France2 – Norway 5:4 (2:1 after SO) | Latvia – Russia 1:4 (end) | Denmark – Czech Republic 4:3 (1:0 after SO)
Belarus – Germany2 5:2 (end) | Slovakia2 – Italy veterans 4:1 (end) | Switzerland – Kazakhstan 6:2 (end)
after shootout (1:0)
Denmark
4:3 (1:2, 0:0, 2:1)
Czech Republic
Saturday 17.05.2014, 15:45 • Chizhovka Arena, Minsk • World Championship
     
    Denmark in a simply enthralling match have historically got the better of the Czech Republic 4-3 after penalty shots! And you really can't say that they didn't deserve it. The Czechs at one point were three one up with goals from Jakub Klepis, Jaromir Jagr and Jakub Kindl, but the Danes just wouldn't give up. Stefan Lasen, Jesper Jensen and Patrick Bjorkstrand all got on the scoreboard for them with Mikkel Boedker bagging the winning penalty shot. Thanks for following the game with us, and join me again soon today for Slovakia against Italy at the 2014 IIHF World Championships! (18:33:42)
     
    Game over.
     
    The winning penalty shot is scored by MIKKEL BOEDKER!
     
    Jaromir Jagr has to score to keep the Czechs in it, but no! He wrists wide of the left hand post and it's Denmark's day!
     
    Nicklas Jensen can win it now for Denmark, he looks for the left hand corner but no, Alexander Salak keeps his team in the game!
     
    Jiri Hudler now for the Czechs, just like everyone so far he tries with his backhand but the netminder wins the duel!
     
    Mikkel Boedker has the first Danish attempt, he pulls to the right also to the backhand, and with a beautiful move he scores! It's 1-0!
     
    Jakub Klepis skates up first, he takes it to his backhand but Simon Nielsen comes out on top!
     
    Start of shootout.
     
    The Czechs are to shoot first!
     
    Penalty shots it is! But what an effort from Denmark! Coming back twice from two goals down they have taken at least a point from today's game whatever happens, but the Czechs will want to salvage at least a win on penalty shots from this one!
     
    Statistics after the five minutes of overtime-

    Shots on target- 26-32
    Saves made by the goalkeeper- 29-23
    Penalty minutes- 10-10
     
    65:00
    Overtime finished.
     
    64:52
    Penalty shots are on their way however, already there's only a few seconds left in overtime with the Czechs causing havoc in the Danish zone
     
    64:01
    Both teams are giving it everything that they've got! No one wants penalty shots!
     
    62:41
    Vitasek! The pace is simply like lightning! Ondrej Vitasek picking up the loose puck up close also takes his time, waits for the goalkeeper to commit but he can't lift it over his left pad!
     
    61:17
    This is simply breathless stuff! Now it's Nicklas Jensen who can win it, at the left of the crease he's open, takes his time but Alexander Salak makes a great save near post!
     
    60:41
    Jan Kolar and Tomas Rolinek then in the same play miss equally fantastic chances! The Danes are hanging on here, somehow!
     
    60:21
    Nemec! The Danish defence is obviously still too excited after tying the game, they are just no where to be seen but Ondrej Nemec slaps into the goalkeeper when free on the doorstep!
     
    60:01
    Overtime is underway! This is more than the Danes could have dreamed of, but no less than they deserve!
     
    60:01
    Overtime began.
     
    Statistics after the initial 60 minutes-

    Shots on goal- 23-28
    Saves made by the goalkeeper- 25-20
    Penalty minutes- 10-10
     
    60:00
    3rd period finished.
     
    59:50
    The Danish bench is simply going mad in celebration! And overtime is surely looming now!
     
    59:07
    Goal for Team Denmark! Cue pandemonium! The Danes press the puck against the Czech boards behind the net, eventually dig it out, play it across the slot where at the right hand post PATRICK BJORKSTRAND makes no mistake with the netminder already powerless! It's 3-3! Assists- Jannik Hansen and Morten Madsen
     
    58:57
    Denmark have now pulled Simon Nielsen in favour of the extra attacker! It's all or nothing!
     
    58:30
    Cervenka! Two on one breakaway for the Czechs, it's dished to Roman Cervenka skating in with pace on the left but Simon Nielsen makes a fantastic save to keep his team in the game!
     
