TIMONEN, FINNS HEAD TO SEMIS
The secret to Team Finland's success over the last decade is that the national team is often greater than the sum of its individual parts. The frequent problem with Team Russia has been that it's about its individual parts. Hockey is a team game.
That dichotomy was very much in evidence in today's medal round quarterfinals. Minus players like Mikko Koivu, Saku Koivu and Sascha Barkov, Finland downed the star-laden Russian team by a 3-1 count.
Flyers defenseman
Kimmo Timonen played his usual quiet but pivotal role for his team, logging 20 shifts and assisting on the early second period Mikael Granlund goal that opened a two-goal lead for the Finns.
Granlund bagged a pair for the Lions, while Juhamatti Aaltonen scored to tie the game in the first period shortly after a blistering power play goal by Ilya Kovalchuk gave the Russians a brief 1-0 lead. Living legend Teemu Selänne put the Finns ahead to stay late in the first period, converting a feed from Granlund.
Tuukka Rask stopped 38 of 39 shots in a strong goaltending performance for Finland. Russian starter Semyon Varlamov allowed a questionable goal to Aaltonen from a severe angle but had no shot at the next two goals before being pulled at 6:42 of the second period. Varlamov stopped 12 of 15 shots. Former Flyers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was outstanding in relief, turning back all seven shots he faced; two of which were very tough chances with Russia's hopes fading in the third period.
Former Flyers defensemen Ossi Väänänen and Lasse Kukkonen played sparingly at five-on-five but logged important penalty killing ice time as the Finns protected their lead.
On Friday, in a rematch of the 1996 gold medal matchup and a rekindling of one of the hockey world's best rivalries, Finland will take on Sweden. The winner goes to the gold medal game. The losing side will play for bronze.
VORACEK AND CZECHS HEAD HOME
Team USA methodically picked apart a slower and defensively suspect Czech Republic team to capture a 5-2 victory and advance to play Canada in the semifinals. With the exception of about a seven-minute stretch of the first period after the Czechs had tied the game at 1-1, Team USA dominated the game from wire to wire.
The Czechs could not cope with the Americans' speed and passing games. Every time the Americans were able to work themselves into one-on-one situations, they gained the advantage. The Czechs also had problems coping with the U.S. forecheck. Meanwhile, head coach Alois Hadamczik was flummoxed by the line matchups that Dan Bylsma and the Americans were working.
If there was one single pivotal play in this game, it was a David Backes top-shelfer in the final two seconds of the first period. The goal sent the U.S. to the locker room ahead by a 3-1 count and was a backbreaker for the Czechs.
Former Flyers left winger James van Riemsdyk opened the scoring for Team USA. The Americans also got goals from Dustin Brown, Zach Parise and Phil Kessel. Ryan Suter collected three assists. Ales Hemsky scored both Czech goals in unassisted fashion.
Flyers right winger
Jakub Voracek played a better game than his stat line (no points, minus three, one shot on goal, 14:50 of ice time would suggest). He was one of just a few Czech players who had his feet moving and was hard on the stick. Playing on the third line and the second power play unit during the tourney, Voracek finished with one goal and one assist in five games.
Ex-Flyers Jaromir Jagr, Petr Nedved and Lukas Krajicek (a healthy scratch in each of the last three games) also competed for the Czech side. Jagr being Jagr, I would not totally dismiss the notion of him playing in South Korea in 2018 whether or not he's in the NHL or if the NHL competes in the next Games.
FLYERS RETURN TO PRACTICE
The Flyers who did not participate in the Olympics returned to practice this afternoon at the Skate Zone in Voorhees. They will return to the ice on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and Friday at the same time.
The Flyers' season resumes on Thursday, Feb. 27. The San Jose Sharks will come to town for a 7:00 p.m. tilt.
CASINO ROYALE FUNDRAISER WITH FLYERS ALUMNI
On Sunday March 9 starting at 5 p.m. Abrams Hebrew Academy will hold its annual Fund Raising Dinner and Casino Royale Night at Congregation Beth El in Yardley, PA. Special guests for the night will include Bernie Parent, Brian Propp, Bill Clement, Joe Watson and Bob "the Hound" Kelly.
Apart from the dinner and casino event, there will also be a host of items available via auction, including a signed stick by all three members of the Flyers' legendary LCB line (Reggie Leach and Hall of Famers Bob Clarke and Bill Barber), boxes of Bernie Parent's signature cigar line, a handsome Clarke lithograph and many more goodies.
All proceeds go to benefit the school. My nephew, Sammy Sherman, attends Abrams and my sister, Liza, helped to organize the event and line up the Flyers alumni guests. The slogan for the event is "Help Abrams Make Its Goal."
For more information,
click here.
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