Ice Hockey 2015 - 2016 Discussion Thread

[hckošice 15,525]

Final Results

 

A

Latvia - Czech Republic  3-4 after GWS  (0-2, 1-0, 2-1, OT: 0-0, GWS: 0-1)

03:33 Tomáš PLEKANEC 0-1

06:23 Tomáš PLEKANEC 0-2

35:26 Roberts BUKARTS 1-2

48:20 Zemgus GIRGENSONS 2-2

57:41 Mikelis REDLIHS 3-2

59:01 Michal REPÍK 3-3

winning shootout by Lukáš KAŠPAR 3-4

 

 

B

Belarus - United States  3-6 (0-2, 2-3, 1-1)

09:58 Miles WOOD 0-1

13:38 Chris WIDEMAN  0-2

22:13 Dylan LARKIN 0-3

27:10 Geoff PLATT 1-3

28:09 Noah HANIFIN 1-4

34:25 Auston MATTHEWS 1-5

38:12 Andrei STAS 2-5

49:28 Dmitri KOROBOV 3-5

54:40 Auston MATTHEWS 3-6

[hckošice 15,525]

Belarus - United States  3-6

 

 

 

 

[hckošice 15,525]

Young Americans play like heroes

Auston Matthews nets a pair

USA's Chris Wideman #6 celebrates with Nick Foligno #71, Dylan Larkin #21 and Auston Matthews #34 after scoring a first period goal during preliminary round action at the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey Championship.

 

 

Team USA took a big step tonight as they rebounded from their loss to Canada with a 6-3 defeat of Belarus.

 

It was a chippy contest that saw both sides take its share of penalties and plenty of after whistle activity. However, Belarus was the bigger culprit and was made to pay.

 

Taking advantage of special team opportunities and their ability to quickly move the puck, the Americans scored three man advantage goals that helped pace their attack.

 

Power play tallies by Chris Wideman, Dylan Larkin and Auston Matthews were important factors in the final game of a three game day at Yubileiny Arena.

 

For Matthews, who is projected as quite possibly the first overall selection in the upcoming NHL draft, the goal was his first in this senior men’s tournament. On the night, Matthews had two goals and an assist. 

 

Larkin and Noah Hanifin each had a goal and an assist. Vincent Hinostroza and Frank Vatrano each had two assists. Hinostroza was named player of the game for his team. 

 

"It shows a lot about our character that we were able to come back and respond in such a way, putting up six goals." Said Mike Condon who got the start in goal. "We’ve still got to work on our game defensively, but there’s some good stuff going forward."

 

The US avenged a 5-2 loss at the hands of Belarus last year in Ostrava. 

 

The USA got on the board first when Miles Wood scored. Vatrano smartly sent a pass to Wood who was streaking down the left wing after coming off the bench on a change. The goal at 9:58 was Wood’s first of the tournament. 

 

"It happened so fast when I came off the bench area and Frank Vatrano made a great pass over to me through the zone." Wood recalled after teh game. "I just collected it and shot it quickly. Fortunately it went in."

 

Wideman made it 2-0 at 13:38 of the first.

 

When Larkin scored at 2:13 of the second period to make it 3-0 the game, Team USA gained even greater control in the game, limiting Belarus opportunities for a significant stretch of the middle frame. 

 

Belarus was finally able to generate some offense after Matt Hendricks was called for slashing. They would get on the scoreboard at 7:10 of the period when Geoff Platt’s shot was redirected by defenseman Brady Sjkei and past Condon.

 

USA outscored Belarus 3-2 in the second but Belarus did get 11 shots on goal after not registering one for the first five minutes of the period.

 

Belarus really picked up their effort and carried that momentum into the third period. Whereas the Americans dominated the first half of the game, Belarus was now commanding the action. Things got interesting near the halfway point of the third when Wood was whistled off for a delay of game and then JT Compher for hooking.

 

Belarus would have a :53 two-man advantage and capitalize on the opportunity. Andrei Stepanov would hit the post and then with two seconds remaining in the Wood penalty Dmitri Korobov scored to cut the lead to 5-3.

 

Team USA would not get a shot on goal until the final 5:20 of the period, and it was a goal. Matthews scored his second of the game to permanently put it away and neutralize the surging crowd support for Belarus.

 

"It was a very fun game and I thought that was a very tough Belarus team." Condon said. "They did play with a lot of heart and energy. The fans are crazy. So it was a very fun experience, and I’m just happy we got to see our flag raised at the end."

 

The win puts the United States back in the mix in this group while Belarus is still searchg for their first win of the tournament.

