Men's hockey roundup: Semifinals set — minus a pair of heavyweights

CBC Sports

The semifinal matchups in the men's hockey tournament are decided after Wednesday's quarter-finals saw the United States, Sweden, Finland, and Norway eliminated.

Team Canada will take on Germany on Friday at 7:10 a.m. ET (CBC, CBCSports.ca). 

OAR 6, Norway 1

The Associated Press

The Olympic Athletes from Russia swept aside Norway 6-1 on Wednesday to set up a semifinal against the Czech Republic.

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Russia charged to a 3-0 lead at the end of the first period, outshooting Norway 19-2, and remained in control throughout the game as chants of "Red Machine" and "Russia" echoed around the half-empty Gangneung Hockey Center. Nikita Gusev finished with a goal and two assists, while Slava Voynov had a goal and an assist. Russia outshot Norway 32-14 and the Norwegians at times looked very much like a team that had played a day earlier.

After the disappointment of losing in the quarterfinals on home ice in Sochi four years ago, the "Olympic Athletes from Russia" — as they're called due to International Olympic Committee sanctions over doping — are now guaranteed to play for a medal. They will play against the Czech Republic on Friday after the Czechs eliminated the United States 3-2 in a shootout.

No Russian team has won a medal since 2002, with the last gold won by the post-Soviet Unified Team in 1992, also under the Olympic flag.

Russian goaltender Vasily Koshechkin allowed one goal off 14 Norwegian shots.

Czech Republic 3, United States 2 (SO)

The Associated Press

Pavel Francouz stopped all five shooters and Petr Kouka scored the shootout winner as the Czech Republic eliminated the United States with a 3-2 victory in the quarterfinals Wednesday.

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Jan Kovar and Tomas Kundratek scored in regulation for the Czech Republic, which was fresher after winning its group and getting a bye into the quarterfinals. The U.S. looked fatigued after facing Slovakia in the qualification round and was outshot 29-20.

Ryan Donato and Jim Slater scored for the U.S, which again was led by its youngest players, including speedster Troy Terry. U.S. goaltender Ryan Zapolski allowed three goals on 29 shots and one in the shotoout, while Francouz stopped 18 in regulation and overtime.

Koukal was the only player to score in overtime. Chris Bourque, Ryan Donato, Marc Arcobello, Terry and Bobby Butler couldn't beat Francouz.

Canada 1, Finland 0 

The Canadian Press

Maxim Noreau's goal early in the third period moved Team Canada into the Olympic men's hockey semifinals with a 1-0 win over Finland.

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The breakthrough goal came 55 seconds into the third period with Noreau blasting a point shot stickside past Mikko Koskinen after an Eric O'Dell faceoff win.

Ben Scrivens started the game for Canada, but gave way to Kevin Poulin at 4:17 of the second period after a crushing O'Dell check sent a Finnish player flying into the Canadian goaltender.

Hockey Canada said Scrivens suffered an "upper-body injury."

Canada will play either Sweden or Germany in Friday's semifinals.

Canada is looking for a third straight Olympic gold medal, though the 2010 and 2014 titles were won with rosters stocked with NHL talent. There are no NHL players competing in Pyeongchang. 

Germany 4, Sweden 3 (OT)

Reuters

Germany shocked top-seeded Sweden 4-3 in overtime, beating the Swedes for the first time ever in Olympic play and booking a spot in the semi-final round of the men's ice hockey tournament.

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Patrick Reimer scored the game winner a minute and a half into the extra period. The win means that Germany will contend for a medal which would be their first in more than four decades. Sweden had beaten Germany 1-0 in the preliminary round last week.

Since German unification in 1990, the Germans have never beaten Sweden in Olympic play, going 0-5. 

Germany will take on Canada in the semi-finals.