IIHF World Championships quarter-finals: Co-hosts Latvia beat Sweden as Canada make semis
USA 3 Czech Republic 0
The USA continued their 100% record at the IIHF World Championships by progressing into the final four of the IIHF WOrld Championships with a 3-0 win over Czech Republic.
After seven wins from seven - one in overtime - the US were in confident mood going into the game, but they had to endure some early pressure after Dylan Samberg was penalised for tripping in the ninth minute. The Czechs couldn't capitalise on the extra player, instead just a minute after going back to their full compliment, the US took the lead.
Lane Hutson and Connor Mackey combined to set up Matt Coronato for the first goal of the game and the only one of the first period.
The lead was doubled midway through the second, as Rocco Grimaldi played in Nick Perbix to score for the US before a controlling performance from one of the tournament favourites was rounded off in the final period through Cutter Gauthier after good work from TJ Tynan - his first goal of the tournament despite 10 assists.
The US will find out later tonight who they will take on in the semi-finals.
Check out the stats with Flashscore.
Switzerland 1 Germany 3
Germany advanced into the last four of the IIHF World Champions after a feisty 3-1 victory over the higher-seeded Switzerland in Riga.
Coming into the game having finished fourth in Group B, Germany needed a fast start if they were to upset the first-placed Swiss team.
And that is what they got in the seventh minute after Max Kastner opened the scoring. The lead lasted into the first minute of the second period with Jonas Siegenthaler netting to level for the Swiss.
What followed was a barrage of penalties, Andres Ambuhl received a double penalty for a high stick, whilst Moritz Seider was given a personal penalty for boarding.
Undeterred and having defended well to keep the score at 1-1, Germany rallied to take the lead once more through JJ Peterka but it didn't take long for his side to be down a man once more - this time Max Szuber off the ice for interference.
Switzerland may have been on top, but Germany smashed home a third - shorthanded from the Szuber penalty - to give themselves a two-goal cushion, Nico Sturm with the strike.
From there, Germany held on valiantly to seal their place in the semi-finals where they could face another top seed like the US.
Check out the stats from the game with Flashscore.
Canada 4 Finland 1
Hosts Finland were knocked out in commanding fashion by Canada on Thursday evening 4-1 in front of the home crowd of Tampere.
Jack Quinn got the party started for the Canadians in the eighth minute after good work from Lawson Crouse in the only goal of the first period.
Canada also scored the only goal of the second too, this time through Samuel Blais.
The game was wrapped up in the third as one of the pre-tournament favourites added another with Michael Carcone getting on the scoresheet. Any hopes of a Finland comeback were resurrected by Teemu Hartikainen but that was swiftly dashed by Tyler Toffoli, who scored into an empty net to see his side into the semi-finals.
Check out all the game stats with Flashscore.
Sweden 1 Latvia 3
Co-hosts Latvia continued their dream run at the World Championships with a shock 3-1 win over Sweden.
The Swedes were favourites for the contest but the Latvians, cheered on by a partisan crowd, scored first through Dans Locmelis.
After a spate of penalties for both sides, Sweden leveled thanks to a goal of Timothy Liljegren midway through the second period before Latvia weathered a storm after Martins Dzierkals' personal foul that saw him benched for 15 minutes.
They came out in the final period with intent and Miks Indrasis added a decisive second goal before Janis Jaks added gloss to the scoreline during a powerplay, leaving them as the only host making it through to the final four.