World Championships- Group B Preview

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Mar 11, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Washington Capitals right wing

Alex Ovechkin

(8) on the ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Moving on to Group B, it looks like the Americans, Russians, and Finns will be battling it out for the top spot. Russia will look to bounce back from a disappointing showing on home ice during the Olympics, while the US will look to prove that it’s among the hockey elite after a tough semi-final loss to Canada during the Olympics.

Group B includes: Finland, Russia, United States, Switzerland, Germany, Latvia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. The four teams most likely to make it out of the prelims include:

1. UNITED STATES

Mar 18, 2014; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Nashville Predators defenseman

Sth Jones

(3) during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. Edmonton Oilers won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

To somewhat of a lesser extent, USA is similar to Canada in the sense that it is deep with solid NHLers. They have a nice group of young players to develop for international hockey, especially on defence with the likes of Seth Jones, Jacob Trouba, and Jake Gardiner. Tim Thomas should also be one of the best goalies in the tournament in what should be his international swan song.

Player to Watch: Seth Jones, Nashville Predators
After slipping a bit in the past NHL Entry Draft, Jones had an extremely solid rookie campaign and projects to be a cornerstone of the Predators franchise for years to come. He should be playing a big role on this team in what is surely a bit of an audition for the next Winter Olympics.

Coach: Peter Laviolette

Forwards:
Justin Abdelkader, Detroit Red Wings
Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames
Jimmy Hayes, Florida Panthers
Kevin Haynes, Boston College
Tyler Johnson, Tampa Bay Lightning
Colin McDonald, New York Islanders
Andy Miele, Phoenix Coyotes
Peter Mueller, Kloten Flyers
Brock Nelson, New York Islanders
Drew Shore, Florida Panthers
Craig Smith, Nashville Predators
Tim Stapleton, Ak Bars Kazan
Vincent Trocheck, Florida Panthers
Tommy Wingels, San Jose Sharks

Defence:
Danny DeKeyser, Detroit Red Wings
Matt Donovan, New York Islanders
Jake Gardiner, Toronto Maple Leafs
Seth Jones, Nashville Predators
Jake McCabe, Buffalo Sabres
Connor Murphy, Phoenix Coyotes
Jeff Petry, Edmonton Oilers
Jacob Trouba, Winnipeg Jets

Goalies:
Connor Hellebuyck, UMass
David Leggio, Hershey Bears
Tim Thomas, Dallas Stars

2. RUSSIA

Apr 1, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goalie

Anton Khudobin

(31) covers the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Carolina Hurricanes won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Russian lineup is consistently filled with solid KHL players at the World Championships and this team is no different. This team will have an awful lot of chemistry to go with a lot of skill. Anton Khudobin also had a good year in Carolina and could surprise many viewers tuning into their games.

Coach: Oleg Znarok

Forwards:
Alexander Burmistrov, Ak Bars Kazan
Yevgeni Dadonov, Donbass Donetsk
Vladimir Galuzin, Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod
Anton Glinkin, Traktor Chelyabinsk
Sergei Kalinin, Avangard Omsk
Bikolai Kulyomin, Toronto Maple Leafs
Evgeni Kuznetsov, Washington Capitals
Andrei Loktionov, Carolina Hurricanes
Sergei Mozyakin, Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Sergei Plotnikov, Lokomotiv, Yaroslavl
Vadim Shipachyov, SKA St. Petersburg
Sergei Shirokov, Avangar Omsk
Viktor Tikhonov, SKA St. Petersburg
Mikhail Varnoakov, Ak Bars Kazan
Ilya Zubov, Admiral Vladivostok

Defense:
Anton Belov, SKA St. Petersburg
Maxim Chudinov, SKA St. Petersburg
Dennis Denisov, CSKA Moscow
Alexander Kutuzov, Sibir Novosibirsk
Dmirtri Orlov, Washington Capitals
Yegor Yakovlev, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Nikita Zaitsev, CSKA Moscow
Andrei Zubarev, Salavat Yulayev Ufa

Goalies:
Stanislav Galimov, Atlant Mytishi
Anton Khudobin, Carolina Hurricanes
Vasili Koshechkin, Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Andrei Vasilevski, Salavat Yulayev Ufa

3. FINLAND

Apr 13, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Maple Leafs center

Leo Komarov

(47) skates with the puck against the Montreal Canadiens at the Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Canadiens, 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

After a quick look at the Finnish roster, not a lot of names will jump out at you. But considering their competition in the group that includes Switzerland, Germany, and Latvia, the Finish should move on with ease. Throw in the fact that that Pekka Rinne will be the backbone of the team in nets, Finland should be able to compete with any team in the tournament.

