IIHF World Hockey Championship - Panthers Update

Preliminary-round play came to an end Tuesday as Marcel Goc and Team Germany found themselves on the receiving end of an 8-1 slaughter by the Czech Republic from Stockholm's Globe Arena. The Group S Germans finished out of playoff action with a 2-5 record "highlighted" by a minus-17 goal differential. Goc, his club's captain, recorded zero points, a minus-2, and 5 SOG in seven tournament games.

On a somewhat happier note from Helsinki, Tomas Kopecky nabbed himself a goal as Team Slovakia defeated France 5-4 to secure the privilege of facing Group H-leading Canada (6-0-1) in quarterfinal play Thursday at Hartwall Arena. Slovakia (5-2) claims the second-best PK of the 16-team tournament at 88.9% and ninth-rated power play (21%). Kopecky has a club-best 4 goals (1 PP), 1 assist, plus-6, and 15 SOG in seven games.

How far will Kopy and Slovakia go?