Germany and Norway scored big wins on Friday to practically ensure their returns to the elite group and keep the quarter-finals in reach. The Austrians, Latvians, Danes and Slovenes all lost and all remain in danger of going down. 

by Derek O'Brien, with contributions from Staff Writers

PRAGUE and OSTRAVA – Friday was a national holiday, which meant that lots of fans came out to watch games in both venues, including their own team, which scored a big win to all but assure its place in the quarter-finals. 

The Czechs held a wide edge in play over the Austrians, out-shooting them 42–12 in Prague, but the game remained scoreless into the 32nd minute before they finally exploded for three goals in the last half of the second period. The final score was 4–0. 

“The Czechs have a really strong team offensively and also played a really solid game defensively so didn't give us many chances,” said the Vienna Capitals' Mario Fischer. “We gave them too many odd-man rushes, lost our focus a couple of times, and that's what happens if you give a strong team like this a couple of chances – they're going to use them, and they scored several goals pretty fast.”

In the nightcap, Germany erased a 1–0 deficit and beat Latvia 2–1 on third-period goals by Michael Wolf of Red Bull Munich and Mathias Plachta of Adler Mannheim. Those Group A results mean that the Germans now trail the Swiss by two points in the race for a quarter-final berth – though the Swiss have a game in hand – and Austria and Latvia remain tied for last in the group with two points each in the race to avoid relegation. Austria and Latvia face each other in an all-important game on Saturday.

“We'll analyze Latvia tonight and tomorrow,” Fischer continued. “We know what we have to do – we've got to take our chances against strong teams and make sure we stay strong defensively. It's going to be a big game to stay in the elite group.”

In Ostrava, Norway beat Slovenia 3–1 and the USA got by Denmark 1–0. That means that the Americans are now back on top of Group B and Norway is still in sixth – although now within three points of fourth place and out of danger of being relegated. 

“We're feeling pretty good right now, it was a tough battle all game. I'd been struggling for a couple of games so it was nice to contribute,” said Dusseldorfer EG's Ken-Andre Olimb, who assisted on Norway's winning goal on a second-period power play. On the team's chances of making the quarter-finals, he added, “As long as we've got a chance to make it, we're going to keep fighting for it. We have two more games and we have to win them.” 

The Danes remain a point up on last-place Slovenia. As in Group A, a big contest between the group's last two teams will likely determine who is relegated in Group B, as Denmark and Slovenia face off Monday night.