A late goal by Gorovikov for the Russians took them to Sunday's World Championship final in Berne but where were the United States? I saw two European teams on the ice today and the Swedish TV commentators I was watching said the Americans had "adapted well" to the European style of play. Perhaps too well? I saw Americans skate round the net where they would otherwise have taken a shot, even at a poor angle. Don't get me wrong, the USA played well, just as well as the Russians, but the Reds will win 9 times out of ten in this type of game. One interesting meeting in the match was the goaltender battle between Russia's Bryzgalov and American goalie Esche. They've met before; in the 2000 World Championships when Esche completed a shutout as the USA won 3-0 in a round-robin game. Russia went on to record their worst ever finish in the World Championships, 11th.
Canada didn't take the route round the goal just under 7 minutes into their match against Sweden. More like a mix of both worlds. Stamkos took the puck half way round the net, drew two Swedish players with him and passed behind his back to Roy at the left-hand post who pressed in the puck past the unprepared Swedish goalie. Otherwise, Sweden had opened brightly and taken the match to Canada but the Canadians needed only the one chance to take the lead. Two goals in 45 seconds in the second period took the Canadians even further away from the Swedes who did get a goal six minutes into the third period. Sweden pulled their goalie "The Monster" Gustavsson near the end but never threatened the Canadian lead.
Just two matches left to look forward to now. USA-Sweden for 3rd/4th place and the final between Canada and Russia, both on Sunday.
All the best.
