As the 2025 IIHF World Championship enters its decisive final phase, playoff contenders emerged, survival hopes flickered, and some teams fell to the edge of elimination on a high-stakes Day 11 of tournament action.
Group A: Austria-Latvia Showdown Looms
Sweden, Canada, and Finland have officially booked their places in the playoffs. The remaining spot hinges on an intense upcoming clash between Austria and Latvia. Latvia holds a two-point lead, meaning Austria must win in regulation to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Group B: Czechia Dominates, Denmark-Germany Set for Thriller
Czechia, Switzerland, and Germany have locked in playoff spots, with Czechia staying undefeated after a commanding 5–0 win over Germany. The final berth in Group B now depends on a dramatic winner-takes-all showdown between Germany and Denmark.
Day 11 Match Highlights
Czechia 5 – 0 Germany
A statement win from the hosts, led by David Pastrnak (1G, 1A) and Jakub Flek (2G). Martin Necas provided two assists, while goaltender Daniel Vladar earned a shutout to keep Czechia perfect in group play.
France 1 – 3 Slovenia
Slovenia earned its first victory of the tournament, ensuring safety from relegation for the first time since 2006. Rok Kapel delivered two key assists, and Lukas Horak starred in goal to shut down France’s attack.
Canada 1 – 2 Finland (OT)
A thrilling overtime battle saw Finland edge Canada, with Eeli Tolvanen scoring the shootout winner. Juuse Saros was the hero in net for Finland, keeping the Canadians at bay despite strong pressure. Marc-Andre Fleury performed admirably in goal for Canada.
Hungary 0 – 1 Norway
A must-win match for both sides ended with Norway narrowly avoiding relegation, thanks to a lone goal from Noah Steen. Bence Balizs kept Hungary in the game with a string of saves, but Hungary now faces demotion.
Playoff Picture and Relegation Outlook
With the final day of group play approaching:
Notable Performances
With quarterfinals on the horizon and elimination at stake for others, Day 12 promises to deliver even more drama as the tournament races toward its knockout climax.
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Are Europe’s defence structures prepared to meet evolving threats from Russia? Recent remarks by NATO and intelligence officials have highlighted gaps that could shape European security over the next five years.
The Ashgabat forum in Turkmenistan brought together Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, raising questions about whether Russia remains connected to regional partners despite Western sanctions.
A bulk carrier struck during a Russian attack on Ukraine’s southern coast on Friday is owned by a Turkish company, a source familiar with the incident told Reuters.
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