Hockey World Championships Update: May 4

Published: 4^th May 12 1:38 pm

Emma Harger
Boston Bruins Blogger

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Chara and Krejci in national uniform at the 2010 Olympics. Chara: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE. Krejci: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE.

The two Boston Bruins representing their home countries at the IIHF Hockey World Championships in Finland and Sweden are off to differing starts in the first day of tournament play.

Slovakia’s team, captained by Zdeno Chara, narrowly lost 3-2 to the Canada squad. Jamie Benn (Dallas Stars) opened the scoring at 14 minutes into the first period and took a 1-0 lead to the first intermission. Tomas Tatar (Grand Rapids Griffins) responded early in the second to tie it up at one apiece. Then Miroslav Satan (Slovan Bratislava), a former Bruin and one of Slovakia’s alternates, received a holding penalty. While Canada didn’t capitalize on the power play that resulted, Jordan Eberle (Edmonton Oilers) scored not long after the penalty expired. Andrew Ladd (Winnipeg Jets) added an insurer about three minutes later. Milan Bartovic (Bili Tygri Liberec) scored the only goal of the third, but it wasn’t enough and Canada took the victory.

Chara was not on the ice for any of Canada’s goals, registered two shots and played just over 19 minutes, second most among any Slovakian player.

Meanwhile in Stockholm, the Czech Republic team shut out Denmark 2-0. David Krejci took a delay of game penalty early in the second while fellow countryman Zdenek Kutlak (HC Ambri-Piotta) was already in the box for tripping. But even with a five-on-three opportunity, Denmark couldn’t convert. Krejci also took 18 faceoffs and won more than half of them, but he was held to just one shot on goal in the first period, though he played about 15 minutes. Ales Hemsky (Edmonton) and Petr Tenkrat (Sparta Prague) provided the only goals Czech needed for the win.

Next up for Slovakia: Finland, May 6, 9:15 a.m. Eastern (4:15 p.m. local)

Next up for the Czech Republic: Sweden, May 5, 2:15 p.m. Eastern (8:15 p.m. local)

For more game results, including America’s 7-2 toasting of France, click here.

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