. He wins the Derby. Coincidence? (May 8)
Switzerland: No, really, you do dream of playing for Team Europe (May 6)
United States: Our Wideman has no problem with the refs (May 12)
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