USA 3:4 CZE | USA - Czech Republic (World Championship)

World Championship

Inline Hockey Masters World Cup

USA – Czech Republic	3:4 (end)	\|	Russia – France2	3:0 (end)	\|	Canada2 – Finland	2:3 (end)
Sweden2 – Belarus	3:2 (end)

final

USA

3:4 (1:1, 0:3, 2:0)

Czech Republic

Thursday 22.05.2014, 15:00 • Chizhovka Arena, Minsk • World Championship

		Welcome. This quarterfinal game starts at 16:00 EEST local time in Minsk, 15:00 CEST, 09:00 EDT.
		USA – Czech Republic is the first of four quarterfinals that will determine the final four teams at the 2014 IIHF World Championships in Minsk. USA finished 2nd place in Group B with 14 points, Czech Rep was 3rd in Group A with 12 points. With 27 goals scored, the Americans had the 3rd-best offence during the group stage, but their 23 goals against was tied for 12th-best out of 16 teams. With 20 goals scored, the Czech offence was tied for 6th-best and their 18 goals against was also 6th-best. Team USA's top scorers in the first 7 games are Johnny Gaudreau with 10 points (2+8), defenceman Seth Jones with 9 points (2+7), and Tyler Johnson (4+3) and Craig Smith (3+4) with 7 points each. Jones is the top-scoring defenceman in the tournament so far. Team Czech Republic's top scorers in the first 7 games are Jaromir Jagr with 7 points (4+3), Vladimir Sobotka with 6 points (2+5), defenceman Ondrej Nemec with 6 points (1+5), and Tomas Hertl with 5 points (2+3). The starting goaltenders will be Tim Thomas for USA and Alexander Salak for the Czechs. Both appeared in all 7 of their teams' games in the group stage, missing only about half a game each. Owing to the team's stronger defence, Salak's numbers are better than Thomas's (2.11, .893, 1 shutout – 3.38, .868, 0 shutouts).
		Starting Lineups: USA: Thomas (Leggio) – Jones, Dekeyser, Gardiner, Murphy, Petry, McCabe, Donovan – Johnson, Nelson, Smith – Stapleton, Gaudreau, Abdelkader (C) – Trocheck, Wingels, Mueller – J. Hayes, K. Hayes, McDonald – Shore. Coach: Peter Laviolette. Czech Republic: Salák (Jakub Kovář) – Němec, Vitásek, Kindl, Jordán, Zámorský, Kolář, Ševc – Červenka, Novotný, Jágr – Sobotka, Klepiš, Hertl – Hudler, Zaťovič, Sekáč – Růžička, Jan Kovář, Rolinek – Vondrka. Coach: Referees: Nord (SWE), Winnerborg (SWE). Linesmen: Hull (CAN), Suominen (FIN).
		The warmups are over and the opening faceoff is about 20 minutes away. As the higher finisher in their group, USA is designated as the home team in this game, wearing their navy blue uniforms with red and white trim, navy blue pants and white helmets. The Czech Republic is designated as the visiting team and are wearing their white uniforms with red and blue trim, red pants and blue helmets.
		The teams are on the ice and the opening faceoff is moments away.
	00:01	Game started.
	00:20	Jiri Novotny with the early rush into the US zone, fires a backhander wide.
	00:39	Offside USA on the shoot-in, faceoff at centre ice.
	00:51	Offside USA.
	01:10	Play in the US zone, Sobotka shoots wide.
	01:23	The Americans quick on the counter, Alexander Salak makes the game's first save with the glove and holds on.
	02:18	Icing Czech Republic.
	02:25	Kevin Hayes with a shot from a sharp angle, right on Salak, who covers again.
	03:15	Craig Smith with a long wrister, hits Salak in the chest and he holds it again.
	05:27	Shot from Jimmy Hayes is deflected off the stick of Salak and out of play, faceoff in the Czech zone.
	05:52	Roman Cervenka wins a battle for the puck and passes to Jagr, who one-times it from the slot, right on Tim Thomas. The first shot on goal for the Czechs and it's a great chance.
	06:15	Slapper from Jakub Klepis from the right wing, right on Thomas covers.
	06:15	Roman Cervenka got a minor penalty for cross-checking on the play, as an American player was sent into the net as the play stopped. US to the power play.
	06:49	The Americans move the puck around the zone and Smith one-times it from the top of the circle, right on Salak with 1:16 left in the penalty.
	06:54	Goal for Team USA! It didn't take long from the faceoff, as Peter Mueller blasted it from the point and BROCK NELSON with the beautiful deflection in front. Power-play goal. Assists: Peter Mueller, Craig Smith.
	08:09	Backhander from Cervenka hit Thomas in the shoulder, but the play was stopped anyway as there was a Czech player in the goal crease. Player outside.
	08:48	Johnny Gaudreau leads a US rush, tries to backhand it from in front but it's deflected wide.
	09:13	Back the other way, Kovar fires wide for the Czechs.
	09:25	Goal for Team Czech Republic! Rolinek forced a turnover along the boards as the Americans tried to break out of the zone, Kovar shot from the slot, Thomas got a piece of it but it was sitting in the crease and captain TOMAS ROLINEK tapped it in to tie it. Assist: Jan Kovar.
	10:28	Justin Abdelkader with a rush from the left side, tries to cut in and bumps Salak, and we've got a delayed penalty.
	10:51	Finally the Americans get the puck and, indeed, Justin Abdelkader is called for charging. He doesn't like the call, but he Czechs go to the power play for the first time.
	11:10	Klepis from the point, pad save Thomas.
	11:52	Another blast from Klepis, kicked out by Thomas and the Americans clear the zone.
	12:13	Two-on-nothing shorthanded breakaway for the Americans, Tyler Johnson to Brock Nelson, tries to make a move on Salak and loses the puck. They don't get a shot!
	13:00	USA back at full strength, play still in their zone.
	14:06	The teams exchange rushes, Salak makes a save at one end, then Vondrka leads a Czech rush and his shot is right on Thomas, who holds it for a faceoff.
