WC: Divisions I, II, III

[Urbanskog]

Actually, he didn't have the choice. Kasparatis first played for the USSR/CIS. Lithuania didn't exist as a sovereign entity when he first played internationally.

Did he have the opportunity to change when Lithuania got it's independence in 1991?

Lithuania didn't play a competitive match until 1993.

Not sure he actually had a choice.

Players born in the Soviet Union were allowed to choose to play for any of the newly formed countries after the union's dissolution. His countryman Zubrus in fact considered representing Ukraine at one point.

 

[Jon Riley]

Cool, at the moment the only mathematical verdict is that Japan cannot be promoted, if Poland win tonight this would turn into the most open tournament ever. If Austria get even just a point, well...that would be a little anticlimatic..

 

[garbageteam]

Poland with all to play for today, with Japan basically (should be, anyway) a walkover tomorrow. They must beat AUT in regulation. Up 1-0 now...

 

[kabidjan18]

Poland with all to play for today, with Japan basically (should be, anyway) a walkover tomorrow. They must beat AUT in regulation. Up 1-0 now...

This game is getting kinda annoying like the Korea game.

What are they playing for again? To avoid relegation?

 

[Jon Riley]

With a Polish victory in regulation Japan is relegated but all the other teams still have a chance to get promoted, am I right?

 

[garbageteam]

This game is getting kinda annoying like the Korea game.

What are they playing for again? To avoid relegation?

It's mathematically possible (though admittedly highly unlikely) they can be promoted. 9 points if they win in regulation today and tomorrow, while in tomorrow's matches AUT loses in regulation (8 pts) and Italy beats Korea in OT (8 pts for all of them respectively). Additionally POL has the head to head vs Slovenia, so if Slovenia loses in regulation tomorrow while Italy prevails in OT I believe Poland is still in.

Unlikely, but the chance is there and I've seen lower mathematical odds happen in sports.

 

[Kschey]

With a Polish victory in regulation Japan is relegated but all the other teams still have a chance to get promoted, am I right?

Yes, our (Poland) chances to get promoted would be really slim, though.

 

[kabidjan18]

It's mathematically possible (though admittedly highly unlikely) they can be promoted. 9 points if they win in regulation today and tomorrow, while AUT loses in regulation and Italy beats Korea in OT.

Unlikely, but the chance is there and I've seen lower mathematical odds happen in sports.

Oh, lol, I guess in theory it could happen.

Austria has just been terrible the entire tournament it's the worst team skillwise ever, the rookies/juniors aren't performing and just a mess everywhere. I wouldn't be surprised if it took until like the 3rd period to tie it up.

 

[Urbanskog]

A little over half of the third period has already been played but I'm still pessimistic that Poland would manage to keep the lead. Would certainly make it more interesting if Poland actually won this on regulation.

 

[kabidjan18]

Coach Ratushny is leaving but he deserves to be fired. That was an awful game, I've never seen the players play worse, ever.

It's crazy the past 2 years Ratushny has been coach we went from the team that put up the most points on Finland and was scoring 5 gpg in the D1A to under Ratushny first being the lowest scoring team in the tournament last year then being unable to score this year.

 

[Uncle Rotter]

Poland wins 1-0

 

[ZT]

Japan is relegated.

2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division I Group B

Japan
Great Britain
Lithuania
Croatia
Estonia
Netherlands

 

[garbageteam]

Wide open for tomorrow's matches now with everyone motivated for a shot at promotion (minus Japan). Slovenia should figure that they've gotta get a point at least as if they lose in regulation too many teams have a chance at overtaking them. Austria's got the tiebreakers, but they'll also be motivated to at least take it to OT as they're ripe to be overtaken at 8 points. Korea needs a regulation win to almost guarantee promotion (only way not to is if Aut beats Slv in OT), but an OT win with an Austrian regulation loss will also do it. Italy must win in regulation and Austria must lose in regulation.

Poland actually has a tangible chance thanks to their surprising victories against the two frontrunners. Almost guaranteed to beat Japan (hopefully), they'll be sitting at 9 points and results could just as easily go their way as not.

 

[Jon Riley]

Poland beating the two strongest teams is quite impressive. Too bad their chances are slim, but as a supporter of Italy I surely welcome the hope they gave us.
Tomorrow Slovenia will have quite a lot of supporters

 

[kabidjan18]

If there's one positive to take away it's that Lukas Haudum has arrived. He'll be a good player soon. Ratushny will be gone soon so we won't have a lunatic who only invites goons to cross-check people...no biggie if we win against Slovenia, we're friendly enough with them maybe pull a Latvia-France

 

[Jon Riley]

I know it is not possible, but in this case having all the matches played at the same time would add some excitement. How the things are, if Italy wins in regulation Slovenia would face Austria being already sure of being promoted

 

[hockeyMB89]

Great day

 

[kabidjan18]

Would usually be mad about the PS not being awarded for the obvious hook when Haudum was behind the D but there's nothing to be mad about when you should be scoring 5, not needing a PS to score one...

Bring back Viveiros, the game against Finland in Sochi was glorious I want more of that.

