The 2015 IIHF World Championship rolled on with four opening round games yesterday. Three of the tilts involved members of the Florida Panthers.
Canada 7, Switzerland 2: Aaron Ekblad scored a scored a goal and added an assist as Canada hammered Switzerland 7-2. Ekblad scored the eventual game-winner in the second period and drew the secondary helper on Cody Eakin‘s tally with one second left in the middle frame that put Canada up 5-1. The Cats rookie finished with 2 shots on goal and a +1 rating in 12:21 TOI. For more click here
Czech Republic 4, Germany 2: Jaromir Jagr scored a goal and an assist to lead the Czechs to a 4-2 win over Germany. Jagr set up Jakub Voracek‘s power-play winner in the second period and scored the clinching goal early in the third. The 43-year-old Panthers forward finished with a game-high 7 shots on goal and an even rating in 16:44 TOI. Jagr took a slashing minor in the middle frame. For more click here
Russia 3, Slovakia 2 (OT): Artemi Panarin scored 2:06 into overtime to give Russia a hard-fought win over Slovakia. Tomas Kopecky scored the game-opening goal for the Slovaks. Kopecky finished the game with 3 shots on net and a +1 rating in 13:13 TOI. Russian defender Dmitry Kulikov logged 16:20 of ice time and finished with one shot and a +1 rating. For more click here
Other results
USA 3, Slovenia 1: The Americans clinched a spot in the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Slovenia. Brock Nelson scored twice and set up Jack Eichel for the other U.S. goal. Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 21 of 22 shots. For more click here
Today’s games
Germany vs. Austria
Finland (Barkov, Jokinen) vs. Belarus
Sweden vs. France
Slovenia vs. Denmark