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Philadelphia Flyers forward BOB “Hound Dog” KELLY (9) and team captain BOBBY CLARKE celebrate a goal versus the Buffalo Sabres in the 1975 Stanley Cup finals.
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The in-depth look at the IIHF World Championships has been interrupted, partly due to the heat and humidity, and partly due to the appearance of the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup finals.

This blog is the product of two brothers who grew up roughly 45 minutes north of the city of Philadelphia during the 1970s. We can easily recall playing street hockey with the old Bobby Clarke sticks featuring the classic orange plastic blades!

The originial BROAD STREET BULLIES — the National Hockey League never saw anything like them ever before and, in large part due to rules changes, never will again.
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Philadelphia Flyers center BOBBY CLARKE (16) and New York Rangers pivot PETE STEMKOWSKI (21) jockey for position just after the a face-off as noted Flyers tough-guy DAVE SCHULTZ (8) follows the puck at Madison Square Garden. (Sports Illlustrated photo)
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1973-74 : National Hockey League
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS — Stanley Cup champions

fight = five-minute fighting majors assessed during regular season

23 fights — # 8 – W – Dave SCHULTZ — (348 pen.min.)

9 fights — # 9 – W – Bob KELLY — (130 pen.min.)
8 fights — # 26 – C – Orest KINDRACHUK — (85 pen.min.)
6 fights — # 6 – D – Andre DUPONT — (216 pen.min.)
6 fights — # 11 – W – Don SALESKI — (131 pen.min.)
4 fights — # 18 – W – Ross LONSBERRY — (48 pen.min.)
2 fights — # 19 – C – Rick MACLEISH — (42 pen.min.)
2 fights — # 10 – C – Bill CLEMENT — (34 pen.min.)
1 fights — # 3 – D – Tom BLADON — (37 pen.min.)
1 fights — # 4 – D – Barry ASHBEE — (52 pen.min.)
1 fights — # 12 – W – Gary DORNHOEFER — (125 pen.min.)
1 fights — # 16 – C – Bobby CLARKE — (113 pen.min.)
1 fights — # 17 – W – Simon NOLET — (13 pen.min.)
1 fights — # 21 – W – Bill FLETT — (51 pen.min.)

24-year-old left wing DAVE SCHULTZ, in only his second full season in the National Hockey League, scored a career-high 20 goals (in 73 games) for the Philadelphia Flyers during the 1973-74 schedule.

Philadelphia captain BOBBY CLARKE, also 24, led the Flyers with both 35 goals and 87 points (in 77 games) that season.

The Philadelphia Flyers paced the NHL with 66 fighting majors during the regular 1973-74 season.

The New York Islanders, with GARRY HOWATT and his league-leading 26 bouts, were second on 54 fighting majors while the Los Angeles Kings checked in third with 52 that year.

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Amidst a pile of gloves that have been dropped, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman ANDRE DUPONT (28) squares off with Minnesota North Stars forward JEAN-PAUL PARISE (11) at the Spectrum on March 28, 1973. Dupont, who switched his Flyers jersey number to six for the Stanley Cup-winning campaign to follow, had been acquired during the season in a trade with the St. Louis Blues. (Melchior DiGiacomo/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)
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“Moose” Dupont and Parise, a member of Team Canada for the historic 1972 Summit Series with the national team of the Soviet Union, trade punches in what has become the main event. Parise is the father of current New Jersey Devils forward ZACH PARISE, a member of the United States’ silver medal-winning squad this past February at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games from Vancouver, Canada. (Melchior Di Giacomo/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)

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Belarus forward ANDREI STAS (26) of Dynamo Minsk is a step ahead of 19-year-old Slovakia forward RICHARD PANIK (28) of the American Hockey League’s Norfolk Admirals during the Group A match attended by 8,862 at the Lanxess Arena in Koeln. (Martin Meissner/AP)
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SLOVAKIA fell behind by two goals within the first nine minutes of the match but rallied behind two goals from ex-NHL forward MILAN BARTOVIC to forge a key 4-2 victory over a stubborn BELARUS at the IIHF World Championships in Germany.

Forward SERGEI DEMAGIN of Russian club Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk took advantage of an opportunity of a flubbed shot in front to give Belarus a fast start just four and a half minutes in.

Then, veteran forward ALEXEI KALYUZHNY of Russian club Dynamo Moscow doubled the Belarussians’ lead with a long-distance puck shot from a very bad angle against Slovakia goalie PETER BUDAJ of the Coloardo Avalanche at the nine minute mark. Kalyuzhny’s goal was his second in as many games at the World Championships in Germany and 15th, all-time, for Belarus at a major international event.
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Belarus forward MIKHAIL GRABOVSKI (84) of the Toronto Maple Leafs gives a good shot to Slovakia defenseman IVAN MAJESKY (8) of Swedish club AIK Skelleftea along the boards in Cologne. (Grigory Dukor/Reuters)
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Slovakia, who are coached by one-time National Hockey League goaltender GLEN HANLON — the former bench boss of the Belarus national team — rallied in the second session.