    56:10
    Bjorkstrand! He could have even tied it there! Patrick Bjorkstrand is left ignored by the Czech defence, but he can only find Alexander Salak's body when closing in on the crease on the left! What a game this is turning into!
     
    55:31
    Goal for Team Denmark! They just will not lay down! As again Alexander Salak looks to be impeded the puck pops out to the right of the slot where JESPER JENSEN is on hand to whip it into the net! Powerplay goal and it's 3-2! Assists- Kim Staal and Jannik Hansen
     
    54:41
    Just after Patrick Bjorkstrand had a dangerous effort while skating round into the crease kicked away Alexander Salak is furious about something! Banging his stick on his net he's complaining he had his mask hit, but no penalty has been called!
     
    53:45
    Martin Sevc trips his opponent right under the nose of the referee and he isn't going to miss that, and Denmark have a very important powerplay coming up
     
    53:29
    Morten Madsen battling for the puck on the left flank eventually digs it out, flashes it across goal but Salak sticks it wide with his defenders on hand to clear
     
    51:55
    Now there's half an opening, but from a tough position on the right of the slot the puck is wristed too high over the far post! Alexander Salak did well coming out slightly to reduce the angles for his opponent
     
    51:23
    Denmark are still seeing plenty of the puck but getting out of their own zone is a real problem, the Czech pressing is effective
     
    49:29
    Jagr! Stripping his opponent of the puck on the right faceoff circle Jaromir Jagr skates menacingly in, but his snapshot is padded away by Simon Nielsen! The Czech veteran has looked full of life in this tournament so far!
     
    49:04
    And now it's Simon Nielsen who has to deal with a stinging effort from distance, but he gets everything behind it
     
    48:36
    Jannik Hansen skating down the middle sharply cuts to the right, wrists looking for the near post but Alexander Salak with ease takes it in
     
    47:20
    Denmark just couldn't get set up in the zone and their opponents are back to full strength already
     
    45:20
    Martin Sevc for interference though has handed Denmark a chance to get right back into it. You feel they have to score on this to give themselves hope!
     
    45:04
    Goal for Team Czech Republic! That could seal it! JAKUB KINDL takes up the puck pressed again the left hand boards, whacks it in on net and it goes all the way through and past the netminder! It's 3-1! Assists- Jaromir Jagr and Roman Cervenka
     
    43:14
    Polak! Wriggling free of his marker on the left flank Roman Polak slaps the puck into Simon Nielsen! And as the rebound pops out no one can stretch far enough to get something on it!
     
    42:01
    Denmark looked solid on that penalty kill and they're back at full strength. If they really get at the Czechs they have a real chance of getting something from this game!
     
    40:49
    Simon Nielsen loses his mask completely and as to not give the Czechs an unfair advantage the referees blow immediately!
     
    40:01
    Right at the end of that second period Morten Green of Denmark was penalised with handling the puck on purpose, giving the Czechs the chance to start the deciding period on the powerplay
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening 40 minutes of play-

    Shots on target- 15-18
    Saves made by the goalkeeper- 16-14
    Penalty minutes- 10-6
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:58
    We're now already into the final few seconds of the second stanza
     
    39:14
    Morten Green only just can't take in a very pacy pass put across the crease! Denmark had more of these kinds of chances back at the start of the game
     
    37:58
    With heavy traffic piling up on the slot Jan Kolar looks for someone to make a telling touch, but Danish defenders see it clear. The next goal in this one is surely going to prove crucial!
     
    37:42
    The Czech Republic commit icing with just over two minutes already left in the second period
     
    36:50
    Alexander Salak crouches down at his left hand post to hold on to a low and fairly weak Danish wrister. And they themselves now are back to full strength too
     
    35:53
    And now Nemec seeks out the onrushing Jaromir Jagr on the right, but Jagr makes terrible contact! Had he just done slightly better he would surely have scored!
     
    35:48
    Nemec! Ondrej Nemec lets rip from the point and the puck flies high and wide of the net! Simon Nielsen was scrambling!
     
    35:05
    The Czechs are now back to full strength and have a short powerplay chance to make their lead more comfortable
     
    34:34
    Mikkel Boedker for tripping has already evened up the numbers however. Denmark aren't creating enough like in the first stanza
     
    33:04
    Jan Sekac for hooking has been called and Denmark have a powerplay to at least get something going. The Czechs have looked a lot more confident in this period for sure!
     