	14:46	Drew Shore from the corner hits the side of the net, comes right in front to Jimmy Hayes and he's denied by Alexander Salak from point blank. Then we get some pushing and shoving after the whistle but no penalties.
	15:15	The Czechs with a 3-on-2, couldn't get a shot on goal, then the Americans back the other way, Smith's shot is turned away by Salak.
	18:12	Seth Jones tries to go top corner with a wrister, blocker save Salak.
	18:55	Shot from Abldelkader, pad save Salak.
	19:38	Icing USA.
	19:48	What a chance for Jaromir Jagr in front, out-waits Thomas, who goes down but he's robbed by defenceman Dan Dekeyser, who was playing goal in the crease.
	20:00	1st period finished.
		A very entertaining and evenly-played first period. Both teams score a goal and get some other chances as well. The best missed chances were a 2-on-0 shorthanded breakaway where the Americans didn't even get a shot, then in the dying seconds of the period Jaromir Jagr looked to have a sure goal, had Thomas beat, only to be denied by defenceman Day Dekeyser. 1-1 after 1. Shots on goal in the 1st period: USA 11, CZE 8. 2nd period begin at 16:49 EEST, 15:49 CEST, 09:49 EDT.
		The teams are returning to the ice and the 2nd period will begin shortly.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:29	Jagr looks like he was trying to feather a pass to a man going to the front of the net, but it missed the target and slid harmlessly to Thomas, who covers it.
	20:45	Abdelkader with a low wrister, kicked out by Salak.
	21:15	Hertl takes a slapper, tipped by a US defenceman wide.
	21:45	Martin Zatovic tried to centre the puck from down low, nobody home in front.
	22:04	Finally Jiri Hudler shoots it from the boards, caught and held by Thomas.
	22:37	Jagr again tries to cut out from behind the net, the puck comes loose to Kovar and he chips it over the net with Thomas down. The puck comes back again and finally Tim Thomas covers it.
	23:07	Jagr's shot at one end is blocked, Smith leads a US rush the other way, his shot is right on Salak. After the whistle Smith and Kindl get into it a bit. They each get 10-minute misconducts, so we'll continue 5-on-5.
	23:25	The Czechs head up ice off the faceoff, Klepis with the feed to Kolar, his backhander is high.
	24:35	Now a long shot from Zatovic, caught and held by Thomas.
	25:51	Seth Jones drives to the net with the puck, loses possession and Salak covers.
	26:01	The Czechs head up ice quickly off the draw, Klepis's high wrister is caught and held by Thomas.
	26:41	Vladimir Sobotka shot the puck and then he went down. Play continued for a while and finally play is stopped. I didn't see what happened to him but the officials are conferring.
	26:41	He was hit by Justin Abdelkader. The elbow didn't come up but they might rule this a check to the head and neck area . . .
	26:41	Justin Abdelkader is getting a five-minute major penalty for charging and a game misconduct. I didn't think it was charging, maybe a check to the head, but nonetheless it's a long power play for the Czechs.
	26:51	Goal for Team Czech Republic! From the faceoff, Jagr got possession along the boards, put it on net, there was a bit of a scramble and TOMAS HERTL lifted it up and over Thomas. It took only 10 seconds, and the power play will continue. Assist: Jiri Novotny.
	27:19	There was a scramble on the goal line and the Czechs may have scored again! We'll see in a moment. They're going to video replay.
	27:19	Surprisingly they are showing the replays on the big screen here and this is very close. It really could go either way and it wouldn't surprise me. From the next angle they show, it looks like a goal, but we'll see.
	27:19	No goal! The ruling is that it was kicked into the net with a skate, so it had nothing to do with whether it crossed the line or not. Faceoff outside. Still 4:23 left in the Czech power play.
	27:55	Jagr starts the play from down low again, a scramble in front and Thomas is down but Hertl can't get it over him. 3:46 let in the power play.
	28:06	Goal for Team Czech Republic! This Czech power play has been so dangerous. In less than 90 seconds they have scored twice and very nearly a couple of other times. It was ROMAN CERVENKA from a scramble this time and the power play continues. Assists: Petr Zamorsky, Jan Kolar.
	28:14	Now Jiri Novotny is getting a penalty for high-sticking, which means we'll play 4-on-4 for the next two minutes. Welcome news for the Americans, who are reeling.
	28:50	Jones to Smith, his high wrister hits Salak in the shoulder.
	29:40	Tommy Wingels with a high, hard shot, it either hit Salak's shoulder or the crossbar.
	30:20	One Czech penalty ends but they're getting another, as Jaromir Jagr slashes the hand of Jake Gardner, and we'll play 4-on-4 again. When Abdelkader's penalty ends the Americans will have a power play, unless there's another penalty in the meantime.
	31:25	The Americans applying pressure 4-on-4 but not getting the puck to the net.
	31:45	The major penalty is over and the US are now on the power play, but they're hemmed in their own zone.
	32:30	And now the Czechs are back at full strength, as the Americans didn't get anything going on that brief power play.
	33:34	Offside USA.
	33:52	Shot from Donovan is deflected out of play in the Czech zone, faceoff inside.
	34:13	Jagr tries to centre for Cervenka, but the puck deflects off his stick to the corner.
	34:35	Now Thomas makes a stick save on a long shot from Cervenka, but Brock Smith is getting a cross-checking penalty on the play, so the dangerous Czech power play goes back to work.
	35:35	A shot from the point misses the net and the Americans send it the length of the ice.
	36:19	Goal for Team Czech Republic! They cash in again. Novotny started the play down low, to Jagr at the half-boards, back to ONDREJ NEMEC at the point, who fired an absolute rocket of a one-timer through everybody. Another power-play goal. Assists: Jaromir Jagr, Jiri Novotny.