Forward IVAN CIERNIK of hometown German club Koelner Haie (Cologne Sharks) cut the Slovakian deficit in half with a power play goal less than three minutes into the new period.

And, former Buffalo Sabres forward MILAN BARTOVIC of Czech club HC Liberec made a fine move at the blue line and then backhanded the puck through the five-hole of Belarus goalie VITALI KOVAL of Dynamo Minsk to bring Slovakia level seven seconds past the halfway point of the contest.
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Slovakia forward IVAN CIERNIK (27) of German club Koelner Haie backhands the puck over the outstretched pad of Belarus goaltender VITALI KOVAL of Dynamo Minsk on the power play at the World Championships in Germany. (Grigory Dukor/Reuters)
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Ciernik, who skated 89 games (12 go 14 as, 26 pts, 32 pim) in the National Hockey League for the Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals over parts of five seasons, nets his 5th goal in 14 career games at the IIHF World Championships for Slovakia at the Lanxess Arena in Koeln. (Martin Meissner/AP)
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IVAN CIERNIK (27) scores again on “home” ice at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, this time for national team of Slovakia. The 32-year-old forward found the net 38 times in 56 matches for Koelner Haie during the 2007-08 season and again led the Cologne Sharks with 27 goals in 55 games this past season. Last year, Ciernik scored five goals in 50 games for Russian club Sibir Novosibirsk in the Kontinental Hockey League. (Grigory Dukor/Reuters)
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With Colorado Avalanche goaltender PETER BUDAJ looking on in the background, Slovakia’s erstwhile NHL defender IVAN MAJESKY (8) exacts retribution on Belarus forward MIKHAIL GRABOVSKI (84) as forward RICHARD PANIK (28) passes by during the Group A match of Eastern European rivals in Koeln. (Martin Meissner/AP)
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Shortly after Kalyuzhny took his second penalty for Belaurs inside of the first three minutes of the final period, Slovakia seized the lead for the very first time all night.

From the point on the power play, Buffalo Sabres defenseman ANDREJ SEKERA sent a puck in on goal that ended up on the stick of MAREK ZAGRAPAN of Russian club Severstal Cherepovets. The 23-year-old center, who spent three years in the AHL (227 ga, 56 go 71 as, 127 pts, 149 pim) with the Rochester Americans and Portland Pirates before changing to the Kontinental Hockey League last summer, was able to beat Koval on the backhand at 4:07 of the third.

Belarus would not quit and actually ended up outshooting their opponents from Slovakia 27-24 for the match.

With the Belarussians pressing forward in the last minute, the Slovaks added a final goal with a counterattack finished off by Bartovic after fine work from 19-year-old forward RICHARD PANIK of the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals, the second round selection (# 52 overall) of the Tampa Bay Lightning at last summer’s NHL draft.
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Slovakia forward MAREK ZAGRAPAN (21) of Russian club Severstal Cherepovets beats Belarus defenders SERGEI KOLOSOV (25) of the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins and VLADIMIR KOSTYUCHENOK (43) of Russian club Spartak Moscow to the puck and backhands past the goalie Koval for the game-winning goal at the Lanxess Arena. (Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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The former # 1 draft pick (2005, # 13 overall) of the Buffalo Sabres, Zagrapan (21), is received by former NHL defenseman RICHARD LINTNER (44) of Belarussian club Dynamo Minsk. Playing against many of his Kontinental Hockey League Minsk teammates, the captain of Slovakia collected two assists against Belarus at the World Championships in Germany. (Grigory Dukor/Reuters)
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A very important three points from the head-to-head match brings Slovakia level with Belarus on three points in Group A at the IIHF World Championships in Germany. Russia lead the bracket with six points with Kazakhstan at the bottom having no points after two rounds.

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Russian captain ILYA KOVALCHUK (71) competes with Kazakhstan forward VADIM KRASNOLABODTSEV (62) of Barys Astana in another Group A game involving two former Soviet republics before a crowd of 9,274 at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne. (Mika Kylmaniemi/HHOF-IIHF Images)
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Goals from four different National Hockey League players paced the sound squad of RUSSIA to a business-like 4-1 defeat of its southern neighbor KAZAKHSTAN at the IIHF World Championships in Germany.

“I don’t think they gave it 100%,” stated Kazakhstan captain ALEXANDER KORESHKOV after the match; the 41-year-old Barys Astana forward did not fail to mention that the Kazakhs were without injured forward NIKOLAI ANTROPOV of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Whatever the case, Washington Capitals star forward ALEXANDER OVECHKIN used his trademark rifle-like-wrist shot to score his second goal in as many games at the World Championships in Germany and propel Russia to a 1-0 lead on the power play at 10:20 of the opening period.
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Russia forward ALEXANDER SEMIN (28) of the Washington Capitals has his shot snuffed by Kazakhstan defender MAXIM SEMENOV (7), the 7th round Toronto Maple Leafs selection (2004, # 220 overall) of Russian club HK Atlant Mytischy, as forward ANDREI GAVRILIN (33) of Barys Astana looks to swipe the loose puck at the Lanxess Arena in Koeln. (Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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Newly-promoted Kazakhstan did stay with the game for a fair amount of time, as exhibited by the rather even 16-14 shots-on-goal total in favor of Russia posted through two periods of play; not long after the faceoff following Ovechkin’s opening goal, the Kazakhs were unfortunate when ILYA SOLAREV rang a wrist shot off the right post.