 

[hckošice 15,525]

Latvia - Czech Republic  3-4 after GWS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[hckošice 15,525]

Czechs take thriller

Kaspar gets shootout winner, Masalskis stars for Latvia

Latvia's Edgars Masalskis #31 makes a pad save while the Czech Republic's Richard Jarusek #96 looks for a rebound during preliminary round action at the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey Championship.

 

 

Lukas Kaspar scored the only goal of the shootout, giving the Czechs a dramatic 4-3 win over hard-luck Latvia which led 3-2 with a minute to go in regulation.

 

For the Czechs, it was their second victory in as many games, and for the Latvians their second straight extra-time loss. 

 

"Latvia is a strong team," Petr Koukal of the winners said. "They lost in overtime with Sweden, but we were leading 2-0 and we made so many mistakes when we should have scored more. If we'd gone 3-0 or 4-0 maybe it would have been  an easy game, but this was a tight game over 65 minutes.

 

Five points from two games is a good start for our team."

 

"Two points isn't a bad return but would could have got even more," lamented Mikelis Redlihs.

 

Tomas Plekanec scored twice for the winners while Latvian goalie Edgars Masalskis was sensational in a losing effort, stopping 35 of 39 shots.

 

Pavel Francouz, playing his first full game with the Czechs, was the winning goalie, although he was less busy than his counterpart.

 

Plekanec opened the scoring at 3:33 when he took a stretch pass from David Pastrnak and blasted a long shot which snuck under the left pad of the veteran Masalskis. The 36-year-old goalie is playing in his 13^th World Championship.

 

Less than three minutes later Plekanec clicked again, on a power play. He took a quick pass from Lukas Kaspar at the side of the goal and redirected it in at 6:23.

 

The second period could be renamed the Masalskis Show. The goalie was nothing short of brilliant. He made several great glove saves, but that was only the beginning. He made a gorgeous pokecheck off a Martin Zatovic rush that recalled Johnny Bower at his best. He made a great toe save off a sure goal form Michal Kempny. And, he stoned Richard Jarusek on a breakaway and on the in-close rebound.

 

Inspired, the Latvians got back into the game, finally penetrating a Czech defence that had been flawless last night in a 3-0 win over Russia. Andris Dzerins made a great rush, taking two Czechs with him before making a nice pass to Roberts Bukarts, who beat Francouz with a high shot at 15:26 to make it a 2-1 game.

 

All Latvian momentum was lost soon after, though, when Ronalds Kenins took a bad penalty for hitting to the head of Tomas Kundratek. As the Czech defender lay dazed and bleeding in the corner, Kenins was escorted off the ice with a five-minute major and game misconduct. He’ll be banned for at least one more game.

 

The Latvian penlaty killers did a masterful job in keeping the score 2-1 early in the third and Kundratek returned to play. Early in the final period, Masalskis made another incredible pokecheck to stop Pastrnak on a break.

 

When the Latvians had a power play of their own midway through, they quickly converted. Rodrigo Abols's quick shot was kicked out by Francouz, but Zemgus Girgensons was Johnny-on-the-spot to push it in at 8:20 and tie the game, 2-2.

 

"Even when we were down 2-0, we got together in the locker room and realized that we had to do what the coach was asking of us," said Aleksandrs Jerofejevs. "We knew if we could get a goal back there would be more, and that's how it turned out."

 

Then came a wild finish. Girgensons gave the Latvians a lead at 17:41 when Abols saw him alone in front, but this proved not to be the winner. With Francouz on the bench, Michal Repik deflected a point shot with 59.0 seconds remaining to tie the game, 3-3 and force overtime and a shootout.

 

Both teams have a day off tomorrow before resuming on Monday. The Czechs play Sweden and Latvia plays Russia earlier in the day.

"We're a little bit tired," Pastrnak admitted. "We've had two hard games in two days, but we have a day off now we going regroup, rest well, have a good dinner and get ready for Sweden."

 

[Gianlu33 5,278]

1 hour ago, hckosice said:

 

don´t know if its not geo-blocked in Italy

 

 Thanks a lot! I will use the link in the next day too  

[hckošice 15,525]

Switzerland - Kazakhstan  2-3 after GWS

HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

 

[hckošice 15,525]

Slovakia - Hungary  4-1

HIGHLIGHTS

 

[hckošice 15,525]

Norway - Denmark  0-3

HIGHLIGHTS

 

[hckošice 15,525]

France - Germany  3-2 after GWS

HIGHLIGHTS