On Monday evening, the group stage of the World Hockey Championship, taking place these days in Slovakia, ended. The Canadian team beat the Swedish team in a fairly calm match and will play with the team of Vyacheslav Bykov in the quarterfinals. The Czech team, the strongest in the group stage, beat the German team, preventing it from taking second place in the group.

All championship playoff matches will be held in Bratislava. Meetings between the Czech Republic and the USA, as well as Sweden and Germany will take place on May 11. The Russians and Canadians, like the Finns and Norwegians, will clash on May 12. The classic confrontation between the Russian and Canadian national teams will take place at 22.15 Moscow time.

The inglorious performance at the first stage of the world championship by the Russian team, which for the last three years has consistently reached the final match and won it twice, discouraged many Russian hockey fans. During the group stage, which consisted of six matches, Vyacheslav Bykov's team suffered three defeats. The Russians managed to defeat only the Slovaks, Slovenes and Danes, losing to the much stronger Finland, the Czech Republic and, to a lesser extent, the powerful Germany.

Quarterfinal pairs Czech Republic - USA May 11, 18:15 Sweden - Germany May 11, 22:15 Finland - Norway May 12, 18:15 Canada - Russia May 12, 22:15

Before the final match, in which the Russians faced the Finns, the reigning vice-champions had a chance to rise to second place in the group, but, having brought the matter to overtime, they lost their chance to rise above fourth. This meant that the opponent of the Bykov squad in the quarterfinals had to be the winner of the Canada-Sweden match.

Therefore, this meeting attracted special attention from Russians who were not completely immersed in the celebration of Victory Day.

“Maple Leaves” and “Tre Kronur” showed great hockey. Less than four minutes later, both teams scored a goal. The Canadians confidently held the advantage and in the 13th minute, thanks to a goal from John Tavares, they took the lead for the second time in the match. But at the equator of the match the score was even again - Ternberg successfully shot from almost zero angle.

The denouement was postponed until the third period, in which luck was on the side of the Canadians. Brett Burns scored the winning goal in the 13th minute, thereby bringing the Maple Leaves a ticket to the match with Russia.

Gazeta.Ru conducted an online broadcast of the match between the national teams of Canada and Sweden.

In addition to the Russian team, the US team also showed an unexpectedly bad result, also finishing fourth in its group, in which, by the way, the Norwegians took third place. Unlike the Russians, the Americans already knew their opponent in the quarterfinals after the unsuccessful meeting with the Swiss (3:5). They became the most effective team of the championship - the Czech team, which ultimately scored 16 points.

In addition, with seven goals conceded, the reigning champions became the most “impenetrable” team of the group stage.

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In the sixth match of the group round, Alois Gadamchik's team met with the German team, which made a lot of noise at the current championship. If they won, the Germans would get into second place, allowing them to play with the Norwegian national team - perhaps the most desirable opponent in the playoffs. Otherwise, the Finnish team of Jukka Jalonen would go up against the Norwegians.

The Germans were full of intentions to create another sensation, but they conceded in the first minute - Tomas Plekanec flashed. John Tripp equalized just a minute later, but at the end of the first period the Czechs took the lead again. And in the very opening of the second 20 minutes, Karel Rachunek consolidated his team’s advantage. The pucks that flew into the goal of the German team from the hooks of the same Plekanec and Patrik Elias , like the Swiss goal of Thomas Greilingar, seemed like a mere formality.

Thus, the German team was unable to surprise the hockey community again and took third place in its group.

The Swedes will oppose her in the quarterfinals. The Finns, presumably, who followed the progress of this match, will meet with the Norwegians.

More information about the news, schedule and statistics can be found on the World Hockey Championship page .

Canada chose Russia - Gazeta.Ru