Then, New Jersey Devils star forward ILYA KOLVALCHUK took a smart, long, head-man pass from Washington Capitals attacker ALEXANDER SEMIN and was off on the breakaway for Russia less than a minute into the second period.

Kovalchuk easily beat Kazakhstan goaltender VITALY YEREMEYEV of Russian club Dynamo Moscow high to the stick side for his 27th goal at a major international tournament for Russia; the 27-year-old also moved within one point of ALEXEI YASHIN (57 points) on Russia’s all-time scoring list at the majors.
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Kazakhstan goaltender VITALY YEREMEYEV of Russian club Dynamo Moscow looks behind the net for a shot gone wide as New Jersey Devils star forward ILYA KOVALCHUK (71) of Russia leaps high in the air at the World Championships in Germany. (Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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No goal this time but Kovalchuk would not wait long to leave his mark on the match between the two former republics of the by-gone Soviet Union. (Grigory Dukor/Reuters)
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Russia’s veteran international forward MAXIM SUSHINSKY (33) of SKA St. Petersburg seeks to deflect the shot with Kazakh defender ALEXEI VASSILCHENKO (29) of Barys Astana at his back as Kazkhstan goaltender VITALY YEREMEYEV follows the puck at the Lanxess Arena in Koeln. (Martin Meissner/AP)
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Kovalchuk wheels away after beating Yeremeyev on the breakaway at the World Championships. (Grigory Dukor/Reuters)
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Teammates with the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League, ALEXANDER SEMIN (28) and ALEXANDER OVECHKIN (8) take note of a third goal against Yeremeyev of Kazakhstan. (Martin Meissner/AP)
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Semin, who finished with a three-point night, scored an unassisted goal with 2:05 to go in the middle frame to fashion Russia the 3-0 lead as final intermission approached.

Nashville Predators defenseman DENIS GREBESHKOV closed Russia’s account with an even-strength goal assisted by MAXIM AFINOGENOV of the Atlanta Thrashers and NIKOLAI KULEMIN of the Toronto Maple Leafs against Yeremeyev (25 saves), the former New York Rangers draft pick (1994, # 209 overall), roughly three and a half minutes into the third period.

DMITRI DUDAREV of Russian club Metallurg Novokuznetsk collected a measure of pride for Kazakhstan with a power play goal just two minutes and one second from full time, thus depriving Russian goaltender ALEXANDER YEREMENKO (18 saves) of Salavat Yulayev Ufa the shutout.

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Shortly after the Kazakhstan game, Russia registered veteran international forward PAVEL DATSYUK of the Detroit Red Wings for the 2010 IIHF World Championships in Germany.

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Canada defenseman BRETT BURNS (8) of the Minnesota Wild decks Latvia forward ALEKSANDRS NIZIVIJS (17) along the boards during the Group B game as observed by 5,501 Zuschauer at the SAP-Arena in Mannheim. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)
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The defending Winter Olympic champions from CANADA scored five unanswered goals, including four with the man-advantage, the first half of the match then coasted the rest of the way for a 6-1 victory over LATVIA at the IIHF World Championships in Germany.

19-year-old New York Islanders forward JOHN TAVARES, the number one overall draft choice from last summer’s National Hockey League draft, opened Canada’s account just two minutes into the match on the power play.

20-year-old Tampa Bay Lightning attacker STEVE STAMKOS, the very first player selected at the 2008 NHL draft, scored a second power play goal for Canada at 18:19 of the opening period; Stamkos also produced a goal in Canada’s opener versus Italy and has now scored nine times in his first eleven games at the IIHF World Championships to start his promising career.
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Canada forward JOHN TAVARES (20) signals his first goal just 1:59 into the game against Latvia goaltender EDGARS MASALSKIS of Dynamo Riga as defenseman ARVIDS REKIS (3) of German club Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams has a look at the puck in the back of the net. (Petr Josek/Reuters)
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The teenager Tavares, who enjoyed a solid rookie season for the New York Islanders (82 ga, 24 go 30 as, 54 pts) after making the successful transition from Canadian major junior to the NHL, takes the congratulatory skate at the SAP-Arena in Mannheim following his first-ever goal for Canada at a major international event. (Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
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Calgary Flames defenseman MARK GIORDANO, who spent the 2007-08 in the old Russian Super League with Dyanmo Moscow, scored yet another power play goal against Latvia goaltender EDGARS MASALSKIS of Dynamo Riga five and a half minutes into the second period.

Tavares tallied his second power play goal only 1:28 later to give Canada a 4-0 lead and chase the veteran international netminder Masalskis (17 saves) from the match; MARTINS RAITUMS of the English Ice Hockey League’s Hull Stingrays entered the fray in goal for Latvia.
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A fourth Canadian goal, the second from Tavares, saw Latvia goaltender EDGARS MASALSKIS (31) take a seat on the bench during the Group B match at the World Championships in Germany. (Petr Josek/Reuters)
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Forward STEVE DOWNIE of the Tampa Bay Lightning, a former 1st round draft pick (2005, # 29 overall) of the Philadelphia Flyers, greeted Raitums with a goal, the first of the match at even-strength, seven seconds past the halfway point of the game for a 5-0 Canada lead.

