Slovakia win in overtime over Norway
It took Slovakia more than 60 minutes to beat Norway on 3-2 in their final qualifying round game at the Ice Hockey World Championship in Switzerland.
Ladislav Nagy finished things on Monday afternoon for eighth-ranked Slovakia, scoring a power play goal just over two minutes into extra time.
The game, however, meant little since both teams will not move on to the quarterfinal.
Slovakia got on the scoreboard in the first period at 7:22 with a power play goal from Stefan Ruzicka. Michal Handzus of the Los Angeles Kings and Jaroslav Obsut assisted.
Norweigen goalie Pal Grotnes was beat again less than two minutes later, this time by Peter Smrek.
Anders Bastiansen scored for Norway at 27:21, bringing his team within one point. Lars Erik Lund scored just over five minutes into the third period to even the game, sending it into overtime.
Norway finished the game, held in Zurich, with 27 shots on goal. Slovakia had 38.
It was Slovakia’s first win of the three-game qualifying round and second of the tournament. They finish the tournament in tenth-place.
Norway finish the championship with one win, against Hungary, and end in 11th.
France playing for pride
Fifteenth-ranked France were defeated 6-3 by Sweden in Bern but did not finish the tournament before scoring some goals.
Sweden, ranked fifth, went ahead early, putting three pucks past goalie Fabrice Lhenry in the first six minutes of the game.
They extended their lead thanks to a power play goal from Carl Gunnarsson less than two minutes into the second period before France began to claw back.
France’s Anthoine Lussier made a break for the Swedish net, beating Stefan Liv. Pierre Edouard Bellemare followed at 29:25 before Sweden’s Johnny Oduya got his team’s fifth goal.
France responded at 36:41 to make the score 5-3. Former Toronto Maple leaf and New York Islander Kenny Jönsson scored at 45:40 for Sweden.
The game ended with 31 shots on goal for Sweden versus 19 for France. Players of the game were Vincent Bachet for France and for Sweden.
Sweden enter the quarterfinal round with 4-2 record. France won one game and lost five but it was their best tournament since 1997. Their top players for the tournament were Baptiste Amar, Pierre Edouard Bellemare and goaltender Lhenry.
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