Scores:
 
Germany 4 Slovakia 4
Switzerland 5 Ukraine 3
 
This is good news for both Canada and the US as explained below in an
article from the Edmonton Journal from the Canadian Press:
 
CANADA GETS A FREEBIE
 
Thank you, Switzerland.
 
Canada and the United States are grateful.
 
When the Swiss upset Ukraine 5-3 Saturday at the world junior hockey
championship, they enabled Canada to clinch first place in its pool and
kept the Americans' chances for a playoff berth alive.
 
A brawl at the end of the Swiss-Ukraine game may have left the Ukrainians
battling for their playoff lives in a Canada-Ukraine game today that
closes out the preliminary round of the 10-country tournament.  Four
Ukrainians--one defenceman and three forwards--were suspended for their part
in the slugfest.
 
"They might as well just throw the puck on the ice; we can't compete with
them (the Canadians) now," said Ukraine head coach Vladislav Chev Chenko.
 
Canada (3-0) advances to the semifinals Wednesday...
 
Sweden and the Czech Republic close out their preliminary round today,
with the winner finishing first in group B. [televised live in Canada on TSN]
 
If the Swedes win, the Czechs finish second.  If the Czechs win, Russia
can finish second by beating Germany...
 
Meanwhile the United States closes out its preliminary round today
against Finland.  A win or tie by the Americans, and a win by the
Canadians, puts the host team in the playoffs.  [The US will have to wait
for the Canadian result since they play later in the day,  a game also seen
live in Canada on TSN., the US game is on ESPN2].
 
end of quotation--material in brackets is my commentary.
 
Arthur Berman [log in to unmask]
GO BU!!! NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!
GO CANADA!!!
 
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