The defenseman Giordano collected his second goal of the game in the final minute of the second period to take Canada’s total on the scoreboard to six.

For all intents and purposes, Canada and head coach CRAIG MACTAVISH called off the dogs for the final period; CHAD JOHNSON of the American Hockey League’s Hartford Wolf Pack replaced CHRIS MASON of the St. Louis Blues in goal for Canada.

Latvia salvaged a measure of pride and spoiled the combined shutout bid of Canada with a goal from defenseman GEORGIS PUJACS of Russian club Sibir Novosibirsrk with roughly nine and a half minutes remaining.
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Canadians RAY WHITNEY (38), MATT DUCHENE (92), BRETT BURNS (8) and two-goal scorer JOHN TAVARES (20) gather at the end of the game with Latvia at the SAP-Arena in Mannheim. (Petr Josek/Reuters)
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Canada and Switzerland, both victorious in their first two matches of the IIHF World Championships in Germany, will meet in the final round of matches for Group B to determine the winner in the bracket; Latvia will skate against Italy to see which nation will be assigned to the relegation pool for the second round.

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Switzerland forward MARTIN PLUESS (28) of Nationalliga A champion SC Bern tangles with Italian defenseman NICK PLASTINO (44) of HC Asiago as former University of Minnesota defender MATT DE MARCHI (19) of HC Asiago, a two-time NCAA champion and former 2nd round draft pick of the New Jersey Devils, measures the situation during the Group B match in front of 5,971 spectators at the SAP-Arena in Mannheim. (Keystone photo)
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SWITZERLAND finally scored a goal 80 seconds into the second period and, ultimately, overcame stingy opposition goaltending to defeat Alpine neighbors ITALY 3-0 at the IIHF World Championships in Germany.

“Our biggest goal coming in was not to underestimate them, and we did a good job of that,” stated Switzerland starting goaltender MARTIN GERBER of Russian club HK Mytischy Atlant, who made 15 saves for his fifth career shutout at the IIHF World Championships.

It should be remembered that, although the Italy last defeated the Swiss at the World Championships in 1995, the Italians did forge a 3-3 draw with Switzerland at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin — this after the Swiss had defeated both the Czech Republic and Canada earlier in the Olympic round robin.

In a proper frame of mind, Switzerland completely dominated the game against Italy in Mannheim from a puck-possesion standpoint, as evidenced by the overwhelming 52-15 shots-on-goal total — scoring goals was another matter altogether.
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The 33-year-old veteran Swiss international Pluess (28) sets Italy forward LUCA ANSOLDI (71) of SV Ritten/Renon sailing during the clash of Alpine rivals at the 2010 World Championships in Germany. (APA/EPA photo).
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Swiss forward THIBAUT MONNET (25) of SC Zurich tussles with Italian defenseman TREVOR JOHNSON (5) of HC Bolzano in front of Azzuri netminder DANIEL BELLISSIMO (30) of HC Asiago at the SAP-Arena in Mannheim. (Keystone photo)
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The shin-high puck remains in the sights of 37-year-old Italian captain ROLAND RAMOSER of HC Bolzano, who previously played four seasons in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga with Nuernberg and Kassel in the late 1990s, during the Alpine derby with Switzerland. (Max Pattis photo)
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SC Zurich forward THIBAUT MONNET was, at last, able to breach the defenses of Italian goaltender DANIEL BELLISSIMO of HC Asiago one minute and twenty seconds into the second period to give the Swiss a hard-earned 1-0 lead.

Bellissimo was brilliant on the evening for Italy and finished with 49 saves against Switzerland. The 25-year-old native of Toronto and former Western Michigan University netminder had made his major international debut in relief against Canada during the Italians’ opener in Germany.
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Swiss forwards THIBAUT MONNET (25) and DAMIEN BRUNNER celebrate the first goal of the game against Italy at the SAP-Arena in Mannheim. (Matthew Manor/HHOF-IIHF Images)
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Swiss players, left to right — former Ottawa Senators farmhand JULIEN VAUCLAIR (3) of HC Lugano, national team rookie DAMIEN BRUNNER (96) of EV Zug, goal-scorer THIBAUT MONNET (25) of SC Zurich and ANDREAS AMBUEHL (10) of the American Hockey League’s Hartford Wolf Pack — circle after Switzerland took the 1-0 second period lead against Italy at the Group B match in Mannheim.(Keystone photo)
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Switzerland added a second goal from 24-year-old forward DAMIEN BRUNNER of EV Zug, his first at a major international tournament, on the power play 6:19 into the final period to effectively seal the victory. Brunner, the top Swiss-born scorer in the Nationalliga A with 58 points (23 go 35 as) this season for EV Zug, cruised into the slot and snapped a laser-like wrister over the glove of Bellissimo in the Italian goal.

