Czech Republic 3, Finland 0 ~ Jan. 1 /RELEGATION
Czech Republic moves on to the semifinals with 3-0 victory
Ralphsworldjr.com
January 1, 2005
The Czech Republic moved on to the semifinals of the World Junior Hockey Championships with a 3-0 victory over Finland on Saturday. Marek Schwarz earned the shutout in net for the Czech Republic stopping all 21 Team Finland shots. It was a game of missed opportunities for the Finns as they had numerous chances only to be stopped by Schwarz or the body of a Czech defender.
The Finns came out and played well early in the game with most of the action taking place in front of Schwarz. The Czech Republic turned the tide in the last ten minutes out shooting Team Finland 14-6 in what turned out to be a scoreless first period.
The other major factor in the first half of the game was Finland goaltender Tuukka Rask. Rask was sharp in the first and second period stopping the Czech attack time and again. Lukas Kaspar was robbed on two shots in a row late in the first, and Rask was again on top of things making key saves on a Czech power play early in period two.
“I was feeling pretty good. I was satisfied with two periods of the game. The whole game was pretty good. We played well as a team in the third period.” Said Rask.
The first goal of the game was scored almost seventeen minutes into the second period by Petr Vrana. Helped out by a screen from Rostislav Olesz, Vrana was finally able to solve Rask. Olesz gave the Finns trouble all night. His combination of size and speed had him dragging defenders with him all over the ice. Olesz put the Czech Republic up 2-0 at the 3:35 mark of the third period on a shorthanded goal. Waiting for the Finnish defender to commit, Olesz darted the other direction unleashing a quick shot that went over the shoulder of Rask and gave the Czech Republic a huge momentum boost.
“They played well. I thought we played pretty good defensively. In the second period we took too many penalties and gave them momentum. Giving up that shorthanded goal was bad for us, but lack of offense was the problem for us.” Said Finland assistant coach Petri Metikainen.
The Czech team also played good defense as well, limiting Finland to just seven shots in the first two periods. A reason for that low total was not that Finland wasn’t taking shots, more that the shots weren’t getting to the net. The Czech defenders were more than willing to throw their bodies in front of the puck throughout the entire game, with blocked shot totals well into the double digits.
Roman Cervenka got the final tally for the Czech Republic with just over two minutes left in the third period beating Rask through the legs with a slap shot.
The Czech Republic moves on in the medal round to play Team Canada on Sunday. Though Canada is the favorite, the Czech team will be ready to go in what will be their biggest test of the tournament.
“We know they are a great team, but every game starts 0-0, and every day is a new day. We will prepare them to do their best. Canada is the big favorite, but at the end of the game is what matters.” Said Czech coach Alois Hadamzcik.
Finland will play the loser of the United States versus Sweden on Monday.
by Andrew Oberle