    32:17
    Roman Cervenka looks to slide the puck under a defender marking him but it's blocked at source! And just before that a loose puck rolling all the way across the slot couldn't be tapped home with Simon Nielsen out of position!
     
    29:19
    Denmark didn't have too much danger to deal with on that penalty kill and they're back to full strength
     
    27:49
    Jagr! Jaromir Jagr charging through on the right flank cuts right on to the crease, backhands looking for a teammate at the far post but no one is fast enough to connect!
     
    27:19
    For interference Jannik Hansen though has been penalised and that wave of pressure has indeed been put to an end
     
    26:04
    Denmark are seriously putting the pressure on! But the Czechs are at least back to full strength
     
    25:12
    Kim Staal backhands the puck inches wide of the left hand post when doing a 360 on the slot! And as it bounces back into the crease Alexander Salak in the nick of time manages to freeze! That was close!
     
    24:04
    And Vladimir Sobotka for slashing in that play has gifted the Danes a powerplay to try and draw level
     
    24:04
    Staal! The spinning Kim Staal backhands the puck across the goal cutting out to the left, but Alexander Salak at the second attempt gathers!
     
    22:40
    Michal Vondrka breaking away for the Czechs seeks out a teammate on the crease from the left hand boards, but defenders racing back easily cut it out
     
    22:01
    The Czechs finish off a long positional attack with a hard slapper from the point, but glove side it's comfortable to take for the netminder
     
    21:12
    Simon Nielsen takes a hold of the puck as a major goalmouth scramble threatened to erupt!
     
    21:05
    The second period has got underway! Denmark despite losing were the better side in the first and need to keep up the pressure here
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the first period-

    Shots on target- 12-11
    Saves made by the goalkeeper- 9-11
    Penalty minutes- 4-2
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:30
    The first period has been a very entertaining affair and it's now its final 30 seconds
     
    17:15
    Green! With a nifty move Morten Green forces his way through the entire Czech defence, but from point blank range Alexander Salak denies him brilliantly! That could have been a really beautiful goal!
     
    16:55
    A very dangerous pass from a difficult angle right goes flashing right across the Danish slot! Everytime the Czechs attack it does look as though they can score too
     
    14:39
    The Czechs have just about survived that scare and they're back to full strength
     
    13:20
    Boedker! Just how didn't he score! Cutting round at the right of the slot Mikkel Boedker even manages to take the netminder out of the picture, but covering defenders heroically get back onto the line to save their team! Denmark are creating excellent chances!
     
    12:39
    Jaromir Jagr for hooking has been punished and now it's Denmark's turn to go on the powerplay
     
    11:35
    The puck is swung to the left of the crease with a cutting cross ice pass, but with Alexander Salak slightly out of position the Danes somehow miss the net completely! That was an ideal chance to already tie the game!
     
    10:43
    And straight after that an almighty goalmouth scramble erupts on the Danish crease! For Simon Nielsen Jakub Petruzalek's testing effort is too hot to handle, and on the rebound Jan Kovar and co. just can't squeeze it over the line!
     
    09:56
    Goal for Team Denmark! They're right back in it! A second after hammering wide of the net STEFAN LASSEN claims back the puck at the high slot, closes in and powerfully sends it past Alexander Salak into the net glove side! It's 2-1! Assists- Mads Christensen
     
    09:27
    Simon Nielsen easily catches a long dump into his slot and decides not to take any chances with it
     
    08:31
    The Czechs ice the puck. They will be very happy to already have a comfortable lead, straight away for Denmark it's an uphill challenge
     
    07:55
    Roman Cervenka on the doorstep slides the puck wide of the left hand post when well positioned! And on the following counterattack the flying Alexander Salak freezes the loose dangerous puck
     
    06:55
    Goal for Team Czech Republic! You can't give away needless penalties against this team! Excellent skating from Vladimir Sobotka drifting around on the right finds the unmarked JAROMIR JAGR on the crease who slots home! Powerplay goal and it's 2-0! Assists- Vladimir Sobotka
     
    06:35
    For hooking Stefan Jassen has now been called and having already scored on the powerplay the Czechs are again going to have a man's advantage
     
    06:04
    Sekac! Jiri Sekac poking away for the puck on the crease is denied solidly by Simon Nielsen! The Czechs are starting to warm up
     
    05:38
    Phillip Bruggisser looks for an instant response, but from the right he can only find Alexander Salak's chest. Denmark started quite well and conceding first would have been a blow
     
    04:26
    Goal for Team Czech Republic! They kept the puck in the zone well and practically immediately have their reward! JAKUB KLEPIS on the right flank unleashes a pacy wrister that flies beyond the goalkeeper into the left hand corner! Powerplay goal and it's 1-0! Assists- Ondrej Nemec and Jaromir Jagr
     
    04:19
    Jagr! Jaromir Jagr cutting in from the right faceoff circle wrists looking for the far corner, but Simon Nielsen kicks it wide!
     
