Brave China bows out, Slovaks and Swiss go to QF
The last eight line-up at the Olympics is confirmed. Canada’s win over China sets up an appealing clash with Sweden, Switzerland advances to face Finland, Slovakia will take on the USA and team ROC has a rematch against Denmark in Wednesday’s action from Beijing.
Dragons threaten an upset before Canada shows its class
Canada 7 China 2 (2-1, 3-1, 2-0)
Canada’s power play made the difference as it defeated China for the second time in successive games to move into a quarter final against Sweden. However, it says much for China’s on-going development that it improved on a 0-5 loss last time, scoring twice on the Canadians and ensuring that this was a genuine contest for longer than many expected.
Double goal-scorer An Jian (Cory Kane) said: “I’m really happy that we were able to fight till the end. It’s really hard when you’re going up against a big opponent like Canada. They’re really good and our guys didn’t quit. When we got the five-minute power play, it was a big opportunity and then, of course, the 5-on-3 you’ve gotta score on that.”
After the teams met in the Group stage, China’s assistant coach Alexei Kovalev suggested that many had expected Canada to rattle in 15 or 20 goals. The Dragons had already proved stronger than that, and in the early stages of this Qualification Round game we almost saw a shock unfold. In the fifth minute, Ye Jinguang (Brandon Yip) got clear and was slashed by Ellis Morgan. Fu Jiang (Spencer Foo) took responsibility for the penalty shot, but was unable to give the host a dream start when his effort was stopped by Matt Tomkins in the Canadian net.
Then came penalty trouble for China, with Ak Bars’ Jordan Weal cashing in, to the tune of two power play goals. But the Dragons weren’t giving up. Canada’s young defenseman Owen Power has a big future ahead of him, but last year’s top draft pick was undone late in the frame, losing the puck under pressure from Wei Ruike (Ethan Werek) to enable An Jian to score for China.
There was a blow for China at the intermission when goalie Shimisi Jieriumi (Jeremy Smith) could not return to the game and was replaced by young Ouban Yongli (Paris O’Brien). The 21-year-old didn’t let anyone down after coming off the bench but, at times, Chinese discipline did. Adam Tambellini got his team’s third power play goal of the night then added a penalty shot tally to put the game to bed; Dynamo Moscow’s Eric O’Dell tipped in a Jason Demers point shot to make it 5-1.
“It’s nice that our power play was really clicking and that’s good that we’re hitting our stride at the right time,” said Tambellini of the game. “I really like the way our group’s playing right now. We were really resilient and pushed through. But Sweden’s a different level of competition and something we’ve got to prepare for real quick here.”
China wasn’t the only team taking penalties, though, and a 5-on-3 advantage saw An get a second goal for the host nation after a Kailiaosi Jieke (Jake Chelios) shot was tipped into his path by Jia Luo (Luke Lockhart). It was no more than China deserved for a battling performance — and it was especially sweet for An, who played through the pain barrier in this game.
“In the Germany game I went into the boards awkward and my shoulder kinda collapsed,” he said. “I thought my tournament was over but the staff really helped me out and I was able to battle through on one shoulder.”
In the third, Canada extended its lead. Veteran Eric Staal made it six and Jack McBain had the final say. But China can derive satisfaction from another performance that will do the reputation of its hockey program no harm at all.
Slovakia 4 Germany 0 (1-0, 2-0, 1-0)
Slovakia built on its win over Latvia to set up a showdown with Team USA in the quarter-finals. For Germany, surprise silver medallist four years ago, the Olympic dream is over.
Craig Ramsay’s team didn’t always impress in the group stage, but it showed signs of gelling when it beat the Latvians in its final game in Group C. Today, a shut-out from Dinamo Minsk’s Patrik Rybar (21 saves) backstopped a solid success that keeps the Slovak dream of a first Olympic medal alive.
“It’s very nice [to get a shut-out] in this important game, but I have to give credit to the guys for playing well defensively, blocking shots and playing structured,” Rybar said. The 27-year-old also talked about how he is settling into the Games: “The KHL shut down in January and it was hard to prepare, but now I’m feeling more comfortable after an exhibition game and three more in the Olympics.”
Fellow Minsk man Libor Hudacek opened the scoring for the Slovaks midway through the first period, but two quick goals in the second settled the outcome. Avangard’s Peter Cehlarik got the first of them, with an assist from Marek Hrivik, who left Torpedo this week. Michal Kristof made it 3-0 before Cehlarik turned provider for Hrivik — an established, potent partnership at international level — to complete the scoring in the third.
Switzerland 4 Czechia 2 (2-1, 1-0, 1-1)
The Czechs’ long wait for silverware continues. You have to go back to 2012 for the last time Czechia medalled at a World Championship or Olympics, and Filip Pesan’s team was unable to stop the rot in Beijing. Switzerland, meanwhile, avenged a group stage loss to the same opposition and advances to face Finland in the last eight.
Things started well enough for Czechia. Neftekhimik’s defensive duo Ronald Knot and Lukas Klok combined for the latter to open the scoring. But Klok sounded an alarm for the Swiss, who responded with two goals in 13 seconds to turn the game around. Andres Ambuhl, playing his fifth Olympics, scored his first goal at the Games to tie the scores, then Killian Mottet made it 2-1. In the second period, Denis Malgin extended the lead. Malgin’s father, Albert, was a pro in the Soviet championship before moving to Switzerland in the 90s.
Swiss captain Raphael Diaz made it 4-1 late in the third to kill the game, before Roman Cervenka — once of Avangard and SKA, now playing in Switzerland — pulled a late goal back for the Czechs. But Switzerland celebrated its first win in Beijing and advances to the last eight for the first time since 2010.
