Login

***Valpix*** · 03-18-2023, 02:40 AM

It's do or die time. No more fuffing around with group standings or rematches, it's one and done. I'm your host Val Pix, coming to you live from Paris, where fourteen teams at the start of the IIHF tournament have become eight. And after the outcome of these matches...that eight becomes four. Who will battle for the medals? Who's booking their tickets home for the offseason? It's time to find out on this SHL IIHF recap...

Japan

Japan 4-5 Canada Canada

(OT)

Canada had absolutely blown out their group in pool play. Nowhere was that more evident than their 7-1 curbstomping of the Japanese on the final day. And after two early goals less than a minute apart by Luc Blouin and Max Manning, it looked like they were going to cruise into the semifinal.

However, Japan was not going silently into the night. A give-and-go passing play by Ryuuji Kawashima was finished by Evil AllBran just over a minute after Canada had gone up two, stunting their momentum somewhat. AllBran leveled the score a few minutes later on a power play goal. Brand new hockey game.

Japan ended up taking the lead in the dying seconds of the period. Ryu Jones found Videl Valor with about an acre of space, and Valor made no mistake. 3-2 Japan, and were we seeing the medal rounds get chaotic early? Maybe...

After a scoreless second, Canada tied the game up early in the third via a shot from the top of the slot by Tommy Westbrook. Westbrook put home a second about a minute later, and Canada was back on top again. Chaos on hold.

However, as the clock approached midnight on their hopes, Sunrise Land rose up again. Ryuuji Minamino tied the game by cleaning up a rebound with just 2:31 to play. To OT we go...and no shootouts, just pure, unbridled, endless OT.

Halfway through the listed 20 minutes of overtime, we found a winner. Manning fed the puck to Rock Strongo, who returned it to Manning, who tapped the puck past Japan goalie BASE PACK. Japan had scared the everliving daylights out of a team that was romping the tournament...but they couldn't quite defeat them, despite a valiant 41 save performance from PACK.

Czechia

Czechia 2-4 Finland Finland

In this matchup, the current world #1 battled a team searching for Gold Medal #1.

The Finns wasted no time jumping out to an early edge; Christian Kinsinger's point shot beat Brick Wall just 1:08 into play. Six minutes later, Leijonat potted a second. Walton Stromberg collected a loose puck after a failed poke check by a Czech defender and beat Wall.

Czechia wouldn't go away quietly, though, snatching momentum going into the locker room. Finland couldn't clear after a shot by Petr Svoboda, and he set up a peach of a pass for a Noel Blanchet tap-in to cut the lead in half. However, Finland restored their two-goal lead just over five minutes into the second through Outdoor Truck, and Igor Victory potted a fourth for the Finns late in the period.

A mid-third period goal by Tomas Zadina made things a bit more interesting, but unfortunately for the Czechs it was mere consolation.

Latvia

Latvia 1-3 Sweden Sweden

The reigning champs entered this one hoping to prolong their reign for at least one more game.

And it would be Tre Kronor striking first. M'Baku Olubori beat Latvian keeper Toms Zīle from close range juuuust as a Latvian penalty expired. It went down as a power play goal, but the box door opened about the same time Olubori's shot went in. Who cares, Sweden takes those.

The lead doubled late in the second, once again on the Swedish power play. Melvin Majestik-Moose got a bit too much time and space at the top of the slot and ripped it past Zīle.

Latvia got that goal back early in the third. Sophie Bordeleau fired off a knuckler from the top of the slot that Willie Miller couldn't handle.

Latvia was just one goal away...but unfortunately for them, they never found that equalizer. As they pushed forward looking for that second goal, Dave Heinrich snuck in behind and beat Zīle for a backbreaking insurance goal in the final minute of play.

Zīle stopped 41 for Latvia, but the power of the reigning champs ensures Tre Kronor still owns the crown.

Russia

Russia 2-3 Great Britain

One of the more even matchups on the day sees yet another early goal. Dusty Wilson ripped a shot from the blueline past Alexis Texas, and Sbornaya were off and running less than three minutes in.

The Brits equalized ten minutes later. Conner Snooks converted on a bad angle shot that snuck through Evgeni Petrov and in. But Russia would regain the lead before the end of the period on a Zak Wilson power play goal.

GB struck in the first five minutes of the third. After waiting for teammates to tag up onside, Wendolene Ramsbottom decided to have a go themselves and beat Petrov top shelf. Late in the period, Jack Nishimori struck on a similarly ambitious shot to give Britain the lead.

From there, the defense and Texas did the rest. Russia was only able to muster seven third period shots in a penalty-and-scoring free third period.

Semifinal Matchups:

Canada

Canada vs Finland Finland

Great Britain vs Sweden Sweden

Who goes for gold? Who settles for bronze? Tune in next time to find out....

[963 words, feel free to grade]

*Eggcracker* · 03-18-2023, 01:20 PM

Great recap valpix!

Let's go Canada!!!!

***Anthique*** · 03-18-2023, 03:09 PM

Our game was too close for my liking, but we win it so all good!

Thanks for the recap !

***WannabeFinn*** · 03-18-2023, 03:09 PM

>

imo

**The__Y-man__100** · 03-18-2023, 03:16 PM

Holding the reigning champs for most of the game to a 2-1 score shows Latvia continues to grow! Not as dominant as Sweden, but we continue to get closer!

Since Latvia is out I am rooting for Sweden to get back to back golds!

First ever Yukon Malamute draft pick (1st overall S65)

Navigation

Extra Menu

About us