 

[JTD]

I know it is not possible, but in this case having all the matches played at the same time would add some excitement. How the things are, if Italy wins in regulation Slovenia would face Austria being already sure of being promoted

If Poland and Italy both win in regulation, I believe Slovenia would have to at least force OT against Austria to be sure of promotion. If Austria wins in regulation in this scenario then Slovenia, Italy and Poland would all finish with 9 points and Poland has tiebreaker with having best goal differential among the three teams

 

[Uncle Rotter]

So here is all that can happen (I think):

Slovenia wins in regulation, South Korea wins either way:
1.Slo 12
2.Kor 10 or 9

Slovenia wins in regulation, Italy beats Korea in OT, Poland wins in regulation
1.Slo 12
2.Pol 9

Slovenia wins in regulation, Italy beats Korea in OT, Poland wins in OT
1.Slo 12
2.Aut 8

Slovenia wins in regulation, Italy beats Korea in OT, Poland loses
1.Slo 12
2.Aut 8

Slovenia wins in regulation, Italy beats Korea in regulation, Poland does not win in regulation
1.Slo 12
2.Ita 9

Slovenia wins in regulation, Italy wins in regulation, Poland wins in regulation
1.Slo 12
2.Ita 9

Slovenia wins in OT, Korea wins in regulation
1.Slo 11
2.Kor 10

Slovenia wins in OT, Korea wins in OT, Poland wins in regulation
1.Slo 11
2.Kor 9

Slovenia wins in OT, Italy wins in OT, Poland wins in regulation
1.Slo 11
2.Pol 9

Slovenia wins in OT, Italy wins in regulation, Poland wins in regulation
1.Slo 11
2.Aut 9

Austria wins in OT
1.Aut 10
2.Slo 10

Austria wins in regulation, Korea wins in regulation
1.Aut 11
2.Kor 10

Austria wins in regulation, Korea wins in OT
1.Aut 11
2.Slo 9

Austria wins in regulation, Italy wins either way
1.Aut 11
2.Slo 9

 

[JTD]

So here is all that can happen (I think):

Slovenia wins in regulation, South Korea wins either way:
1.Slo 12
2.Kor 10 or 9

Slovenia wins in regulation, Italy beats Korea in OT, Poland wins in regulation
1.Slo 12
2.Pol 9

Slovenia wins in regulation, Italy beats Korea in OT, Poland wins in OT
1.Slo 12
2.Aut 8

Slovenia wins in regulation, Italy beats Korea in OT, Poland loses
1.Slo 12
2.Aut 8

Slovenia wins in regulation, Italy beats Korea in regulation, Poland does not win in regulation
1.Slo 12
2.Ita 9

Slovenia wins in regulation, Italy wins in regulation, Poland wins in regulation
1.Slo 12
2.Ita 9

Slovenia wins in OT, Korea wins in regulation
1.Slo 11
2.Kor 10

Slovenia wins in OT, Korea wins in OT, Poland wins in regulation
1.Slo 11
2.Kor 9

Slovenia wins in OT, Italy wins in OT, Poland wins in regulation
1.Slo 11
2.Pol 9

Slovenia wins in OT, Italy wins in regulation, Poland wins in regulation
1.Slo 11
2.Aut 9

Austria wins in OT
1.Aut 10
2.Slo 10

Austria wins in regulation, Korea wins in regulation
1.Aut 11
2.Kor 10

Austria wins in regulation, Korea wins in OT
1.Aut 11
2.Slo 9

Austria wins in regulation, Italy wins either way
1.Aut 11
2.Slo 9

Poland just needs an Italy regulation or OT win and Poland clinches 2nd as long as they win win in regulation and Austria-Slovenia finishes in regulation and barring a major shocker that gets them promoted. That's the outcome I expect.

 

[Uncle Rotter]

Poland just needs an Italy regulation or OT win and Poland clinches 2nd as long as they win win in regulation and Austria-Slovenia finishes in regulation and barring a major shocker that gets them promoted. That's the outcome I expect.

Korea is currently 1 point ahead of Poland and they have the tiebreaker over them.

 

[kabidjan18]

Usually when Slovenia and Austria play Slovenia wins, at all levels, for some strange reason because every other head to head matchup would favor Austria. These are not the normal teams however, this is Slovenia's injury team vs. Austria's B team, so perhaps the curse can be broken.

 

[kaiser matias]

Like how the IIHF recap notes Poland hasn't defeated Austria in 25 years at the World Championships. That sounds impressive, until you realise they've only played each other 3 times in that span (1997, 2006, 2008).

 

[JTD]

Korea is currently 1 point ahead of Poland and they have the tiebreaker over them.

I know, that's why I said Poland needs Italy to win in any fashion. An OT Italy win puts Italy and Korea at 8 points each, Poland then leapfrogs both of them with a regulation win and then leapfrogs the loser of Austria-Slovenia if it ends in regulation. If Italy wins in regulation, then Poland needs Austria to win cause Italy has h2h tiebreaker. 3 way tiebreaker between Italy, Poland and Slovenia goes to Poland cause in their matchups Poland has +1 differential, Slovenia has -1 and Italy is at 0