Ice Hockey: World Cup hockey starts

Miikka Kiprusoff needed to stop just 12 shots for an easy shutout and four different Finland players scored in a 4-0 win over the Czech Republic in the World Cup of Hockey opener Monday.

Saku Koivu of the Montreal Canadiens and Niko Kapanen of the Dallas Stars both scored for Finland. Jukka Hentunen, who plays in Switzerland, and Mikko Eloranta, one of only two players on the team who plays in the Finnish League, also added a goal each.

Finland outshot the Czech Republic 34-12.

"It was important to get the right feeling," said Kiprusoff, who helped lead the Calgary Flames to the Stanley Cup finals last season. "There was not much work to do, but a few times they broke in to the goal from the corners creating danger. I knew beforehand how the Czechs play, they don't fire that fast, rather they want to hold on to the puck."

Hentunen tapped a pass from Kapanen past Czech goalie Tomas Vokoun in the first to give Finland an early lead. The score stayed 1-0 until 30 seconds into the third period, when Koivu beat Vokoun with a backhander between the goalie's legs to make it 2-0.

Kapanen tipped in defenseman Sami Salo's wrister from just inside the blue line five minutes into the period to make it 3-0.

Eloranta rounded out the scoring at 8:51, knocking in a rebound after Vokoun made the initial save on defenseman Kimmo Timonen's shot.

"We were ready to play and could use the points of strength we had practiced for the last 10 days," Koivu said. "We were able to skate up front enough to put pressure on their defensemen. We have often had problems in offense, but now every line got the taste of goal."

Koivu's line, with Teemu Selanne of the Colorado Avalanche and Jere Lehtinen of Dallas, was reunited for the first time since the 1998 Winter Olympics in Japan, when Finland beat Canada for the bronze medal.
"We played well, but every team will improve," Koivu said. "I was a bit surprised the Czechs were not better. The key was that we were moving very well and could put pressure on their defensemen, and they had to take penalties."

Sweden and Germany, the two other European pool teams, meet on Tuesday in Stockholm.

This was the first non-exhibition game for the Czechs since the death of coach Ivan Hlinka, who was killed in an automobile accident in the Czech Republic on the eve of the tournament.

Hlinka, a former coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, was replaced by former NHL player Vladimir Ruzicka

With all four teams advancing to the quarterfinals after round-robin play, home-ice advantage could be vital before the tournament moves to North America for the semifinals and the final.

The United States, which beat Canada in the inaugural World Cup in 1996, opens play on Tuesday in Montreal against Canada. The other teams in the North American pool are Russia and Slovakia.

The championship game is Sept. 14 in Toronto. The collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and its players ends the following day. There is fear of a long lockout that could wipe out the 2004-05 regular season.

The World Cup is jointly run by the NHL and the NHL Players' Association.

I am heading to the XCel Energy Center for the USA vs Russia and USA vs Slovakia games, as well as a quarterfinal and semi-final game.

I will take my digital camera and see what I can do for pictures. Unfortunately I have no idea where I am going to be sitting.

Canada have all games in the bag. Jose Theodore in net, with Brodeur as backup. Up front we have Iginla, Sakic and Lemieux, no chance for the other teams. US-Canada teams have just gotten underway at the moment and should be interesting with Gretzky at the helm of the Canadian Team.

i have been watching US and candia its a great game

the candians have always had a great hockey team

With no surprise a well accomplished victory, with goals coming in from Beatley and Sakic all the more interesting. Guering scored a consolation goal late in the second period.

All out brawls were unleashed as several americans rammed Brodeur into the net, Lemieux also got into the action. Brawl lasted like 10-15 minutes. Now thats a hockey game.


Early on yesterday the germans were impressive with their 2 goals in their 5-2 loss to Sweden. One germanic goal was off a breakaway and the other from long range sailing into the top right corner of the net. Not to take anything away from Sundins backhander from long range, and Sundins slapshot which put the germans away.

The Leafs should do everything possible to get Alfredson to Toronto.



Very impressive chemistry Sundin and Alfredson have on the Swedish line.



Finland downed Czech, a favorite, 4-0. This is rediculous for the Czechs, its like Gretzky says in these preliminary rounds it is of utmost importance to build enough momentum going into the quarterfinals.

Canada demolished slovakia four nill yesterday in what was a very exciting hockey game. Lots of gameplay and little to no interruptions by the ref. :approve:

Originally posted by websurfer
Canada demolished slovakia four nill yesterday in what was a very exciting hockey game. Lots of gameplay and little to no interruptions by the ref. :approve:

Actually it was 5-1 Canada.

Standings
EUROPE
Sweden 2-0-0-0
Finland 1-0-0-0
Germany 0-1-0-0
Czech Republic 0-2-0-0

NORTH AMERICA
Canada 2-0-0-0
Russia 0-0-0-0
Slovakia 0-1-0-0
United States 0-1-0-0

Just finished watching the German Finland game. Germans have yet another loss following their 5-2 loss away to Sweden. Germans had a 2 man advantage for 2 minutes early in the second period, and yet they failed to get one past the Flames goaltender. Oli Kolzig once again failed to save a backhander by Selani. Final Score in Cologne, Germany Finland 3, Germany nill.

Surprised the benches were so long. This caused a lot of interruptions in gameplay as it restricted the flow of the game. The Germans go on to look for the first win the the tournament against the Czech Republic, who also have lost their previous two matches.

No progress on the state of the lockout yet, and there have been rumors a lot of NHL players have signed into European leagues. Also a likely move for Theemu Selanu to play for the Mighty Ducks should there be a season.

The USA play Russia in two and a half hours as of writing this post.

Martin Brodeur has been excellent in net. To be able to take long periods of inactivity and still be counted on and ready to make the big saves, well he's been excellent. I think he'll play every game.

is it better to play in the european leauge or in the NHL?

Originally posted by Ben
is it better to play in the european leauge or in the NHL?

To hone your skills, you play against the best, NHL.

News is in. USA were man-handled by a very individually talented Russian Team. Score tied at one a piece going into the second period. Russia scored two more to put USA away. Great game, but not if your an american. Final score in Minnesota, Russia 3 - USA 1. MVP goes to Alexi Kovalev with his bobbing and weaving through a distraught American defense to score a sensational goal.

:loudhorn:

USA go looking for their first win of the tournament as they head off to play Slovakia. If they loose this game, their world cup season is as good as dead. Should they loose they would be matched up against either Canada, Sweden or Russia with which the americans stand no chance of winning.

[Edited on 9/2/04 by websurfer]

For a team apparently in disarray before the tournament, with players dropping out because of a member of the coaching staff, and no obvious number one goalie, they looked pretty good. Russia was outshooting the USA 29-14 at the end of the second, and they got 2 goals in the third. I wish Canada could play them tomorrow instead of Saturday. I really hate waiting.

Originally posted by Karlsberg
I really hate waiting.

I do too. Where the hell have you been?

I'm under the weather. I was hoping nobody would notice.

Originally posted by Karlsberg
I'm under the weather. I was hoping nobody would notice.

No problem. Dr. Truenorth prescribe 12:



And call me in the morning.

Done. Right after I'm done working.....tomorrow.....evening. I'm supposed to go to a Blue Jay game on Saturday. (free tickets) And I thought I'd hit the pubs for the hockey game.

See this is what I'd do. Hit the pub for the hockey, hit the Hard Rock for the baseball, screw the Blue Jays.:party-smiley-018: