Olympics 2026 qualification

[FrHockeyFan]

France ahead 3-0. Goals by Chakiachvili, Da Costa and Bellemare. The Ukrainians do get some serious opportunities but Papillon keeps them at bay.

 

[ozo]

Hungary outshooting Kazakhstan 26-10 yet trailing 2-3. Kazakhstan looks their regular bad.

Mikhailis really showed up and it was all it took today.

 

[FrHockeyFan]

And 5-0... Treille and Dubé... could have been 6-0 if Fabre's wasn't offside... glad the French are taking care of their goal difference.

 

[aquaregia]

Mikhailis really showed up and it was all it took today.

That doesn't quite tell the whole story of how easy Hungary made it for him, one goal after two Hungarian defenders collide with each other in their own zone to cough up the puck on a PP, one that was deflected put in off one of those same defenders as Mikhailis is coming round the net, and the final goal on a break where the nearest Hungarian skater's virtually in Kosice.

Pity about Ukraine's effort, thought they wouldn't go down so easily at all, meanwhile Japan are up 1-0 v Norway indeed, shows what little I know l0l

 

[David Suzuki]

Japan up on Norway.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Much like in Kazakh game, the Norwegian top guys showed up and it's 3-1.

 

[kabidjan18]

It’s disappointing how big the blowouts in the start of this tournament have been, it suggests that the gap in performance level between teams really is not narrowing.

 

[ellja3]

So, it wasn't Shutov being a hero, but rather low-danger shots from Hungary, or? That shooting% is abysmal.

 

[SoundAndFury]

If anything, Japan played a very close game against Norway who were saved by their top-level talent. I feel like it's definitely in the eye of beholder what you wanna see.

Ukraine did get blown out but that's a D2A team playing against a respectable elite division squad.

 

[aquaregia]

So, it wasn't Shutov being a hero, but rather low-danger shots from Hungary, or? That shooting% is abysmal.

from what I saw mostly the latter

 

[Habsforever14]

Slovakia struggling against Austria...

 

[kabidjan18]

Slovakia struggling against Austria...

0-0 and Slovakia has had about 80% of the possession, I’d hardly describe that as struggling.

 

[Habsforever14]

I mean if you're Slovakia you need to be up on Austria after 1.

 

[SoundAndFury]

I mean if you're Slovakia you need to be up on Austria after 1.

Hockey is mostly about winning the game, not the first period.

 

[FrHockeyFan]

Ukraine did get blown out but that's a D2A team playing against a respectable elite division squad.

Ukraine was quite dangerous when given the opportunity which the French did plenty of times. Luckily for them, Papillon demonstrated why he is the number 1 goalie.

On the bright side for "les Bleus", 7 different goal/12 point scorers gives a lot of confidence to everyone on the team.

 

[vlady]

SVK up by 2 now. Courtesy of Gernat and Kelemen.

 

[kabidjan18]

I find it very annoying how biased the reffing in the game is. Is it the difference? No. But the calls have been really questionable. Pospisil hit Ganahl out of nowhere and Ganahl also got a penalty, that makes no sense.

 

[Czechboy]

I like Austria... But go Slovakia go!

 

[vlady]

K. Pospisil is an idiot.

EDIT: to elaborate, that Austrian goal is all on him for taking a really stupid penalty. It's not the first time either.

 

[kabidjan18]

I feel like that second call on Kristian was essentially a makeup call.

Kristian and Martin know all the Austrian players who were based in Austria (so anyone not from Switzerland) so it’s not surprising to me that there is some friendly/hostile banter.

 

[vorky]

Studenič left Slovak NT because he does not like his role within team. Unprofessionalism from him, especially if he joined NT team later, because he wanted to be longer with his Swedish club. He could have announced his departure earlier, not after Slovak NT announced the roster for the tournament. So now Slovak NT can't replace him, so having less forwards than opponents.

 

[Antiillafire]

K. Pospisil is an idiot.

EDIT: to elaborate, that Austrian goal is all on him for taking a really stupid penalty. It's not the first time either.

The amount of head scratching plays he makes is insane

 

[vlady]

well, that was a hard fought win. I was very worried about this game so I am really glad we won.

 

[Antiillafire]

Was Ramsey replaced by a body double for the third period? Wtf was that. Slovakia caved in and Austria basically played the entire period in Slovak zone. Cingel and Liska being out for defensive zone faceoffs in critical moments near end of game was even crazier.

Slovakia’s offence without Slafkovsky is pitiful. How tf is Dvorsky not on this team over some of these guys ???

 

[kabidjan18]

Very frustrating game to watch. Forwards were too antsy with the puck, basically didn’t generate any offense all night 5v5. Slovakia deserved to win, although the close score line is also appropriate.