	37:40	The Americans come back and almost get one. Drew Shore led the rush, they got several shots from in close, there was a scramble and finally Alexander Salak covered it.
	39:01	Long wrister from Zamorsky, right on Thomas, who holds on.
	39:33	Offside USA.
	39:33	The Czechs are getting a penalty on the play, as Jakub Kindl's stick clipped Colin McDonald's face after the whistle. The US with a late power-play chance.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		After an evenly-played first period, the second was anything but. The difference was power plays. The Czechs scored twice on a major after Justin Abdelkader was kicked out of the game for charging. Then they added a third power play goal in the period on a rocket from the point by Ondrej Nemec. So there you have it, 4-1 Czechs after 2, with a berth in the semifinals at stake. Shots on goal in the 2nd period (and game): USA 6 (17), CZE 19 (27). 3rd period begins at 17:51 EEST, 16:51 CEST, 10:51 EDT.
		The teams are on the ice and the 3rd period will begin shortly. The Americans begin the period on the power play, as 1:34 remains in Jakub Kindl's minor penalty for high-sticking.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	40:45	Peter Mueller in all alone, stick save Alexander Salak.
	41:17	Gaudreau from the point through a crowd, deflected to the corner.
	41:40	Czechs back at full strength, the US try to start another rush.
	41:53	Puck out of play in the US zone, faceoff inside.
	42:15	Martin Ruzicka blasts a slapper wide.
	43:31	Michal Vondrka streaks down the right wing, shoots wide of the far post.
	44:19	Now a wrister from Cervenka from the high slot, right on Thomas.
	44:58	Mueller with a high wrister, caught and held by Salak.
	45:28	Zamorsky's wrister from the point is blocked in front.
	45:55	Sekac around the net, centres for Zatovic, fires it over the crossbar.
	47:05	Brock Nelson whistles a high wrister just wide.
	47:12	Puck out of play in the Czech zone, faceoff inside.
	47:29	Two penalties coming on the play, USA's Johnny Gaudreau for hooking, and after he slingshot himself past Petr Zamorsky, Zamorsky tripped him. So we'll play 4-on-4.
	48:30	Wingels tries to go top corner with the wrister but Alexander Salak makes the glove save and holds on.
	48:53	Nelson with a wrister, hits Salak in the chest.
	49:50	Big chances at both ends. First the Americans with Salak down, couldn't put it in, then Roman Cervenka back the other way but Tim Thomas got enough of his shot to keep it out, and it was cleared.
	50:20	Now Tomas Hertl has taken a tripping penalty, so the Americans go to the power play. The Americans have to score on this, you have to think.
	51:00	Smith fires a slapper high.
	51:22	Gardiner carries the puck into the Czech zone but loses control and Salak covers with :58 left in the penalty.
	51:30	Gaudreau's wrister from the point is tipped in front by Stapleton, pad save Salak, Jimmy Hayes is right there but can't stuff in the rebound.
	51:55	Donovan from the point, save Salak and the Czechs ice it.
	52:30	The Czechs back at full strength, the puck deep in the US zone after the Czechs iced it.
	53:07	Sekac forces a turnover in the US zone, feeds Cervenka in front and he snapped it just wide -- Thomas might have gotten a piece of it.
	53:20	Kevin Hayes with a shot from the point, off the arm of Salak.
	54:14	Now Vince Trocheck with a wrister, Salak holds onto it.
	55:03	Jake Gardiner with a slapper from the point, hits Salak and he holds on. Gardiner looks skyward in frustration, as the Americans are running out of time.
	55:30	Czech 3-on-2 rush, Rolinek fed Sekac, just wide, they kept on the pressure and a big shot from Hudler, Tim Thomas gets a piece of it with his glove.
	56:48	Jakub Klepis is going off for tripping in the neutral zone. The Americans to the power play and they really need to score on this one, preferably quickly.
	56:48	Tim Thomas has been pulled for a 6th attacker, so 6-on-4.
	57:22	The Czechs dump the puck down toward the empty net, misses but no icing as they're shorthanded.
	58:00	Battle for the puck along the boards in the Czech zone.
	58:15	The crowd of players moves to the net and Salak covers it.
	58:15	Timeout USA. They have :34 left in the power play, and only 1:45 left in the tournament unless they can come up with a lot of offence really fast.
	58:28	Mueller's shot from the point deflects just wide.
	58:50	Goal for Team USA! They moved the puck around the zone and Jones found a wide-open TYLER JOHNSON, who one-timed it in the near side before Salak could come across. Power-play goal. Assists: Seth Jones, Peter Mueller.
	59:02	Goal for Team USA! We're not done yet! Smith took the puck into the zone, threw it to the front of the net and it's TYLER JOHNSON again, deflecting the puck up and over Salak. Don't go anywhwere! Assists: Craig Smith, Peter Mueller.
	59:07	Puck into the Czech zone, Thomas to the bench again.
	59:20	Scramble around the Czech net, it stays out, play continues.
	60:00	Game over.
		What a frantic finish! They really pulled out all the stops there and the Americans were all over the Czechs in that last minute after scoring 2 quick ones, but just couldn't get it. A couple of big shot blocks by Czech players too.
		Players of the game: USA – Peter Mueller CZE – Roman Cervenka
		The Czechs advance to the semifinals on Saturday, where they will play the winner of the Canada-Finland game, which will take place here at Chizhovka Arena starting at 20:00 EEST, 19:00 CEST, 13:00 EDT.
		Now the national anthem of the Czech Republic is being played. (17:31:50)

