Ducks Are All Done in Worlds
By Sean
Thursday was judgement day in the 2012 World Championships and besides Luca Sbisa and Team Switzerland, the Anaheim Ducks had plenty of representatives in the World Quarterfinals. However, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry were both eliminated along with the rest of Team Canada as they lost to Team Slovakia late in the third. Also, like their fellow North Americans, Team USA fell to the defending champion Finns, so Cam Fowler, Kyle Palmieri and Bobby Ryan were also sent packing today.
Team Canada was knocked off by Slovakia with a power play goal by Michal Handzus with just 2:28 left in the third period of a 3-3 game. The power play was from a five minute major for knee-to-knee contact by Ryan Getzlaf. Getzlaf and the rest of Team Canada were not so pleased with the call, however, Juraj Mikus, who has the Slovak who was hit by Getzlaf, had to be helped off the ice. This is the third straight year that Team Canada has been eliminated in the quarterfinals and they will finish fifth. The Slovaks will play Czech Republic in the semi-finals, who upset Team Sweden, in Stockholm.
Team USA also suffered a tough loss very late in the third period to Team Finland. USA had taken a 2-1 lead earlier in the third period, but allowed two goals in the second half of the third period, including the game winner with just nine seconds left. A couple of mental lapses late in that third period helped lead to the goals for Finland. As the game went along, it just felt like Finland slowly started to play better than the USA who played their best early in the first and during the second period. The Finns will go on to play the Russians, who defeated Norway, in the semi-finals.
Ducks players in Worlds:
Team Canada (eliminated):
- F – Ryan Getzlaf: 8 GP, 2 G, 7 A, 9 P, 27 PIM, +6
- F – Corey Perry: 8 GP, 3 G, 4 A, 7 P, 8 PIM, +7
Team USA (eliminated):
- D – Cam Fowler: 8 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 P, 2 PIM, +5
- F – Kyle Palmieri: 7 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 4 P, 8 PIM, +2
- F – Bobby Ryan: 8 GP, 5 G, 2 A, 7 P, 0 PIM, +4
Team Switzerland (eliminated):
- D – Luca Sbisa: 7 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 P, 8 PIM, -6
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