Highly-experienced international forward MARTN PLUESS of SC Bern scored his second empty-net goal in as many games at the World Championships in Germany to secure the 3-0 triumph and the full three points in Group B for Switzerland.

Pluess, on his 12th appearance at a major international tournament, now totals 23 goals in 77 games for Switzerland, all-time.

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Finland forward PETRI KONTIOLA (27) of Russian club Metallurg Magnitogorsk fires a shot at goal as forward CHRISTOPH ULLMANN (47) of hometown Koelner Haie and defenseman NIKOLAI GOC (77) of domestic champions Hannover Scorpions defend for Germany before an overflow crowd of 18,654 at the Lanxess Arena in Koeln. (Getty Images)
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Two teammates for Russian champion Ak Bars Kazan supply the required result for Suomi in Cologne — forward JARKKO IMMONEN scored the goal that netminder PETRI VEHANEN made stand up as FINLAND survived a late challenge from host nation GERMANY to win 1-0 at the IIHF World Championships.

The Finns, who were desperate for points in Group D following their opening-game defeat the hands of Scandanavian rivals Denmark, thoroughy controlled play for most of the first two periods as indicated by the one-sided 31-14 total for shots-on-goal.

Eisbaeren Berlin backstop ROB ZEPP, a naturalized Canadian, received the start in goal for Germany and rewarded head coach UWE KRUPP’s confidence with a fine debut (36 saves) for Deutschland on his major international debut.

Zepp, a former 4th round draft choice (2001, # 110 overall) of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes who spent all but seven games of his four-year North American pro career in the East Coast Hockey League with the Florida Everblades, played his first two seasons in Europe with Finnish SM-Liiga club Saipa Lappeenranta before inking a deal with German club Eisbaeren Berlin in the summer of 2007.

Ironically enough, it was current Carolina Hurricanes forward JUSSI JOKINEN who centered the puck from behind the German net in front for Immonen, the one-time New York Ranger, to shoot past Zepp for what would be the only goal of the game 5:18 into the second period.

Germany made a legitimate attempt to level the match with much more of a sustained attack for the final period, but were stifled by the fine form of the Gargarin Cup winner Vehanen, who finished with 28 saves for his first career shutout in only his second-ever match at a major international event for Finland.
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German captain MARCEL GOC (57) of the Nashville Predators competes with Finnish defenseman TOPI JAAKOLA (6) of the Swedish club SK Sodertalje, a former 5th round pick (2002, # 134 overall) of the Florida Panthers, during the World Championships at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne. (AP photo)
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German defenseman ALEXANDER SUZLER (52) of the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals takes a swat at Finland forward TOMMI SANTALA (22) of Swiss club EHC Kloten. The 30-year-old Santala once skated 62 NHL games (2 go 6 as, 8 pts, 46 pim) for the Atlanta Thrashers and Vancouver Canucks. (DPA photo)
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Finland forward ANTTI MIETTINEN receives a mitt to the face from Germany defenseman KORBINIAN HOLZER as templares flare during the Group D match in Kolen. (Grigory Dukor/Reuters)
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Finland forward JARKKO IMMONEN (26), who played 20 NHL games (3 go 5 as, 8 pts, 4 pim) for the New York Rangers from the fall of 2005 thru the spring of 2007, shoots past goaltender ROB ZEPP (72) and sprawled defender KORBINIAN HOLZER (5) to give Finland the 1-0 lead against Germany at the World Championships in Koeln. (Jukka Rautio/HHOF-IIHF Images)
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With Zepp lying on his back in the German goal, the Finnish forward Immonen stands alone in front with stick aloft to celebrate what will prove to be the game’s only goal. (Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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Immonen and the creator of Finland’s goal, JUSSI JOKINEN (36) of the Carolina Hurricanes, joined in celebration by Minnesota Wild forward ANTTI MIETTINEN (20) and blueliner PETTERI NUMMELIN (3) of Swiss club HC Lugano, the former Minnesota Wild defenseman. (DPA photo)
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SUOMI supporters have their say at the Lanxess Arena in Koeln immediately after Immonen scored in the second period. (DPA photo)
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A stunning collision between former NHL forward ANTTI PIHLSTROM (40), who skated 54 games (2 go 5 as, 7 pt, 10 pim) over parts of two seasons for the Nashville Predators before signing with Swedish club BK Farjestad Karlstad last summer, and German defenseman KORBINIAN HOLZER of Dusseldorf Metro Stars during the Group D match in Koeln. (Grigory Dukor/Reuters)
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A guilty-looking German, forward MARCEL GOC of the Nashville Predators, gazes on as Finland forward LEO KOMAROV of Russian club Dynamo Moscow loses his balance in front of Germany’s bench at the World Championships in Cologne. (Grigory Dukor/Reuters)
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German defenseman ROBERT DIETRICH (20) of the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals gives a lift to Finnish forward JORI LEHTERA (52) of Tappara Tampere along the boards at the Lanxess Arena. (Grigory Dukor/Reuters)
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Finland goaltender PETRI VEHANEN protects the puck from Germany’s match-winner versus the United States, forward FELIX SCHUETZ (55) of the American Hockey League’s Portland Pirates, as Finnish forward JUSSI JOKINEN (36) of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes attempts to provide assistance. (Frank Augstein/AP)
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Germany national team coach UWE KRUPP points out it will take two goals to defeat Finland in the third period at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne. Flanking the former National Hockey League defenseman who played for Koelner Haie in the Bundesliga before heading to North America are forward FELIX SCHUETZ (55), a 4th round draft pick (2006, # 117 overall) of the Buffalo Sabres, and JOHN TRIPP (21) of Hamburg Freezers, himself a former NHLer for the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings. (DPA photo)
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German forward MICHAEL WOLF (16) of Iserlohn Roosters, who scored the very first goal of the 2010 IIHF World Championships at Gelsenkirchen, moves in alone on Finnish goaltender PETRI VEHANEN (31) of Russia’s Gargarin Cup winners Ak Bars Kazan in Koeln. (Frank Augstein/AP)
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The ice shavings fly but the puck stays out as German forward ALEXANDER BARTA (47) of Hamburg Freezers attacks the Finnish net while backchecking forward ANTTI PIHLSTROM (40) of JyPHT Jyvaskyla arrives on the scene to assist Vehanen. (DPA photo)
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The triumphant Finns gather in their own end after holding off host nation Germany at the World Championships before the overflow crowd at the Lanxess Arena in Koeln. (DPA photo)
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The two goaltenders — Finland’s PETRI VEHANEN of Russian champion Ak Bars Kazan and Germany’s ROB ZEPP of perennial Deutsche Eishockey Liga power Eisbaeren Berlin — were chosen by the International Ice Hockey Federation as the official Players of the Game for Match No. 11 at the 2010 World Championships in Germany.

