THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016 SPORTS ICE HOCKEY WORLD PREVIEW Unbeaten Finland prepare for tough Danish test MOSCOW: Two-time world champions ward Aleksandr Barkov said. “They have three 1930 and 1953, have not played in the play- Yubileiny Arena, which will be the two teams’ encounter with the Americans. Finland won all seven of their preliminary NHL forwards in their roster. No doubts they offs since 2011, Russia take their opponents 112th meeting at the worlds. Canada have “We did not chose our quarter-final oppo- group matches, including against reigning will battle tough but we’re also intending to seriously. “Germany are a very mobile and won 55 games, while Sweden have 48 victo- nents, we just wanted to win our group,” he champions Canada, but the upcoming play- win. I expect an interesting game.” When these very experienced team,” Russia skipper Pavel ries to their name, with eight draws. In their said. “I’m pleased that we managed to do that, off round will be a completely new test. Today, teams last met at the 2014 world champi- Datsyuk said. “They’re always dangerous. It group, Canada scored 34 goals and only con- to finish ahead of strong Russian team. “Now Finland will face Denmark in a quest for their onship, Finland won 3-2. That year, Finland fin- will be a serious mistake to take them lightly.” ceded eight, the preliminary round’s best we need to prepare for the match with team first medal since 2014 and possibly a first title ished as runners-up. Meanwhile, the hosts Germany, meanwhile are ready for the chal- record. Canada manager Bill Peters said that USA the best possible way. No doubts it will since 2011. Denmark, who have previously Russia, seeking redemption for last year’s lenge. “Yeah, we’re happy we’ve moved on to despite the 4-0 defeat at the hands of Finland be a hard match.” The US meanwhile said that played in the world championship knockout humiliating 6-1 defeat in the final at the hands the next round. But we can’t be satisfied with in the last Group B game he remains confi- they were happy to avoid meeting Russia in stage only once in 2010, when they finished of Canada, will take on Germany for a place in that,” forward Marcel Goc said. “We’re under- dent. “We play as a single unit and count on the last eight. “We’re happy we will not play eighth, their best ever placing to date, seem to the semis. Russia, who were beaten 3-0 by dogs but we will throw everything against all of our players,” he said. “The match with the Russia in the quarter-finals,” Arizona Coyotes be the most favourable quarter-final oppo- Czech Republic in the campaign-opener, them that we have. We have to wait until we Swedes is going to be a tough test and we rear guard Connor Murphy said. “It’s very hard nents. However, the Finns expect a tough brushed off their slow start to chalk up six get our chances and hope we can bury some.” need to show our best hockey on Thursday. to oppose Russians at their home ice. “Anyway match on Thursday against the Danes, who wins in the next six matches. But I believe we will be ready to do that.” The there are no weak opponents in the last eight, managed to upset Group A winners the Czech Though Germany, winners of Olympic Canada look to bounce back Czech Republic will face the United States in only the best teams managed to battle into Republic 2-1 on their way to the play-offs. bronze medals in 1932 and 1976, along with Defending champions Canada will clash Moscow’s first quarter-final. Czech manager the play-offs. And if we want to win the title “Denmark are strong team,” Finland for- silver medals of the world championships in with Sweden on the ice of Saint Petersburg’s Vladimir Vujtek said he is ready for a tough we must be ready to beat any rivals.” — AFP Sharks rout Blues LOS ANGELES: Brent Burns did not need to had allowed only two power-play goals in study the San Jose Sharks’ postseason his- 23 chances over their previous eight tory to know going down 0-2 in a series is games, dating back to the start of the sec- not desirable. Burns and goalie Martin ond-round series against Dallas. “I thought Jones made certain that did not happen on we brought our good game to the rink Tuesday as he scored a pair of power-play tonight for longer periods,” said Sharks’ goals and Jones stopped all 26 St. Louis coach Peter DeBoer. “Getting the first goal shots to lead the Sharks to a 4-0 win over was big, and I knew our power play would the Blues in Game 2 of the Western bounce back. It always has all year.” One of Conference final. The shutout was the sec- the reasons is Burns’ booming shot. “Best ond in the playoffs for Jones, who also shut I’ve ever seen,” DeBoer said. “I think just out Nashville in Game 7 in the second how he can get it off from every angle, how round. The best-of-seven series is now tied he can get it to the net off balance, in bad at one win each as it heads to San Jose for spots. He finds a way to get it there. If it’s in Game 3 on Wednesday. the right spot, it’s going in. That’s a great Had Burns looked into the Sharks’ histo- weapon for us.” ry, he would have learned that 10 times The Sharks also killed off all five Blues’ they have fallen behind 0-2 in a series- and power-plays. “We didn’t play very well,” said lost all 10. That list includes the franchise’s Blues’ coach Ken Hitchcock. “I’m not sure three previous trips to the conference final, why. I don’t know if the players know why. in 2004, 2010 and 2011. “We wanted to go They (the Sharks) were much better than us home with a split and that’s what we got,” in every aspect, especially special teams. said defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic. The We tried to play the way we did in game 1 Sharks scored what would turn out to be and we didn’t get away with it. “We’ll take the only goal they would need just 2:07 1-1 right now with the way we’ve played.” into the game, from Tommy Wingels, The Blues, who had a combined 15 shots before Burns scored on the power-play in on goal through the first two periods, both the second and third periods, his fifth trailed 2-0 when the Sharks’ Patrick Marleau and sixth goals of the playoffs. received a double minor penalty for high- Both goals came while the Blues’ Troy sticking just 32 seconds into the third peri- Brouwer was in the penalty box. “Guys od. Instead of using that chance to get came out with a good sense of urgency back in the game, however, the Blues had and got after it,” said the Sharks’ Joe just four shots on goal, all stopped by Pavelski. “It was a great job by everybody.” Jones, and Burns’ second goal of the game Dainius Zubrus added an empty-net goal midway through the period sealed the vic- with just 19 seconds left in the game to tory. “Our execution wasn’t very good and I close out the victory. It was the first time thought we let frustration creep in at cer- the Blues were shut out at home in the tain times in the game,” said the Blues’ playoffs since Game 2 of the conference Alexander Steen. quarterfinals in 2001, a 1-0 loss to the “That can’t happen at this time of the CLEVELAND: Toronto Raptors’ Cory Joseph (6) and Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving (2) and Kevin Love compete for a rebound during the second Sharks. “We feel good about what we have year. They had the little details in their half of Game 1 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. — AP going on,” Burns said, “and the way we’re game tonight that we didn’t, unfortunately. playing. We’ve had confidence all year.” We took a few penalties and that set us The Sharks were 0-for-3 on the power- back a little bit.” In all three of their playoff play in their Game 1 loss but converted two series’ this year the Blues have been tied 1- Cavaliers crush Raptors in of their five chances in Game 2. The Blues 1 after two games. — Reuters Eastern Conference opener LOS ANGELES: As 3-pointers fell at historic rates the 2012 San Antonio Spurs, who won their first 10 sive rotations broke down once the Raptors denied through the first two rounds of the postseason, before losing four straight to the Oklahoma City the Cavs 3-point looks. “We’ve got to continue to LeBron James’ message never changed: The Thunder. DeMar DeRozan scored 18 points for the keep those (3-pointers) down, work to keep those Cleveland Cavaliers are not just a team of jump- Raptors, but only six after the first quarter. Fellow down, and also at the same time make sure we shooters. In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference All-Star Kyle Lowry scored eight points on a tough understand and be disciplined as far as how we finals, James and the Cavaliers proved it.