WJC Group B: Dec 30 GDT - Czech Republic vs. Slovakia

http://www.3dflags.com/media/icon/classic/c/3dflagsdotcom_czech_2fawm.gif vs. http://3dflags.com/media/icon/classic/s/3dflagsdotcom_slova_2fawm.gif

Game start: 7PM PST | 10PM ET | 04.00 CET
Group: B
Location: Kelowna

Online coverage (rosters, stats etc.) (http://www.iihf.com/Hydra/Tournaments_06/output/w20/hydra.iihf.com/IIHF_Core/jsp/content/web_output/index.jsp@compId=55)


Flags from 3dflags.com

4-2 Slovakia

4:2 to the Czechs. We need to win this game and have enough talent to do it. The guys just have to be concentrated in the defensive zone and STAY OUT OF THE PENALTY BOX!

5:4 slovakia :yo:

5-3 Slovakia

4-3 Czechs

5:4 slovakia :yo:

yep

5-2 czech

This one will be close. I'm saying 3-1 Slovakia.

big game here.

czechs 4-3
Zagrapan with 3 goals
Hanzal with 3 Goals aswell.

3 - 2 Slovakia!

Zagrapan has looked good but not great so far in the tournament. He and Malkin have both stood above the rest of group B but, they are not as dominant as I was expecting.

They both have size and good hands, I think it is the lack of speed that disappointed me a little.

Don't get me wrong, they are both excellent players, I was just expecting Malkin to be an Ovechkin-type of player. He is not as fast.

Chalk me up as 6-4 for the Czechs.

4-3 Slovakia.

5-2 for Slovakia

3-2 Czech Republic.

This tilt is always hotly contested. I hate predictions... I'm going to make one anyway, a 3-3 tie.

whos winning and who scored

5-3 Czechs in the third period

5-3 was the final and Marek Scharwz didn't start for the Czechs.

Can someone post a boxscore please?

http://www.iihf.com/Hydra/Tournaments_06/output/w20/hydra.iihf.com/data/iihf/output/xml/55/IHM055B14_74_1_0.html

I was in attendance tonight, thought the Czechs played pretty well.
I didn't like seeing Zagrapan named the top player for the Slovaks. Sure he looked like the most talented guy out there for them, and sure he scored a goal, but he also looked painfully weak on a defensive play, and took a lazy penalty 200 feet from his own net. None of the Slovaks really impressed me though, so maybe he was the best of a unspectacular group. Valabik really was painful to watch for most of it. Actually, Lascek and Gracik looked better than Zagrapan if I had to choose one as player of the game I would probably go with Gracik.

On the Czech side however, I thought Jakub Kindl played a strong game. He looked very focused on defense, and had a good shot from the point. Pohl looked very creative. Frolik has a wicked shot - and would have scored if not for a great glove save. I didnt even notice Hanzal on the ice. Did he play? Seriously. Smid also looked good defensively. Krejci was dominant on the scoresheet- good skater, but was not the centre of attention. His 2nd goal was an absolute fluke - he came out from behind the net and went to stick handle and lost control of it and both he and the goalie went the other way as the puck just slid over the goal line - that broke the Slovaks early.

Czechs were hands down a superior team - even though they were outshot.... how that happened I don't know - the play was dominated by the Czechs all game (from where I was sitting anyways!)

I didn't have a program which made it really hard to remember things about particular players.

Slovak goalie, made some great saves.

Here is the archived link for a radio review of the Czech Republic - Slovakia game:

Go to http://www.cknw.com/audiovault/audiovault.cfm
sign up for the service (it's free)
Select "FRI DEC 30" under date: and "10pm" under hour and hit "GO".
Windows Media player will open up.
Adjust the scroll on the bottom to "17:05".

This segment is about 12 minutes long...

How did Polak and Birner look?

I was in attendance tonight, thought the Czechs played pretty well.
I didn't like seeing Zagrapan named the top player for the Slovaks. Sure he looked like the most talented guy out there for them, and sure he scored a goal, but he also looked painfully weak on a defensive play, and took a lazy penalty 200 feet from his own net. None of the Slovaks really impressed me though, so maybe he was the best of a unspectacular group. Valabik really was painful to watch for most of it. Actually, Lascek and Gracik looked better than Zagrapan if I had to choose one as player of the game I would probably go with Gracik.

On the Czech side however, I thought Jakub Kindl played a strong game. He looked very focused on defense, and had a good shot from the point. Pohl looked very creative. Frolik has a wicked shot - and would have scored if not for a great glove save. I didnt even notice Hanzal on the ice. Did he play? Seriously. Smid also looked good defensively. Krejci was dominant on the scoresheet- good skater, but was not the centre of attention. His 2nd goal was an absolute fluke - he came out from behind the net and went to stick handle and lost control of it and both he and the goalie went the other way as the puck just slid over the goal line - that broke the Slovaks early.

Czechs were hands down a superior team - even though they were outshot.... how that happened I don't know - the play was dominated by the Czechs all game (from where I was sitting anyways!)

I didn't have a program which made it really hard to remember things about particular players.

Slovak goalie, made some great saves.

I attended the game as well and the Slovak goalie did makes some nice saves. But, both Slovak goalies let in a stinker too. Take back those two goals and we have a tie game.

Also, I am not seeing any emotion or urgency with the European teams in the dying minutes. Typically, in the NHL or WHL, a team cranks it up a notch in the last minute or two to try and come back. Not the Slovaks.

Tonights Russia/Czech game should be great!