Sweden, Latvia stay in contention

Sunday’s action at the IIHF World Championship was all about whether Sweden, Latvia and Canada could get the results they needed to remain in contention for a quarter-final spot. In the event, they all picked up something — Sweden beating Slovakia, Canada thrashing Italy and Latvia taking a point from Finland — to set up a nerve-jangling finale. However, Belarus saw its hopes of progress emphatically ended by Switzerland.

Group A

Swiss roll over Belarus

Belarus 0 Switzerland 6 (0-2, 0-2, 0-2)

Belarus saw its outside hopes of a playoff place blown away by Switzerland as a six-goal salvo sent the Swiss to the top of Group A.

The Belarusians knew that it was win or bust in this game and head coach Mikhail Zakharov made the bold call to scratch most of the dual-nationals on the team. Goalie Danny Taylor, defenseman Nick Bailen and forwards Francis Pare and Shane Prince were all left out after concerns that the imports were lacking fitness after joining the training camp late.

However, the revised roster allowed a goal on its first shift of the game with Christoph Bertschy scoring after 36 seconds. And, for all Belarus’ spirit, there was no way back. Joel Vermin scored twice, and there were further tallies from Sven Andrighetto, Fabrice Herzog and Gregory Hoffmann, who joins Britain’s Liam Kirk at the top of the goal chart with five tallies in the tournament.

For Yegor Sharangovich the latest loss was another blow. “Everyone is disappointed with the way we started the game,” he said. “Everybody wants to win, nobody wants to be sitting around with a miserable face like we are now. I’m sure that everyone is doing everything he can, battling to the end. But of course, losing a goal on the first shift is a big blow for the rest of the game, it take a bit out of your legs and saps your energy.”

Belarus has one more game, playing Russia on Tuesday. It needs to improve on Great Britain’s result against Switzerland to avoid finishing last in the group.

Swedes stay alive

Sweden 3 Slovakia 1 (0-1, 1-0, 2-0)

This was a must-win game for Sweden as it looked to keep its quarter-final hopes alive. For Slovakia, meanwhile, it was a chance to close on securing first place in the group and — potentially — an easier task in the knock-out rounds.

There wasn’t much to choose between the teams in the first period, but Peter Cehlarik broke the deadlock in the last minute with a fortuitous deflection after he fired the puck to the slot. That goal threatened to eliminate the Swedes, but Marcus Sorensen tied it up midway through the second period.

Adam Reideborn pulled off a huge pad save early in the third, with the score still locked at 1-1, stretching out his left pad to deny David Buc when a goal seemed certain. However, the former Ak Bars man was always confident that his team could get the win.

“They had a couple of shifts in our zone, but we had good defence, good forwards,” Reideborn said. “They had a couple of good shifts but we played really well throughout the game.”

Crucially, a power play goal from Victor Olofsson midway through the third gave the Swedes a lead that takes their playoff hopes into the final game. Isac Lundestrom wrapped it up with an empty-netter.

Sweden concludes its group-stage program with a game against Russia tomorrow evening. Anything short of victory would see the Tre Kronor finish outside of the top eight for the first time since 1937.

But goalscorer Olofsson believes his team can salvage its campaign with one more victory. “We are getting better ever game so we still have hopes of finishing strong against Russia and hopefully that will get us through to the playoffs,” he said. “They’re a good team, it’s going to be a tough game, but we’re gonna bring our A game and hopefully that will be enough.”

Group B

Latvia stays alive, Finland advances to QF

Finland 3 Latvia 2 OT (1-1, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0)

Latvia picked up a vital point against Group B leader Finland, moving into a three-way tie with Germany and Canada in the race for fourth place. Two goals from Martins Dzierkals pegged back the Finns and set up Latvia for a huge showdown against the Germans in the final game of the group on Tuesday.

Photo: 30.05.21. 2021 IIHF World Championship. Finland - Latvia

“We showed some really good fight today,” said double goalscorer Dzierkals. “We needed points, that’s for sure.

“Now we’ve got one more game against Germany and it’s going to be huge. People are going to be in the stands so they’re going to help us for sure. We’re excited, so hopefully we can get to the quarter-final.”

However, a last-gasp goal from19-year-old Anton Lundell gave Finland the win in overtime, securing his country’s progress to the quarter-finals and keeping the battle for fourth place tight until the last action of the first round.

“[Anton’s] our best scorer so far in this tournament, he’s had a great impact on our team,” said Finland’s head coach Jukka Jalonen. “He’s a young guy, a very good skater and very hungry for scoring goals which we saw again. He’s a big player for us, for sure.”

Finland got in front in the first period but there was some controversy over Saku Maenalanen’s fourth-minute opener. Marko Anttila’s shot was padded away by Janis Kalnins and the puck flew straight into the on-rushing Maenalanen and into the net. The officials reviewed the play, amid Latvian claims that the puck was kicked into the net, but awarded the goal.

Latvia tied it up late in the first on a Martins Dzierkals point shot and after that the host nation picked up the pace. In the early stages of the middle frame, the Latvians had the better of the game but gradually Finland reasserted itself. And, late in the frame, Iiro Pakarinen redirected Ville Pokka’s point shot past Kalnins to restore the lead.

Once in front, Finland rarely allows teams back into contention in the third period — it’s won its last 14 games when leading after 40 minutes in World Championship play. There could have been more goals were it not for some heroics from Kalnins, but this was a Latvian team fighting for its future in the tournament. And with six minutes to play, the host nation found what it needed. Andris Dzerins broke down the left and fired the puck into the slot where Dzierkals applied the redirect to beat Harri Sateri and tie the game.

Dominant Canada closes on QF spot

Italy 1 Canada 7 (0-4, 1-2, 0-1)

Four-point games from Andrew Mangiapane and Connor Brown led Canada to a convincing victory over winless Italy. Another big win lifts the Canadians to nine points and sets up a decisive battle against Finland on Tuesday to secure a place in the last eight.

Canada decided this game quickly. The first period brought four goals, including Mangiapane’s first of the game and left Italy with far too much to do. There was a consolation effort from Angelo Miceli midway through the second, but Canada cruised to the win. Next up, Canada faces Finland