Presenting the Tissot watches awarded are the General Manager of Finland, former National Hockey League star JARI KURRI (left), as well as the President of the 2010 Organizing Committee, UWE HARNOS (right).

Note the fan in the crowd directly behind Kurri wearing the Edmonton Oilers jersey. (Tissot photo)
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After the second round of games in Group D, with the victory in regulation play, Finland (3 pts) stand in second place behind Denmark (5 pts) but in front of Germany (2 pts) and the United States (2 pts) with one final group game versus the Americans to be contested.

Germany, meanwhile, put a finish to the preliminary round with their northern neighbors from Denmark.

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After being leveled by United States forward KYLE OKPOSO (21) of the New York Islanders, Denmark defenseman STEFAN LASSEN (6) focuses on the puck as he prepares for a seat on his fanny during the Group D game with 8,985 in attendance at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne. (Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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More outstanding goaltending, this time from normal first choice PATRICK GALBRAITH, and a daring play from the defenseman Lassen propelled DENMARK to a 2-1 upset victory over the defending Olympic silver medalists from the UNITED STATES at the IIHF World Championships in Germany.

A second consecutive defeat of a semifinalist from this past February’s Winter Games at Vancouver for the non-traditional hockey power of Denmark then.

The 24-year-old Galbraith of Swedish second division side IF Bjorkloven Umea, who spent the 2006-07 season playing junior hockey for the New Hampshire Monarchs in the United States, stopped 30 shots in all against the Americans in Koeln.
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United States forward DAVID MOSS (25) of the Calgary Flames is denied at the doorstep by Denmark goaltender PATRICK GALBRAITH as backchecking Danish center PETER REGIN (93) of the Ottawa Senators looks to corral the rebound during the Group A match in Cologne. (Frank Augstein/AP)
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Denmark defenseman MADS BECH CHRISTENSEN (60) arrives to deal with Moss as Galbraith and Regin continue to focus on the rebound flopping about at the Lanxess Arena in Koeln. (Frank Augstein/AP)
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The first half of the Denmark – U.S. game amounted to a duel of goaltenders featuring Galbraith and the American, SCOTT CLEMMENSEN of the Florida Panthers.

The Danes of Swedish head coach PER BACKMAN came out determined in Cologne and outshot the United States 11-8 for the opening twenty minutes; the Americans answered with a dominant second session that saw the USA accumulate a 17-5 advantage for shots-on-goal.
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Harrassed by United States defenseman ANDY GREENE (6) of the New Jersey Devils, Denmark defender MADS BECH CHRISTENSEN (60) of IK Fredrikshavn sends his shot wide of American goalie SCOTT CLEMMENSEN of the Florida Panthers. (Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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Denmark took a surprising lead at 8:52 of the second period when American Hockey League forward LARS ELLER of the Peoria Rivermen ended the scoreless stalemate on the power play.

The 20-year-old Eller, a 1st round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues (2007, # 13 overall) who spent this past season with the Rivermen as club teammate of the United States’ reserve goaltender in Cologne, BEN BISHOP, blasted a slapshot from the top of the right faceoff circle over the left shoulder of Clemmensen (27 saves) for a 1-0 Denmark lead.

A quick breakout play involving long passes from Denmark’s two NHL players, FRANS NIELSEN of the New York Islanders and PETER REGIN of the Ottawa Senators, enabled Eller.

