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In Sweden’s game against Austria the other day, Filip Forsberg scored a hat-trick. In todays game against Latvia, Loui Eriksson, playing in the same line as Forsberg, scored four goals, but a bad call by the referees cut the number down to three. Nevertheless, another hat-trick from Team Sweden.

Sweden 8-1 Latvia

Looking at the first half of this game, it was an even tale between two sloppy teams. Latvia put on a good fight and Sweden took a couple of bad penalties in the beginning of the second period. However, in games like this, when one team have players with a little more edge, that team often come up on top. That was the case today. Eriksson scored the first goal in the first period and the second in the middle period. Latvia reduced the lead to one but soon thereafter Filip Forsberg put the puck up high in the Latvian goal, on a penalty shot. With Sweden’s Three Crowns in a 3-1 lead with three minutes left of the period, Loui Eriksson did his third goal of the game. However, the referees did a bad call, calling it obstruction of the goalie. The replay show that clearly, that was not the case. With 14 seconds to go in the second period, justice was made, and Eriksson completed his hat-trick, scoring 4-1 to Sweden. In the third period Oscar Möller, Jacob Josefsson, Joel Lundqvist and Victor Rask scored one game each, making it a total of 8-1 to Sweden that continues to score a lot of goal in this tournament: 5, 6, 8 in the first three games.

Russia 2-4 USA

Russia hadn’t lost a game in the World Championships since 2013 before todays game against Team USA. However, the young americans, that mostly come from college hockey, managed to create a small “miracle on ice”, winning the game with 4 goals to 2. Trevor Lewis gave USA the lead in the first period. Anton Belov tied the game in the second period just to see Torey Krug giving USA a 2-1 lead once again a few minutes later. With less than ten minutes to go of the game Mark Acrobello extended the lead with another goal. Sergei Plotnikov created some nerve in the game, reducing USA’s lead to 3-2, with four minutes to go. However, Brock Nelson put the last goal of the game in the open Russian net and team USA have broken the Russian winning streak of 12 straight games since 2013. USA might be up to something big this tournament, winning clearly against Team Finland with 5 goals to 1 in their first game.

Czech Republic 3-6 Canada

We got to experience lots of good hockey yesterday, but this game between the host nation and Canada was probably the main event. The home team put good pressure against Mike Smith in the Canadian goal at first, and he made some good saves. Then Jordan Eberle made a typical Canadian goal, grabbing the puck behind the Czech goal, bringing it up front and just shuffle it in between the goalie and the post. Many European forwards can learn from that distinctive move. Canada also scored their second goal with one minute to go of the first period, but only 22 seconds later Martin Erat could reduce the lead 1-2 before an excited home crowd. In the second period Czech Republic tied the game, but Canada took a 3-2 lead shortly thereafter. The third period were mostly about Canada. With two straight power play goals, one signed Sidney Crosby, they were in a comfortable 5-2 lead. Czech Republic made a late 5-3 goal and pulled their goalie but Canada got the last word in this game by putting the puck in the empty net. Canada will meet Sweden in the next game, it will be a real test for Three Crowns!

Finland beat Norway

Finland hadn’t got a single power play goal before this game but when they got the chance to play 5 against 3 they made no mistake. Led by the rookies Esa Lindell and Joonas Kemppainen they shutout Norway with 5 goals to 0. The Finnish lions are picking the Nordic countries one by one, winning against Denmark the other day. At Chicken Swedes we hope that they don’t continue with Sweden in the play offs…

Nashville rookie Filip Forsberg, was self-critical after Sweden’s first game in the 2015 Ice Hockey World Championships where they beat home nation Czech Republic after a shootout. Coach Pär Mårts told the press that he probably shouldn’t expect to spin up the whole defence and score three goals. In Sweden’s second game, that was precisely what Forsberg did!

Austria 1-6 Sweden

Austria kept up with Sweden for half a period in this game. Filip Forsberg did the first Swedish goal after 13 minutes and after the first period Sweden were in a 3-0 goal lead. In the second period, they played around in Austria’s defensive zone and Forsberg scored two more goals. After the end of the middle act, Sweden had a 6-0 lead. In the third period they lowered the phase a bit and Austria got a comfort goal. Sweden’s next game will be against Latvia tomorrow.

Canada 10-0 Germany

As Austria, Germany could keep up with a better team for a few minutes in the first period. They even got two straight power plays. In the end of the second power play, however, Canadian superstar Sidney Crosby scored. That was the first of a total of 10(!) Canadian goals in this game and they have really established themselves as favourites in this tournament. Canada will face home nation Czech Republic tomorrow.

