Hemsky & Czechs drop 3-1 semifinal decision to Slovaks
No Oilers presence in 2012 WHC final as Slovakia will play Russia
Saturday, 19.05.2012 / 5:30 PM
/ Oilers at the Worlds
By Ryan Frankson
- edmontonoilers.com
Comment
PrintSEMIFINALS
CZECH REP. vs. SLOVAKIA
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Helsinki, Finland - Former Oilers forward Miroslav Satan scored two goals to lead Slovakia to a 3-1 victory over current Oilers forward Ales Hemsky and the Czech Republic in today's semifinal round at the 2012 World Hockey Championship.
After Russia punched its ticket to Sunday's gold-medal game with a dominant 6-2 win over host Finland earlier in the day, Slovakia continued its impressive playoff run with the win over the Czechs, following up a 4-3 upset over Canada during Thursday's quarterfinals. Russia and Slovakia will now play for gold on Sunday, while Hemsky and the Czechs take on Finland for bronze.
"We didn't play our game; we played up and down with them and it didn't work for us," Hemsky said after the semifinal defeat. "It's a hard loss, but we have another game."
Satan scored his first of two goals with 4:08 to go in the opening frame, as he burst down the left wing and snuck a low shot past Czech goalie Jakub Kovar. The Czechs replied in the middle frame, though, as Michael Frolik notched the equalizer, scoring on a wrist shot right off the draw with 9:15 on the clock.
The third period was all Slovakia, as Satan scored his second of the game on a shorthanded breakaway just 56 seconds into the period, and Libor Hudacek put them up by two with 15:37 remaining, cutting in alone on Kovar and deking him on the forehand. Jan Laco was the winning goalie for Slovakia, turning aside 36 of 37 shots.
Hemsky was a scoring threat for the Czechs throughout the semifinal match, but he and linemates Petr Nedved and Petr Koukal couldn't find the back of the net. Hemsky had five shots on goal in the game and has six points (five goals, one assist) so far at the tournament.
Russia missed the podium in 2011 but won two golds, one silver and one bronze in the four previous tournaments, while Slovakia has not earned a WHC medal since 2002 and 2003 when they captured gold and bronze, respectively. The Czechs will look to bring home bronze for the second consecutive year, after finishing first in 2010.
-- Ryan Frankson, edmontonoilers.com - with files from Tom Gazzola & Nyki Scheuerman on location in Helsinki
PLAYOFF SCHEDULE & RESULTS
(all times mountain)
Thursday, May 17:
Canada 3 vs. Slovakia 4 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | 
Photos | 
WHC: Quarterfinal WrapUSA 2 vs. Finland 3 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos | WHC: Quarterfinal WrapCzech Republic vs. Sweden - 12:15 p.m.
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos Saturday, May 19:
Slovakia 3 vs. Czech Republic 1 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos | Post-game interviewsSunday, May 20:
Bronze Medal Game - 11:30 a.m.
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos | IN FOCUS: Post-gameGold Medal Game - 7:00 a.m.
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos | IN FOCUS: Post-game======END OF TOURNAMENT=====
ROUND ROBIN SCHEDULE & RESULTS
(all times mountain)
Friday, May 4:
USA 7 vs. France 2 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap Canada 3 vs. Slovakia 2 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap Czech Republic 2 vs. Denmark 0 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap Saturday, May 5:
USA 5 vs. Canada 4 (OT) - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | Highlights Czech Republic 1 vs. Sweden 4 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap Monday, May 7:
Canada 7 vs. France 2 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos | HighlightsCzech Republic 4 vs. Norway 3 (SO) - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | PhotosUSA 2 vs. Slovakia 4 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos | HighlightsWednesday, May 9:
Canada 3 vs. Switzerland 2 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos Thursday, May 10:
USA 5 vs. Belarus 3 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos Czech Republic 3 vs. Latvia 1 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos Friday, May 11:
USA 3 vs. Kazakhstan 2 - FINAL (OT)
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos | Petry post-gameCzech Republic 6 vs. Italy 0 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos | Hemsky post-gameCanada 5 vs. Finland 3 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos | Eberle post-game | RNH post-gameSaturday, May 12:
Canada 8 vs. Kazakhstan 0 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos | Post-game interviewsSunday, May 13:
USA 5 vs. Finland 0 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos | Petry post-game interviewRussia 2 vs. Czech Republic 0 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos | HighlightsTuesday, May 15:
Canada 5 vs. Belarus 1 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos | Post-game interviewsCzech Republic 8 vs. Germany 1 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos USA 5 vs. Switzerland 2 - FINAL
Gamesheet | Recap | Photos | Petry post-game interview======END OF PRELIMINARY ROUND=====
edmontonoilers.com is the official Web site of the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club. The Edmonton Oilers and edmontonoilers.com are trademarks of Rexall Sports Corp. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup and NHL Conference logos are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks as well as all other proprietary materials depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective NHL teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. Copyright © 1999-2013 Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club and the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.