The United States would answer with a power play goal of their own a little over three minutes later, however.

New York Islanders forward KYLE OKPOSO (Univ of Minnesota) skated the puck from the point down low to center cross-ice for defenseman KEITH YANDLE of the Phoenix Coyotes to one-time past Galbraith and tie the contest for the Americans.

The final period produced a continuation of the goaltender’s duel and scoreboard stalemate and so it was off to overtime.

Two minutes into the extra session, Danish defenseman STEFAN LASSEN of Swedish club IF Leksands sent a seemingly harmless-enough wrist shot from the top of the left circle in on the American goal which Clemmensen carelessly allowed to become a big, fat rebound left unattended in the slot…
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Denmark defenseman STEFAN LASSEN (6) of Swedish club IF Leksands lifts a backhand shot in overtime towards United States netminder SCOTT CLEMMENSEN of the Florida Panthers. Lassen had easily skated past lackadaisical American rearguard MATT GILROY (97) of the New York Rangers, who had played neither the body nor the puck. (Frank Augstein/AP)
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Late-arriving Americans, backchecking forward T. J. OSHIE (74) of the St. Louis Blues and defenseman ANDY GREENE (6) of the New Jersey Devils, can do nothing as Lassen’s backhander has already beaten Clemmensen at the Lanxess Arena. (Frank Augstein/AP)
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The puck is in the net, the proceedings have formally concluded with Lassen’s second-ever goal for his country at a major international event in the historical German city of Koeln. (Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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There is nothing the United States players can do but stare at the puck as Denmark even the all-time series at two wins apiece between the two nations at the IIHF World Championships. The Americans had beaten the Danes at the last two attempts, 3-0 at Riga in Latvia (2006) and 8-3 at Ostrava in the Czech Republic (2004). Denmark, in their first appearance at the elite level of the annual IIHF tournament since 1949, surprised the United States with a 5-2 victory in 2003 at Tampere, Finland. (AP photo)
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Match-winner STEFAN LASSEN, having just completed his first season abroad in the Swedish second division with IF Leksands, prepares for a warm greeting from veteran international defenseman DANIEL NIELSEN (5) of domestic club IK Herning just after his overtime heroics gave Denmark the Group D triumph at the World Championships in Germany. (Frank Augstein/AP)
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The Danes begin to arrive en masse. (Frank Augstein/AP)
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Denmark storm to the top of Group D based in Cologne with five points from their first two matches at the 2010 IIHF World Championships in Germany. (Reuters photo)
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The United States suffer a second consecutive overtime defeat after falling to host nation Germany before a new world-record crowd in the tournament’s opening game at Gelsenkirchen; the Americans have not lost their first two matches to start a World Championships since 2003. (Frank Augstein/AP)
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To see the highlights of the Denmark – United States match from the IIHF World Championships in Germany :

http://www.universalsports.com/video/assetid=d3e32f79-0fc4-4623-b77b-3126585140f6.html#usa+den+goals+game

Belarus forward MIKHAIL STEFANOVICH (16), a fourth round draft pick (2008, # 98 overall) of the Toronto Maple Leafs, pursues Kazakhstan forward ALEXANDER SHIN (49) during the pivotal Group A match between former Soviet republics before 6,125 Zuschauer at the Lanxess Arena in Koeln. (Jukka Rautio/HHOF-IIHF Images)
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All-time national team scoring leader ALEXEI KALYUZHNY of Russian club Dynamo Moscow finished off a breakaway roughly four and a half minutes into the final period to snap the tie as BELARUS dug out of a two-goal hole to defeat KAZAKHSTAN 5-2 at the IIHF World Championships in Germany.

Kazakhstan started strong and posted a 7-3 edge in shots-on-goal for the opening period; just 17 seconds into the second session, veteran forward DMITRI DUDAREV of Russian club Metallurg Novokuznetsk fired a cross-ice pass from 41-year-old former St. Louis Blues forward KONSTANTIN SHAFRANOV past Belarussian goaltender VITALI KOVAL of Dynamo Minsk to give the Kazakhs the opening goal.

Half a minute past the halfway mark of the match, Kazakhstan connected for a second goal. 40-year-old defenseman VLADIMIR ANTIPIN of Barys Astana, who spent the 1993-94 season with the Detroit Falcons in the old Colonial Hockey League, doubled the Kazakhs’ advantage with a shot from the point on the power play.
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Kazakhstan defender ALEXEI KOLEDAYEV (52) of Russian club Metallurg Novokuznetsk neutralizes Belarus forward SERGEI DEMAGIN (59) of Russian club Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk as the Kazakh captain, 41-year-old ALEXANDER KORESHKOV (17) of Barys Astana, moves to capture the loose puck at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne. (Martin Meissner/AP)
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Belarus rebounded almost immediately after falling behind 2-0.

Forward DMITRI MELESHKO of Dynamo Minsk found the back of the net on the power play at 12:09 of the second period; the two National Hockey League players on the Belarus roster — defenseman RUSLAN SALEI of the Colorado Avalanche and MIKHAIL GRABOVSKI of the Toronto Maple Leafs — registered assists.

