Poisonous Relations

Slovakia has much to prove in the game against neighbors Czech Republic: indicated as the most disappointing team after the first phase, rehabilitated partially after the brave game against Russia. Also Czech Republic didn’t have a remarkable campaign so far, so the game is important also to understand the potential of two powers of hockey. With Jan Laco confirmed in the goal after the good game against Russia, Slovakia lost forward Tomas Kopecky, injured. Czech Republic has a fulminant start, scoring twice in 30 seconds between 6 and 7 minutes. Ales Hemsky finalizes a well executed power play on a smart pass from Jakub Voracek, that put Slovak goaltender Jan Laco out of position and Roman Cervenka replies in the net a shot by Tomas Plekanec on the post. Slovakia has a power play at min. 14 but it’s Czech to have the scoring chance with Michalek. Again on power play Czech triples before the first siren with a missile by David Krejci served in the left circle by Tomas Kaberle. In the second period Czech controls the game quite easily, Slovakia has a chance with Bartovic before the fourth goal: Sekera lost naively a puck, stolen by Cervenka, deked Laco to score.

With 63 seconds left to play in the period, Marian Hossa narrowed the Czech lead, when from between the face off-circles shot past Ondrej Pavelec in the Czech goal. Hossa did it again, 7:20 into the third period. Michal Handzus fired at Czech goaltender Pavelec who saved with his left pad. Hossa then ripped the rebound in the net. A minute and a half later, at 8:51, Tomas Surovy made it 4-3 with a slapshot from the top of the face off-circles.

The Slovaks pressed hard to tie the game, but never managed to create any real scoring chances. Their last hope died when Andrej Meszaros was penalised for slashing with just 53 seconds remaning. At 19:21 Plekanec scored the 5-3-goal into an empty Slovak net. The result finishes Czech neighbours and arch-rival's Olympic journey.

The Czechs will play the USA in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, while Russia takes on Finland, Sweden faces Slovenia and Canada plays Latvia in the other games.

"We will be in trouble against the US if we play like we did tonight in the third period" said Pavelec. "We need to talk about what happened. We started off great and then to concede three goals was not what we expected. America will be fresher than us after a couple of days rest and will be flying at us from all over the place, but hockey is over 60 minutes and anything can happen."

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