At worlds, the obliteration of low-ranked teams continued yesterday as Finland beat Japan 8-2 and Sweden beat Denmark 10-0. Germany upset Czechia in a close one 2-1, and Switzerland beat last-place Austria 4-2.

Most teams have played three games, and the important thing about the final contests is who comes fifth (last) or fourth in each group. Last means relegation, and fourth means a quarterfinal against USA or the winner of Canada-Finland today.

Austria has locked up last place in Group A, but the contest between Denmark and Japan is all in Japan's hands. Denmark has played their games, and Japan is only one point behind them. They play Sweden today, though, so their hopes are so faint as to be invisible. The hosts, Denmark, maybe surprisingly, should end up fourth.

Czechia, Switzerland and Germany are all tied up at five points each, so how the middle part of Group A shakes out is up in the air.

Finland vs Canada is the match of the day, at 9 am Toronto time, because Finland can take first place with a regulation win. No one can knock the USA out of first place.

An interesting, more human-focused look at what this rupture in the world is really doing to hockey. The IIHF seems less relevant than these people:

War has upended Russian-Nordic friendships forged on Arctic ice hockey rinks. Can they ever recover?
Ban on Russian teams competing internationally has been lifted but days of friendly relations between Norwegian, Finnish and Russia players are a distant – if fond – memory
The GuardianMiranda Bryant
Russia inclusion for World Cup of Hockey 2028 in ‘wait-and-see’ mode, Bettman says | NHL.com
NHL Commissioner monitoring ‘complicated’ situation on daily basis
NHL logoDan Rosen

Re the above: according to Insider Trading linked below, the NHL has now realized that Russia in the World Cup could mean four other countries opting out. The NHL's tone on this has changed.

The executive summary is the following is that with a large increase in the cap forecast from next year to the year after, the plan might be to adjust next year's up.

NHL, NHLPA to discuss salary-cap options in new year
Sportsnet.caElliotte Friedman
NHL to explore replay assist technology for officials
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was quick to remind that wholesale changes won’t be coming to the way the game is officiated, but he mentioned how tech advancements might streamline everything from information to the flow of the game.
Sportsnet.caFrank Seravalli

They also say the Matvei Michkov stuff started by Kevin Weekes is news to the Flyers:

- TSN
TSN’s Hockey Insiders on Connor Hellebuyck’s media availability, how his chase for the Stanley Cup motivated his trade demand, Gary Bettman and Bill Daly meeting with the IIHF regarding Russia, Matvei Michkov's future in Philadelphia, the Red Wings’ intensifying interest in creative trade options, and Chicago open to almost anything in trade talks.
TSN

Last night the Leafs fought hard against a team much better than them, and paid for every mistake.

The final score was 6-3 with one ENG. Was it close? Yeah, sort of. It was tied for a few seconds. But the Leafs, even allowing for the missing men, are very much a work in progress who make critical errors and few critical strikes.

Miraculously, no one was injured. Zack MacEwen headed to the dressing room with five minutes left, flexing his hand/wrist.

Next game is Thursday at home to the Wild.

From The Branches