Dobroe Utro! Team USA and Russia square off at 7:30 a.m. EST to highlight today’s hockey action from Sochi. Florida Panthers forward Tomas Kopecky and Slovakia will be looking to get in the Group A win column against tiny Slovenia. The teams in Group C will finish off their preliminary round schedule, with Sweden looking to stay perfect against Latvia, while Switzerland will do battle with the Czech Republic.
Yesterday, Aleksander Barkov went scoreless during Finland’s 6-1 win over Norway. The Cats rookie left the game in the third period with the dreaded “lower-body injury” and did not return. In other action, Canada blew by Austria 6-0, Sweden edged Switzerland 1-0, and the Czech Republic skated past Latvia 4-2.
Today’s games
- Group A/
United States vs. Russia – Bolshoy Ice Dome 7:30 a.m. EST (NBCSN)
Slovakia vs. Switzerland – Bolshoy Ice Dome 3:00 a.m. EST (NBCSN)
- Group C/
Sweden vs. Latvia – Shayba Arena 12:00 p.m. EST (USA)
Czech Republic vs. Switzerland – Bolshoy Ice Dome 12:00 p.m. EST (NBCSN)
* Games can also be seen on nbcolympics.com (you will need to verify your cable/satellite account)
Yesterday’s results
- Group B/
Finland vs. Norway
Lauri Korpikoski scored twice as Finland cruised past Norway 6-1. Ageless wonder Teemu Selanne and former Panther center Olli Jokinen also scored goals. Kari Lehtonen stopped 19 of 20 shots to get the win.
Panther in action: Aleksander Barkov fired three shots on goal, but didn’t register a point. The rookie pivot finished the game with an even rating before exiting after getting checked into the boards during the third period..
Canada 6 Austria 0
Jeff Carter notched a natural hat trick in the second period to power Canada to an easy 6-0 win over Austria. Patrick Marleau drew the primary assist on all three of Carter’s goals. Roberto Luongo stopped 23 shots for the shutout win. Bernhard Starkbaum surrendered all six goals, while Mathias Lange came on and turned aside all 15 shots he faced in the third period.
- Group C/
Sweden 1 Switzerland 0
Daniel Alfredsson swatted in a rebound of an Erik Karlsson shot with 7:21 remaining to give Sweden a tough victory over pesky Switzerland. Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves to record the shutout. Calgary’s Reto Berra made 30 saves for the Swiss. Sweden, who has clinched Group C and gained a berth in the quarters, will be without Henrik Zetterberg for the rest of the tournament.
Czech Republic 4 Latvia 2
The Czechs got second period goals from Jakub Voracek and Marek Zidlicky to snap a 2-2 tie and pick up their first win of tournament. Jaromir Jagr scored for the second game in a row, and Ondrej Pavelec made 18 saves to post the win. Former Panthers Janis Sprukts and Herberts Vasiljevs lit the lamp for Latvia, who got another strong game from goaltender Edgars Masalskis to keep it close