2014 World Juniors and Spengler Cup Updates

The 2014 World Junior Championships got underway on Boxing Day in Malmö, Sweden, with the ten nations divided into two groups, A and B.

Play opened in Group A with Canada defeating Germany 7-2 and the United States matching that with a 5-1 win over the Czech Republic. On Friday, Slovakia announced their intention to advance to the playoff round when they beat likely relegation bound Germany with an impressive 9-2 win.

Saturday saw the United States move to the top of the group when they beat the Slovaks 6-3 while the Czech Republic beat Canada in a shootout 5-4 in easily the best game of the tournament to date. Sunday's lone game saw the Americans take their turn dominating the overmatched Germans 8-0.

Going into today's action, the US leads Group A with a 3-0 record and 9 points. Canada is next at 1-0-0-1 with a win and a shootout loss for 4 points. Slovakia is 1-1 with 3 points, ahead of their neighbors and rivals the Czech Republic, who have 2 points from their shootout win combined with a loss. Germany is 0-3 with no points.

Games today have the Germans in a must win situation against the Czechs. A regulation win for the Germans would give them a fighting chance to avoid the Relegation Round, while the Czechs need to at least make it to overtime to advance to the Playoff Round. Canada draws Slovakia in the second game and certainly have plans to rebound from their loss to the Czechs to set up a New Year's Eve showdown with the United States.

Tuesday's games see Slovakia and the Czech Republic in Group A's early game followed by the anticipated US vs. Canada showdown, which will likely determine the winner of the group.

Meanwhile, over in Group B, Russia demoralized Norway 11-0 to open play at the Malmö Arena followed by host Sweden pleasing the home fans with an opening 5-3 win over Switzerland.

Finland began their tournament with a 5-1 defeat of Norway on Friday, while Saturday's action saw Sweden take a key win over rivals Finland 4-2 followed by Russia having an easy time of it in a 7-1 victory against the Swiss. Sunday's game saw Sweden pummel Noway by a score of 10-0.

Group B is thus led by Sweden at 3-0 for 9 points with Russia 2-0 for 6 points. Finland is 1-1, good for 3 points while Switzerland is winless to date at 0-2, as is Norway at 0-3.

Games today have Russia looking to keep pace with Sweden when they play Finland in the first game, while Switzerland must defeat Norway to ensure their own safety while dooming the Norwegians to the Relegation Round.

Tuesday's games have Sweden squaring off against Russia, presumably with the winner taking top honors in Group B, while Finland faces Switzerland in the final game of the Preliminary Round.

Play will resume with the start of the Playoff Round on Thursday, as well as Game 1 of the best-of-three Relegation Round, which is expected to see Germany looking to send Norway down to Division I Group A for 2015.

Meanwhile in Davos, Switzerland, the annual Spengler Cup has entered the playoff phase.

Play in Group Torriani saw Swiss club Genève-Servette HC blitz the Rochester Americans of the AHL 5-0 in the opening game before Russian side HC CSKA Moscow held on to defeat the Americans 4-3 the following day. Geneva then outlasted CSKA 4-3 in overtime to win the group and gain a bye into the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Group Cattini began with Team Canada earning a 5-4 win over HC Vitkovice Steel of the Czech Republic, who where then easily defeated by Swiss host HC Davos 5-1 the day after. Davos then sent the home fans home happy when they won 3-2 over Canada on Saturday.

The quarterfinals saw CSKA Moscow outlasting Vitkovice Steel in overtime and will now face host Davos in today's first game. Team Canada beat the Rochester Americans 6-3 and will now face Genève-Servette in today's second game.

The winners of the semifinals will face off for the Spengler Cup on New Year's Eve at noon Swiss time, 5 AM Eastern Time in North America.