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***Valpix*** · 03-12-2023, 09:20 PM

Hello and welcome to the second daily recap of the IIHF tournament! I'm your host, Val Pix, bringing you a breakdown of everything that happened on Day 2 here in Paris. We're going to go in daily order, and focus on the games that were streamed - after all, they're sort of the spotlight games, no?

Day 5 - October 8

Switzerland 1-0 Latvia Latvia

For the second time in this young tournament, Latvian keeper Toms Zīle stands on his head and it still isn't enough due to a lack of goal support. Emil Egli ripped home his first goal of the tournament with a long blast from the point for the Swiss, and while Latvia tried and tried offensively, one of the best in the SHL showed up for her nation. Rebecca Montagne stopped all 33 Latvian shots, and that goal stood as just enough. The Swiss find most of their success in the IIHF through low-scoring encounters with good goaltending and timely goal-scoring; are we seeing it again?

France

France 0-4 Great Britain

Another team finding success in this young tournament with their goaltending is the Brits. Both Alexis Texas and Jeff Newman logged shutouts on Day 1 of group play as the Brits beat Latvia and Russia, and Newman carried that form into the much-anticipated first-ever clash against their eternal enemies, the French. Conner Snooks put the Brits on the board late in the first, rifling home from the edge of the slot, and they rode the momentum from that into the locker room and struck twice more in the early second (including a second from Snooks). From there, it was cruise control for GB, with Newman logging a 27 save shutout.

Japan

Japan 2-3 Czechia Czechia

After the beatdown Japan received on Day 1, the rematch proved a lot closer. Japan struck first midway through the first, with Evil AllBran banging in past Brick Wall from close range. Tomas Zadina leveled the scoring for the Czechs late in the first, finishing off a sweet feed from Jayson Aittokallio in the slot, and after a scoreless second the Czechs would take the lead. Japan got caught napping off a faceoff, allowing Zayne Dangle to rifle home the go-ahead goal from the point. Noel Blanchet added an insurance marker just before the halfway mark of the period for the Czechs. That proved necessary when AllBran knocked home a rebound to cut the lead to 3-2. Japan pushed for the tying goal, but couldn't solve Wall, and a strong 37-save performance from Sir Devoir proved to be wasted.

Germany

Germany 5-2 Ireland Ireland

This game could've been a lot worse for the Irish. Red Kirkby opened the scoring for Germany in the first by pouncing on a rebound, and Evan Winter doubled the lead in the second by finishing off a nice passing play. Ireland vets Anton Harrier and Ty Murphy clawed both those goals back with goals less than two minutes apart. Germany regained the lead through a Konstantin Selich power play goal late in the second, then added a pair of insurance markers through Steve Harrington and Julian Eaglesong. But the star of this game was in the Irish goal. A 5-2 scoreline may indicate something close, especially when one was an empty netter. But it took brilliant goaltending to do it; Germany outshot the Irish 68-35, and Caleb Hayden's dazzling 63 saves kept Ireland within touching distance.

Day 2 - October 9

Canada

Canada 7-0 Germany Germany

The Germans did...not carry that firewagon offense into their clash against Canada. Penalty trouble and a ruthless Canada attack punish them, as Anthony Dionne pitches a 34 save shutout.

Ireland

Ireland 2-3 Finland Finland

KEKW Kekkonen sets up a pair of goals, one at even strength and one shorthanded, but George Walsh's 34 saves and a late third period goal from Viktor Hargreeves keep Ireland's young squad within touching distance.

Norway

Norway 1-2 Switzerland

(SO)

A second meeting between the two also heads to extra time. Anton Mihailov scores the lone goal in the shootout to give the Swiss the second point.

Day 3 - October 10

Great Britain 2-3 France France

Connor O'Byrne finally breaks the Brits' shutout run, and Friedensreich Hundertwasser clinches France's first real win as a federation with a late goal (this brought to you by Shootouts Are Ties Gang).

Czechia

Czechia 1-5 Canada Canada

Canada's offensive explosion continues, paced by a four point game by Ben Waters Jr. and two points each from Edward Elric, Tommy Westbrook, Max Manning, and Kev Kevens.

Latvia

Latvia 4-1 Russia Russia

Zīle and the offense finally click in the same game, as Benjamin Surkhi-Ze'ev scores twice and is aided by three assists each from Valters Denisova and Mats Marner.

Finland

Finland 6-5 USA Usa

The USA opens up a 3-0 lead in the first, then promptly blows it in one period. KEKW Kekkonen and Sconnie McHits add three points each for Leijonat; Lord Raiden and Atticus Hale match them with three each of their own.

Sweden

Sweden 4-3 Norway Norway

(SO)

Norway's addiction to free hockey continues. A late power play marker by Melvin Majestik-Moose ties it for the Swedes, and Lias Ekholm-Gunnarsson wins it in the shootout.

Group Standings after Day 2:

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