Player to Watch: Leo Komarov, Dynamo Moscow
After spending the season in the KHL, Komorov will be on many team’s wish lists as he prepares to return to the NHL- including possibly the Senators. The former Maple Leaf will try to put in a solid audition with an increased role for Finland after he played just 12 minutes per game during the Olympics.

Coach: Erkka Westerlund

Forwards:
Tommi Huhtala, Espoo Blues
Jarkko Immonen, Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod
Olli Jokinen, Winnipeg Jets
pekka Jormakka, Tappara Tampere
Leo Komarov, Dynamo Moscow
Petri Kontiola, Traktor Chelyabinsk
Jori Lehtera, Sibir Novosibirsk
Iro Paarinen, IFK Helsinki
Olli Palola, Tappara Trampere
Jere Salinen, Orebro HK
Tomi Sallinen, Espoo Blues
Miikka Salomaki, Milwaukee Admirals
Veli-Matti Savinainen, Yugra Khanty-Mansisk
Petteri Wirtanen, Donbass Donetsk

Defence:
Huuso Hietanen, Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod
Jere Karalahti, Jokerit Helsinki
Tommi Kivisto, Ilves Tampere
oskari Korpikari, Pelicans Lahti
Ville Lajunen, Farjestad BK
Tuukka Mantyla, Metallurg Novokuznetsk
Jyri Marttinen, Assat Pori
Atte Ohtamaa, Karpat Oulu

Goalies:
Mikko Koskinen, Sibir Novosibirsk
Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
Juuse Saros, HPK Hameenlinna

4. SWITZERLAND

Led by someone who had a quick cup of coffee as a player in Ottawa in Sean Simpson, the Swiss will attempt to execute their well-known defensive system to make it through the prelims. Switzerland quietly has some solid NHL players in Damien Brunner, Roman Josi, and Yannick Weber and they should be able to beat out Germany, Belarus, and Latvia in a battle for the final quarterfinal spot in Group B.

Coach: Sean Simpson

Forwards:
Andres Ambuhl, HC Davos
Sven Bartschi, Abbotsford Heat
Simon Bodenmann, Kloten Flyers
Damien Brunner, New Jersey Devils
Luca Cunti, ZSC Lions Zurich
Kevin Fiala, HV71 Jonkoping
Etienne Froidevaux, Lausanne HC
Denis Hollenstein, Geneve-Servette
Simon Moser, Milwaukee Admirals
Benjamin Pluss, Fribourg-Gotteron
Kevin Romy, Geneve-Servette
Thomas Rufenacht, HC Lugano
Reto Schappi, ZSC Lions Zurich
Victor Stancescu, Kloten Flyers
Reto Suri, EV Zug

Defence:
Eric Blum, Kloten Flyers
Robin Grossmann, HC Davos
Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
Jeremie Kamerzin, Fribourg-Gotteron
Dean Kukan, Lulea HF
Tim Ramholt, EV Zug
Dominik Schlumpf, HC Lugano
Mathias Seger, ZSC Lions Zurich
Yannick Weber, Vancouver Canucks
Goalies:
Leonardo Genoni, HC Davos
Robert Mayer, Hamilton Bulldogs
Reto Berra, Colorado Avalanche

Player to Watch: Mikhail Grabovski, Belarus, UFA
The soon-to-be free agent is the biggest star of the host country and is coming off somewhat of a bounce-back year in Washington. He missed a portion of the past season due to injury and will look to show NHL GM’s that he’s healthy and ready for next season.