The middle-powers played today!
Game 1: Switzerland blanks Germany 4-0
I think the Germans are in trouble.
Game Notes
- The Swiss always come into these tournaments with an in-house style, a tough system, and if they happen to run into a team that’s going through confidence issues, they tend to immediately follow it up by turning into an Anaconda with problematic gold reserves. They kicked the Germans up and down the rink all night and there was so little for Germany to do.
- Germany should be very lucky that Russia is still in the IIHF’s bad graces because the alternative is that they might be Denmark. Terrifying thought for them. Either way, it’s their relegation to save themselves from. Let’s see if they manage to pull it together.
Game 2: Latvia and Denmark have a boat race of a game, Latvia wins 6-3
Game Notes
- Latvia is so much fun, man. They fight like dogs for every shift and in a position to succeed, they actually turn out to be talented enough to make their weaknesses look like charm. I adore this team even if I know what’s coming in the Quarters for them. Probably.
- Soooooo how about a meeting with Germany there, Denmark?
Games Today
Game 1: Stoic Switzerland vs. See-Saw Slovakia
Switzerland has played some low event, crushing games that has forced some of the best of this tournament to play like they’re actually still teenagers, and that is a credit to them. However, the Slovaks have had nothing but fun games ruined by the fact that they’ve only actually won one of them. With Tomas Chrenko quickly becoming a player to watch for Naši Chlapci, it’d be nice to see if they can survive long enough, and namely keep
the bleeding staunched enough, to get another signature win.
Alternatively, the Swiss could let us all know that yes, that system is in fact a black hole, and even the fun teams can get sucked into it.
Game 2: Czechs and Latvians riding high
I mean, both teams might as well call each other winners today. Czechia beat Finland in style, and Latvia showed Denmark that they’re the baby of the bunch. Both squads are guaranteed a spot in the Quarterfinals, so they may as well just go and make a game of it.
Game 3: Team USA and Team Sweden signed up for Gut Check Time
Is it possible for two teams to desperately need to shake some doubt off?
Team USA has been playing some absolutely ludicrous hockey, and not always in a good way; they’ve barely staved off losing using some excellent second periods where Bruins prospects (and some others I guess) made their mark and enforced a win where a loss would’ve been earned for their effort, and Team Sweden has been giving up some truly bizarre games where they win pretty handily, but only after a late surge.
Both sides need to find their game before Quarters starts, and now’s never been a better time to do it.
Game 4: Finland must face the Tournament favorite; Canada
This one should be so much fun.
The Finns have played most of the tournament pretty easily…and then they played Czechia, and couldn’t quite beat them in OT. Now, they face a Canada squad that hasn’t lost, but has been a lot more porous than years past (not that it’s ever mattered). Who comes out of this the winner?
With any luck, the audience.