Other results

Another favourite, Russia, beat Slovenia with 5 goals to 2 after two goals and two assists by Jevgenij Dadonov. Finland also took their first victory, beating Denmark with 3-0. Switzerland won a game with a lot of penalty minutes 3-1 against border rivals France. Important points for both Finland and Switzerland who lost their first games. Slovakia got the first overtime win of the tournament when they beat Belarus 2-1. The game was a tight tale starring two excellent goalkeepers.

In this post we list the top ten star players of the 2015 Ice Hockey World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic. We have one rule, though: Only one player per team is allowed! There are 16 teams in the tournament, thus 6 teams won’t be represented in our list. The criteria for being on the list is either having a long and succesful career or a brilliant future. There is no specific order of the players listed.

Top ten stars (country), motivation.

Filip Forsberg (Sweden)

Born 1994, did an excellent rookie season for Nashville predators this year with 63 points in 82 games, including a hat-trick in the play offs. He was upset with his performance in the first game of the World Championships against Czech Republic this year. Swedish coach Pär Mårts told the press “What did he expect? Luring the defense up on the stands and three goals?” Well, as we write this, Forsberg just did a hat-trick in Sweden’s second game, against Austria.. A winner, not unlike, but not related, to former Swedish superstar Peter Forsberg.

Sidney Crosby (Canada)

“Sid the kid” has a brilliant future AND a succesful career so far. Born in 1987, he has already won two Olympic gold medals with team Canada (2010 and 2014) and the IIHF World Junior Championships (2005). Pittsburgh Penguins drafted Crosby as number one overall in 2005. In 2008/90 he become the youngest team captain ever to win the Stanley Cup. In the 2010 olympics he was assisting captain and scored the decisive goal in overtime in the final against USA.

Jaromir Jagr (Czech Republic)

Czech Republic veteran forward, born in 1972, has already scored in two games in a row in the 2015 World Championships. He won olympic gold with his national team in Nagano 1998 together during a golden era for the country’s ice-hockey with superstars like Dominik Hasek. In the World Championship he has two gold medals, from 2005 and 2010. His only medal from the Junior World Championships was 25 years ago, a bronze in 1990. He played several seasons for Pittsburgh Penguins, winning Stanley Cup in 1991 and 1992. Currently he resides in Florida, playing for the panthers.

Mark Streit (Switzerland)

Switzerland is having a generation shift in their national team. Yet, we have chosen one of their veterans on this list. If Mathias Seger had played the 2015 World Championships, he would be another contender, with 16 straight WC-tournaments for his national team and a total of 106 games. Thereafter comes Martin Plüss with 83 games, but he turned down the national team this year. On third place is veteran defenseman Mark Streit, born in 1977. He has played three Olympic games and thirteen World Championships. Streit is the team captain for Switzerland, assisting captain for Philadelphia Flyers and was captain for the New York Islanders. In the 2007/08-season he did 62 points in 81 games.

Cristobal Huet (France)

The only goalkeeper on the list. 39-year-old France veteran Huet has had a long career both in the national team and in the NHL. He was second goaltender when Chicago Blackhawks won the 2010 Stanley Cup. Huet has also represented Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals. He is currently playing for Lausanne in the French league.

Rasmus Ristolainen (Finland)

Ristolainen is a young finish talent (born in 1994), drafted by Buffalo Sabres in the first round. He scored the decisive goal in the World Junior Championships 2014, giving Finland the gold. This year he did most points of all Sabre’s defensemen, 20 points in 78 games.

Jevgenij Malkin (Russia)

If we had not created the rule that allowed only one player per team on this list, more Russian (and Canadian!) players had probably made it. However, we had to choose. If Pavel Datsyuk had been in the team, we probably would have picked him. If Ilya Kovalchuk had won more titles and had a more even temperament, he had been a candidate. However, we picked Malkin. The 28-year-old Russian forward had won both the World Championships (2012 and 2014) and the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh Penguins. He is a heavy, skilled center that broke his contract with Magnitogorsk in 2006 to play in the NHL. He was awarded the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2007.

Jack Eichel (USA)

Our pick from the young team USA that have sent a bunch of college players to this years World Championships. Eichel is expected to go as number two in this summer’s NHL draft. He is described as a talented forward. He was the captain for team USA in the World Juniors this year. Now, at the age of 18, he makes his senior national debut. He scored 71 points in 40 games in the NCAA this season.

Marian Gaborik (Slovakia)

Marian Gaborik is mainly known for his speed. He was the 3rd overall pick in the 2000 draft. He is currently playing in Los Angeles Kings. Last year he won Stanley Cup with the kings, his first big title. Gaborik has also played for Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets. In 2007 he scored 5 goals and made 1 assist in an NHL game.

