Playoff & World Championship Dailies 5/16/17

Good morning sports fans. The preliminary rounds of the IIHF Worlds wrap up today with a boatload of good matchups and one win-and-you’re-in game featuring Germany playing in front of the home crowd. On the NHL side, the Dirty Birds take on the Preds in Nashville.

IIHF Worlds

Earlier today the Swedes knocked off Slovakia 4-2. Old friend Dennis Everberg scored the game-winner and also picked up an assist. What could have been... Sweden now sits in 2nd in Group A with 16 points, flanked by Russia (17) and Team USA (15), who play in the midday set. That’s a biggie and features the two best teams in the tournament so far. Germany and Latvia play in the final game to determine the 4th and final seed in the group. That’s also a biggie.

Finland got super lucky this morning when Norway choked big time losing to Belorus. If the Norwegians had won it would have forced the hapless Finns to get a point vs Team Canada this afternoon or go home. Now, we get to see Mikko vs Mack/Dutch/Pick in a meaningless tune up for the quarterfinals. Canada has the 1st seed in Group A locked down and the Finns will be the A4 seed, playing either Russia or the US in the QFs.

10:15am ET - Team USA vs Russia on NHLN and the NBCSN App

2:15pm ET - Canada vs Finland

Quarterfinals happen Thursday with the Semis, Finals and loser game over the weekend.

NHL

I wouldn’t call the Ducks/Preds series riveting, although it is fascinating compared to watching Ottawa clog up the universe in the East, but it has had some fun plays and bad blood. Who wins the Kesler/Johansen battle tonight?

8pm ET - Ducks at Preds on NBCSN, Series tied at 1

ECHL

The beloved Eagles play game 3 vs Toledo tomorrow night at the Bud Center.