So who should be more embarrassed now: The Penguins, the Bruins or Team USA? The Americans at least lost all three of their games by one goal after today’s 3-2 loss to Finland. They’re off to the relegation round, where they’ll need to stop losing in order to stay in the top division.
Germany punched its second-round ticket with a 3-1 win over Denmark. Frans Nielsen took a hooking penalty. Does he have more minors in international play than he does in a full pro season? Feels like it.
Latvia beat Italy 5-2, scoring two goals late, to knock Italy into the relegation pool. Two assists for Herbie Vasiljevs against one for Mike Souza. Tobias Stephan, briefly a Sound Tiger, made 31 saves to help Switzerland beat Canada 4-1.
So in the next round, Finland, Germany and Denmark will all be 1-1, three points apiece. Switzerland’s 2-0 (six), Canada’s 1-1 (three), and Latvia’s 0-2 (none).
Back in the American League, ho-hum, Hershey won again after a month and a half off. The Bears led after 16 seconds, had a 2-0 lead at 10:02 and never led by fewer than two again. Steve Pinizzotto, with a goal and a fight, was named No. 1 star. Both Jonathan Bernier and Michal Neuvirth made 24 saves.
John Walton noted this on Twitter: Cincinnati beat Reading 1-0 tonight, becoming the first ECHL team to rally from 3-0 down and win a series. The final begins Friday in Idaho. Brett Motherwell and Dustin Friesen were two of the defensemen who filled in so admirably for the Sound Tigers this spring, helping Bridgeport get into the playoffs. One of them will win a Kelly Cup.
Friesen leads the ECHL at plus-16 in 10 playoff games.
Justin Bourne talks concussion with a guest columnist.