World Championship Update: Day 1

With the IIHF World Championships getting underway in Moscow, Russia, it’s time to take a look at how some of the Detroit Red Wings are doing overseas.

Sweden nearly saw an upset this morning, as a 1-0 lead from a Jimmie Ericsson goal was relinquished when Kristaps Sotnieks scored with 7:31 left in the game to send it to overtime. But have no fear, everyone’s favourite Swedish horse is here, as he notched the OT winner for a 2-1 Swedish win. Sweden out shot Latvia 44-21, and Nyquist (the only Red Wing on the Swedish squad) finished with the goal, five shots, a +1, and 2 PIMs in 22:21 TOI.

The United States started off on the right foot in this game, as a Pat Maroon goal would put them up 1-0 just 4:54 into the game. However, they fell flat on their faces after that goal, as Canada would ring five consecutive goals past Keith Kinkaid, and the States would drop the game 5-1, while getting out shot 33-25. Dylan Larkin would represent the Wings in this game, with a rather uneventful game, tallying just three shots in 19:55 TOI.

It wasn’t an excellent showing for Pavel Datsyuk’s team Russia on their home turf. In the first period, Tomas Kundratek scored to give the Czechs a 1-0 lead, followed by a second period power play goal from Roman Cervenka (remember him?) to expand it to a 2-0 lead. The Russians would press hard to get on the board in the third, but an empty net goal from Michal Birner would end an chance at that, as the Czechs would win 3-0. The Czechs out shot them 27-25, and Pavel Datsyuk (who might not be representing the Wings anymore) finished with two shots in 18:02 of TOI.

Unlike the other teams with Red Wings on them today, Teemu Pulkkinen and the Fins had a dominant performance. It was an event less first period, but then Finland exploded with four goals in the second from Patrik Laine (2), Mikko Koivu, and Mikael Granlund, with a Belarus goal from Andrei Stas sandwiched in between. Antti Pihlstrom scored to make it 5-1 (with an assist from Pulkkinen), and Granlund scored his second to make it 6-1 early in the third, and then it was smooth sailing for the Fins, with the exception of a later goal from Alexei Kalyuzhny to make it 6-2. The Fins would out shoot the competition 30-16, while Pulkkinen would finnish with an assist, two shots, and a +1 rating in 14:01 TOI.