Commentary by

Derek OBrien

@@Djob76

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 7. Nelson (Mueller, Smith), 59. Johnson (Jones, Mueller), 60. Johnson (Smith, Mueller) – 10. Rolinek (Jan Kovar), 27. Hertl (Novotny), 29. Cervenka (Zamorsky, Kolar), 37. Nemec (Jagr, Novotny)

USA: Thomas (Leggio) – Jones, Dekeyser, Gardiner, Murphy, Petry, McCabe, Donovan – Johnson, Nelson, Smith – Stapleton, Gaudreau, Abdelkader (C) – Trocheck, Wingels, Mueller – J. Hayes, K. Hayes, McDonald – Shore. Coach: Peter Laviolette.

Czech Republic: Salák (Jakub Kovář) – Němec, Vitásek, Kindl, Jordán, Zámorský, Kolář, Ševc – Červenka, Novotný, Jágr – Sobotka, Klepiš, Hertl – Hudler, Zaťovič, Sekáč – Růžička, Jan Kovář, Rolinek – Vondrka. Coach: Vladimír Růžička.

Referees: Nord (SWE), Winnerborg (SWE) – Hull (CAN), Suominen (FIN)

Czech Republic B – France2	5:1 (end)	\|	Slovakia2 – Germany2	17:4 (end)	\|	Italy veterans – Australia	16:0 (end)
xxx – Slovakia2	3:6 (end)	\|	France2 – Italy veterans	6:4 (end)	\|	Czech Republic – xxx	16:1 (end)

1st period
	06:15
	06:54
	09:25
	10:51
1st intermission
2nd period
	23:07
	26:41
	26:51
	28:06
	28:14
	30:20
	34:35
	36:19
	39:33
2nd intermission
3rd period
	47:29
	50:20
	56:48
	58:50
	59:02
Final