    03:50
    We have the first penalty of the game and it's against Denmark, Nicklas Jensen for tripping has received a two minute minor against his name
     
    02:10
    Patrick Bjorkstrand from a tight angle on the left plays the puck across the slot, but Salak and his defenders see it clear. It's quite a quiet start to proceedings
     
    01:28
    Alexander Salak crouched down at his left hand post makes a comfortable first save off a weak Danish wrister
     
    00:20
    We're underway! The Czechs will be looking to grab a vital win here today
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    Both teams are now coming out on to the ice and it's time to get underway!
     
    Starting lineups:

    Denmark: Nielsen (Galbraith)- Larsen, Lassen, Green, Christensen, Boedker- Bruggisser, J B Jensen, Hansen, N Jensen, Madsen- Kristensen, O Lauridsen, Storm, Bjorkstrand, J Jensen- M Lauridsen, A Poulsen, Spelling, Staal, M Poulsen

    Czech Republic: Salak (Jakub Kovar)- Nemec, Kindl, Rolinek, Jagr, Sobotka- Sevc, Vitasek, Cervenka, Klepis, Hudler- Zamorsky, Sekac, Vondrka, Kolar, Novotny- Jordan, Petruzalek, Zatovic, Jan Kovar

    Referees: Kaval, Patafie, Ronn, Carlson, Semjonov, Leermakers.
     
    The Danes have so far acquired one victory, against Italy 4-1, but they have lost to Sweden 3-0, to Norway 4-3 and to Canada 6-1. The Czech Republic started with a 3-2 overtime win against Slovakia before then being beaten by Sweden and Canada both 4-3, but they got back on track with blanking Italy 2-0.
     
    This is how Group A looks before this encounter gets underway.

    1. SWE W5 L0 GS 14 GA 6 PTS 11
    2. CAN W4 L1 GS 22 GA 9 PTS 13
    3. FRA W3 L2 GS 15 GA 13 PTS 7
    4. NOR W2 L3 GS 14 GA 15 PTS 7
    5. CZE W2 L2 GS 11 GA 10 PTS 6
    6. SVK W1 L4 GS 12 GA 17 PTS 4
    7. DEN W1 L3 GS 8 GA 14 PTS 3
    8. ITA W1 L4 GS 4 GA 16 PTS 3
     
    Denmark certainly aren't one of ice hockey's superpowers, but they are a nation that like to make life hard for the so called bigger sides The Czechs however are without a doubt one of the best teams in the world, and following an Olympic disappointment they need a good result here in Minsk.
     
    Good afternoon and welcome to this 2014 IIHF World Championship Group A match between Denmark and the Czech Republic. This will be seen by the Czechs as a must win match, but Denmark won't be willing to roll over easily.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 15:45.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 10. Lassen (Christensen), 56. Jensen (Staal, Hansen), 60. Bjorkstrand (Hansen, Madsen), dec. p.s. Boedker – 5. Klepis (Nemec, Jagr), 7. Jagr (Sobotka), 46. Kindl (Klepis, Cervenka)

    Denmark: Nielsen (Galbraith)- Larsen, Lassen, Green, Christensen, Boedker- Bruggisser, J B Jensen, Hansen, N Jensen, Madsen- Kristensen, O Lauridsen, Storm, Bjorkstrand, J Jensen- M Lauridsen, A Poulsen, Spelling, Staal, M Poulsen
    Czech Republic: Salak (Jakub Kovar)- Nemec, Kindl, Rolinek, Jagr, Sobotka- Sevc, Vitasek, Cervenka, Klepis, Hudler- Zamorsky, Sekac, Vondrka, Kolar, Novotny- Jordan, Petruzalek, Zatovic, Jan Kovar
    Referees: Kaval, Patafie, Ronn, Carlson, Semjonov, Leermakers