Konstantin Komarek scored the winning penalty to give Austria a 3-2 win over Germany after a shootout at the hockey world championships on Monday, a result that sent Switzerland into the quarter-finals.
Austria’s win means Switzerland became the fourth team from Group A to advance to the quarters, joining Canada, Sweden and the Czech Republic. Austria needed a win in regulation to keep alive its slim chances of advancing.
Finland also beat Belarus 3-2 after a penalty shootout, having already secured a spot in the knockout stage. Finland are tied for second with Russia in Group B with 14 points, one behind the US.
Photo: AFP
Belarus have 11 points in fourth and needs at least a point from their last group game against Norway to make the quarters for the second straight year.
In the late games, Filip Forsberg scored two goals as Sweden completed the group stage with a 4-2 victory over France to clinch second place in Group A. The Nashville Predators forward has a tournament-leading eight goals from seven games.
“To finish second in the group period’s a good job,” said New Jersey Devils forward Jacob Josefson, who also had a goal for Sweden. “We’re looking forward to the quarter-finals.”
Canada have 18 points and one more game to play, while Sweden are second on 16, three more than Czechs. Switzerland have nine.
Austria, a newcomer in the top division, led 2-1 lead before Patrick Reimer tied the game for Germany with two minutes remaining in the final period.
In Ostrava, Czech Republic, Evgeni Kovyrshin ended Finland goaltender Pekka Rinne’s shutout streak with a one-timed slap shot 5 minutes, 9 seconds into the final period for Belarus. The Nashville Predators goalie had shut out three straight opponents at the worlds, setting a post-World War II record of going 237 minutes without allowing a goal at the tournament.
“He is a top-notch goaltender and one of the best, if not the best in the game,” Finland forward Tuomo Ruutu said.
Joonas Donskoi and Teemu Hartikainen scored 54 seconds apart in the final period to give Finland the lead before Alexei Kalyuzhny beat Rinne again with 31 seconds to go.
In the shootout, Jarkko Immonen, Joonas Donskoi and captain Jussi Jokinen all scored to lift Finland to victory.
Also in Group B, Ziga Pance’s goal lifted Slovenia 1-0 over Denmark for their first victory. Despite the three points, Slovenia finished last and will be demoted to the second-tier tournament next year.
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