While it still seems like it all just started, we’ve only got two more days left in the preliminary round of the men’s ice hockey tournament. Fortunately, there’s still plenty of good hockey to be played, and four more games are on the schedule today.
Yesterday’s Games
Czech Republic 4, Latvia 2 (Group C)
Brief Recap: Despite a decent push from the Latvian squad that saw the game tied almost halfway through regulation, the Czechs controlled most of the game and ended up winning 4-2 thanks to three goals in the second period and some strong defense in the third.
Flyer Watch: Jakub Voracek scored the third goal — which ended up being the game-winner — on a deflection for the Czechs. He put four shots on goal in just 10:51 of ice time.
Sweden 1, Switzerland 0 (Group C)
Brief Recap: In what ended up probably being a much tighter game than most would have anticipated, Switzerland actually hung with the favored Swedes (sans-captain Henrik Zetterberg, who will not play again in the Olympics due to a back injury) for just about the entire game. Sweden scored the game-winner in the third when Reto Berra allowed an Erik Karlsson shot to rebound out front, where Daniel Alfredsson put home the game’s only goal. Henrik Lundqvist held on to the shutout for Sweden.
Flyer Watch: Mark Streit played 19:24, mostly alongside Raphael Diaz, and put one shot on goal.
Canada 6, Austria 0 (Group B)
Brief Recap: Canada, unsurprisingly, rolled over Austria, scoring six goals in the first two periods and controlling the pace throughout. They were led by … Jeff Carter, naturally. He had a natural hat trick, one day after being moved off of the team’s “top line” with Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz.
Flyer Watch: Michael Raffl did not score (obviously) and played 15:32.
Finland 6, Norway 1 (Group B)
Brief Recap: One day after pushing Team Canada about as hard as they could, Norway proved to be little match for their fellow Nordic nation. Finland had the lead early in the game and held it throughout, with five different goal scorers and with Kari Lehtonen stopping 19 of 20 in net.
Flyer Watch: Kimmo Timonen played 17:52, second-most of any Finnish player. He had no points in the game.
Today’s Games
Slovakia vs. Slovenia (Group A)
Game Time: 3:00 a.m. ET
TV: MSNBC
Flyers? Andrej Meszaros (Slovakia)
USA vs. Russia (Group A)
Game Time: 7:30 a.m. ET
TV: NBC Sports Network
Flyers? None
Switzerland vs. Czech Republic (Group C)
Game Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
TV: NBC Sports Network
Flyers? Mark Streit (Switzerland), Jakub Voracek (Czech Republic)
Sweden vs. Latvia (Group C)
Game Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
TV: MSNBC
Flyers? Kimmo Timonen (Finland)
Enjoy.
