Russia knocks out Sweden, Kazakhstan faces wait
Valery Bragin celebrated his 65th birthday with a shoot-out win over Sweden, a result that means the Tre Kronor cannot progress to the knock-out phase. It’s the first time since the playoffs were introduced in 1992 that Sweden has not been there. Kazakhstan, meanwhile, is still waiting to see if it will make its first ever quarter-final after losing to Norway in its final group game.
Group A
Tarasenko arrives in style
Russia 3 Sweden 2 SO (0-1, 0-0, 2-1, 0-0, 1-0)
Vladimir Tarasenko was Russia’s game-winner in a hard-fought battle against Sweden. The forward, one of the proudest products of the Sibir academy, created Alexander Barabanov’s go-ahead goal in the third period and then won the shoot-out as Sweden crashed out of this year’s championship early.
Photo: 31.05.21. 2021 IIHF World Championship. Russia - Sweden
This game was win-or-bust for the Tre Kronor after the Czech Republic beat Denmark earlier in the day. At first, things were going well for the Swedes: an even first period saw Jesper Forden’s power play effort separate the teams, then they had the better of the second without adding to the score.
But midway through the third, Russia turned it upside down with two goals in 12 seconds — and the team’s new arrivals were involved. Dmitry Orlov forced a turnover in center ice and set up Anton Slepyshev for the tying goal. Then, from the face-off, Nikita Nesterov’s long pass released Tarasenko, and he fed Barabanov.
Down, but not quite out, Sweden summoned up one last effort and tied the game on a Victor Olofsson effort.
“Letting in that second goal stings a bit,” admitted Orlov. “Maybe we lost concentration there. In the playoffs, I don’t think we’ll get away with mistakes like that. We’ll have to come back better and stronger.”
However, on this occasion Russia soaked up the late pressure and won it in the shoot-out thanks to Tarasenko.
“There was a lot of pressure there,” Tarasenko said. “It was my first game, but it was important for us to clinch the playoffs today.”
“A lot of credit to the Swedish team, they worked really hard and played really well. It was a hard game, we played really well together but there are a lot of areas we can improve. We have time to talk and get ready for tomorrow.”
Today’s results mean that the current top four — Russia, Switzerland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic — all progress from Group A. Tomorrow’s games, which include Russia vs Belarus and Slovakia vs Czech Republic, will determine the final placings ahead of the quarter-final.
Czechs advance after shoot-out drama
Czech Republic 2 Denmark 1 SO (0-1, 0-0, 1-0, 0-0, 1-0)
There was late drama as the Czechs got the win they needed over Denmark. This shoot-out success ultimately put Filip Pesan’s team into the quarter-final following Sweden’s defeat, but for a long time it looked as though the Danes might pull off an unlikely win and keep their hopes of progress alive.
Nicklas Jensen, Denmark’s key player in this tournament, opened the scoring in the first period and that lead endured until late in the game. Dominik Kubalik tied the scores in the third period and the same player almost snatched a last-gasp winner in overtime, only for the play to whistled down for offside. Then came the shoot-out and after the teams traded six successful attempts, both benches swapped goalies. For Denmark, Morten Sogaard came in for Sebastian Dahm, but he was beaten by Filip Chytil. Then the Czechs sent Roman Will in place of Simon Hrubec and the Traktor man faced down Niklas Andersen to win it.
Group B
Anxious wait for Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan 1 Norway 3 (1-0, 0-1, 0-2)
Hopes of a first ever top-eight finish at the World Championship hang in the balance for Kazakhstan after losing its final group game to Norway. Despite the loss, the Kazakhs can still make the top four in Group B but need Finland to defeat Canada in regulation in tomorrow’s meeting.
In the words of Barys forward Dmitry Shevchenko, “all we can do is wait, support [Finland] and pray.”
This was a tough loss for a team that has won so many plaudits in Riga. Shevchenko opened the scoring on 16 minutes and, at that stage, Kazakhstan looked set to make history. But Norway, already eliminated from the tournament, tied it up in the second through Thomas Valkvae Olsen. And, in the third, goals from Stefan Espelund and Mathis Olimb gave the Norwegians the verdict.
“I think there was not enough luck for us,” concluded head coach Yury Mikhailis. “The guys had the same motivation before this game, and I’m grateful to them! They were playing until the last minute, the last second. But maybe there was not enough patience on our part? I don’t know, but overall, I can’t say this was a bad game from my team.”
Germany thwarted by USA
USA 2 Germany 0 (0-0, 1-0, 1-0)
Team USA blanked the Germans, keeping the playoff door open for its biggest rival, Canada. A German win here would have greatly complicated Canada’s chances ahead of the final games tomorrow, but Cal Petersen made 33 saves to frustrate a spirited display from die Mannschaft.
A Jason Robertson goal late in the second period broke the deadlock, but this game was live until the very end when Colin Blackwell’s empty-netter decided it. Germany and Latvia face-off tomorrow in a winner-takes-all showdown for a playoff place.