Anze Kopitar (Slovenia)

Team Slovenia’s big star. He became the first Slovenian player to win Stanley Cup in 2012, with Los Angeles Kings. His second title came together with Marian Gaborik last year when Kings won again. Kopitar is an excellent all-round player with size, speed and good hands. He mixes a good eye for the game with creativity and densive qualities.

Candidates that fell on the goal-line:

Kaspars Daugavins

Tuomo Ruutu

Ilya Kovaltjuk

Andreij Kastitsyn

Loui Eriksson

In the premiere of the 2015 Ice Hockey World Championships we got to see Russia, USA and Canada run over their opponents while Sweden beat home team Czech Republic after penalties. Russia got a 4-0 lead in the first period against Norway and the total score was 6-2. Canada won against Latvia with 6-1 (Sidney Crosby scored one goal on a penalty). A bit more unexpected was USA:s 5-1 victory over Finland.

USA 5-1 Finland

Steve Moses gave USA the lead 20 seconds before the first intermission. In the second period Finland tied the game 1-1 but after that it was all about Team USA. Moses and Matt Hendricks, both having played for Jokerit in Finland, scored two games each this game. Finlands star goalkeeper Pekka Rinne got a rough start of the tournament.

Czech Republic 5-6 (ap) Sweden

Sweden got an excellent start with a 2-0 lead after just 8 minutes in the first period. The goals were scored by brothers of well known players in the national hockey league: New York Rangers goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist brother Joel Lundqvist and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwalls brother Staffan Kronwall. Czech Republic’s big star Jaromir Jagr reduced the lead to 1-2 in the 14th minute. In the second period Sweden’s Elias Lindholm and his teammate Victor Rask from Carolina Hurricanes literally spun around the Czech defenses and increased the lead to 3-1. Early in the third period, each teams scored one goal each and Sweden seemed to have established a comfortable 4-2 lead. However, in the 52:nd minute of play, Czech Republic did two quick goals in less than a minute. The home crowd was extatic, and when Martin Zatovic gave them the 5-4 lead the cheering almost went through the roof of O2 Arena in Prague.

However, with one and a half minute left to go, Sweden got a Powerplay and could play 6 man to 4. In the last minute of the game, Mattias Sjögren could equalize the score to 5-5. After a goalless overtime Elias Lindholm and Oliver Ekman-Larsson could score in the shootout, winning the extra point of the game to team Sweden.

Sweden’s next game is against Austria on Sunday.

North America keep their dominance in the women’s major hockey tournaments, with the European teams trailing behind. In the semifinals of the 2015 Women’s World Championship in Malmö, Sweden, USA won against Russia 13-1 and Canada beat Finland 3-0.

USA won the gold, Finland got the bronze

The final game between Candada and USA was dramatic. USA were ahead 5-2 in the second period but before the middle act was over, Canada had tied the game 5-5. However, in the third and last period, team USA were the stronger team and managed to get the tournament win with two goals, winning the final game 7-5. In the bronze game Finland won against Russia with 4-1. These results give a good picture over how the international women’s hockey are positioned right now. Canada and USA are in the top, and they have been there in all world tournaments and olympics except for the 2006 Torino games where Sweden managed to beat USA in the semifinals which led to a silver medal. Of the European teams Finland has a clear advantage right now. Comparing the semifinals, losing 3-0 to Canada is nothing to be ashamed by while Russia let in 13 goals against USA. Behind these four teams come Sweden and Switzerland. Sweden has not been able to build on the success in the 2006 olympics and sadly the team consists of amateur players who only can play hockey part-time.

Until the European teams create some sort of professional incitement for the female players they will continue to battle for the bronze medals. And it is doubtful if they can continue to take pride in calling themself the most equal countries in the world. Not in hockey town anyway..

This year the Women’s World Championship in ice-hockey is played in Malmö, Sweden March 28 – April 4. It will be the 16th World Championships for women. So far, USA and Canada have won all gold medals. Finland has ten bronze medals, Sweden and Russia two and Switzerland one. The Swedes are of course hoping to repeat the “miracle on ice” in Torino from 2006 where they beat USA in the shootouts, making it to the final.

Schedule

The tournament consists of eight teams divided into two groups:

Group A:

USA
Canada
Finland
Russia

Group B:

Sweden
Japan
Switzerland
Germany

The first two teams of group A will make it directly to the semifinals. The 3 and 4 in group A will play quarterfinals against the 1 and 2 in group B. You can find the detailed game-schedule at the tournaments official homepage.

Playoffs

April 1:
Quarterfinal 1 and 2

April 3:
Semifinal 1 and 2

April 4:

Bronze game and Final.

We’re hoping for an exciting tournament in Sweden. The men’s World Championship are played in Czech Republic in May.