Exactly three and half minutes later, Belarus were level.

20-year-old MIKHAIL STEFANOVICH of Canadian junior club Quebec Remparts, who skated four games for Belarus at last year’s IIHF affair in Switzerland, scored his first goal at a major international event to square the contest at two goals apiece.
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Kazakhstan’s goal-scoring forward DMITRI DUDAREV keeps the puck in sight while on his side as Belarussian forwards EVGENY KOVYRSHIN (88) and YAROSLAV CHUPRIS (68) seek to swoop the loose disc during the Group A match from Koeln. (Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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Kalyuzhny took a sharp pass from young Belarussian defenseman NIKOLAI STASENKO of Russian club Amur Khabarovsk to skate in all alone on Kazakhstan goaltender VITALY YEREMEYEV (21 saves), his club teammate at Dynamo Moscow in the Kontinental Hockey League, and score his 14th career goal for Belarus in a major international match.

Kalyuzhny then assisted as Salei doubled the Belarussians’ lead on the power play with just under ten minutes remaining.

SERGEI DEMAGIN of Russian club Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk formally closed the door on Kazakhstan with yet another goal (even strength) for Belarus one minute and forty seconds from full time.
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Belarus forward SERGEI DEMAGIN (59) gives a shout and a high knee after scoring the final goal of the match against Kazakhstan at the Lanxess Arena in Koeln. (Grigory Dukor/Reuters)
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An important three points for Belarus at the expense of Kazakhstan then in a formidable Group A which includes the tournament’s two-time defending champion, Russia, as well as Slovakia.

National Hockey League veteran RUSLAN SALEI of the Colorado Avalanche has already appeared at eight major international tournaments (42 ga, 7 go 8 as, 15 pts), including two Winter Olympic Games, for the national team of Belarus coming into this year’s IIHF World Championships in Germany. (Francis Larrede photo)

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BELARUS — IIHF World Championships roster — as of 5/8/10

Head Coach — Eduard ZANKOVETS

Asst Coaches — Alexander ANDRIEVSKY, Andrei GUSOV, Vladimir TSYPLAKOV

Goaltenders

• 36 — Sergei SHABANOV — HC Yunost Minsk
• 35 — Andrei MEZIN — Dynamo Minsk
• 30 — Vitali KOVAL — Dynamo Minsk

Defensemen

• 38 — Alexander MAKRITSKY — Dynamo Minsk
• 35 — Ruslan SALEI — COLORADO AVALANCHE
• 32 — Alexander RYADINSKY — HC Yunost Minsk
• 30 — Viktor KOSTYUCHENOK — Spartak Moscow
• 25 — Vladimir DENISOV — Dynamo Minsk
• 23 — Sergei KOLOSOV — Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL)
• 23 — Nikolai STASENKO — Amur Khabarovsk (Rus)
• 18 — Kiril GOTOVETS — Shattuck St. Mary’s HS (Minn)

Forwards

• 32 — Alexei KALYUZHNY — Dynamo Moscow (Rus)
• 32 — Alexander MIKHALEV — Dynamo Minsk
• 28 — Yaroslav CHUPRIS — Dynamo Minsk
• 28 — Artyom SENKEVICH — HC Yunost Minsk
• 27 — Dmitri MELESHKO — Dynamo Minsk
• 26 — Mikhail GRABOVSKI — TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
• 26 — Alexander KULAKOV — Dynamo Minsk
• 25 — Alexei UGAROV — HC MVD Balashikha (Rus)
• 24 — Evgeny KOVYRSHIN — Dynamo Minsk
• 23 — Sergei DEMAGIN — Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Rus)
• 21 — Andrei STAS — Dynamo Minsk
• 20 — Mikhail STEFANOVICH — Quebec Remparts (QHL jrs)

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The new head coach for Belarus is EDUARD ZANKOVETS, a former national team forward and two-time Olympian.

Zankovets, who began his playing career in the old second division of the Soviet Union with Dynamo Minsk, later played abroad in Denmark, Germany, Finland and in the United States for the Rockford IceHogs of the old United Hockey League.

The two primary goaltenders and seven of eight defensemen from outgoing coach MIKHAIL ZAKHAROV’s Vancouver Olympic squad return for Belarus including team captain RUSLAN SALEI of the Colorado Avalanche; the newboy is 18-year-old KIRIL GOTOVETS, a 7th round Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick (# 183 overall) from last summer who spent this past season playing high school hockey in Minnesota.

The Belarussians also benefit from the return of Toronto Maple Leafs forward MIKHAIL GRABOVSKI, who missed the Winter Games in Canada with a wrist injury.

The Montreal Canadiens pair of ANDREI and SERGEI KOSTITSYN are unavailable, however.

The Belarussians’ all-time leading scorer at major international events, ALEXEI KALUZHNY (13 go 21 as, 34 pts) of Russian club Dynamo Moscow, is on board, as is Vancouver Olympian ALEXEI UGAROV, who enjoyed a fine playoff run to the Gargarin Cup finals in the Kontinental Hockey League with HC MVD Balashikha.