On the ninth day of the World Championship, the Finns recorded the fourth straight shutout and the Norwegians were eliminated from playoff contention.

by Derek O'Brien, with contributions from Staff Writers

PRAGUE and OSTRAVA – Saturday featured three games at each venue, and when the day was done the quarter-final picture started to look a little bit clearer.

In the day's early games, Russia turned in a dominant performance against Belarus, beating it's former Soviet brother 7–0 on the 9th of May holiday, while Canada had trouble with France, squandering a 3–1 lead in the third period before finally winning 4–3. Yohann Auvitu of IFK Helsinki assisted on France's first goal. 

Later in the day, Finland extended its shutout streak to four straight games with a 3–0 victory over Slovakia, with all three goals coming in the third period. Joonas Donskoi of Karpat Oulu scored Finland's first goal of the game, a mid-air deflection, for his first of the tournament, while his Karpat teammate Joonas Kemppainen and Janne Pesonen of Skelleftea AIK assisted on the second.

“Our first game wasn't very good, but we've improved since then and both goalies have been good, so it's a good sign for our team that we haven't allowed any goals in four games,” Kemppainen said of his team's recent run. With eight points, the 27-year-old centre is now tied for second in points in this, his first World Championship. 

“I don't know, I have good linemates I guess,” was his modest reply.

The win lifts the Finns into a three-way tie in Group B with the USA and Russia, while the Slovaks missed a chance to move into a fourth-place tie with Belarus. 

The last two games in Prague featured a pair of overtime decisions – Latvia came from behind to beat Austria 2–1, while Sweden edged Switzerland by the same score. Brian Lebler of Black Wings Linz scored the Austrian goal, while SC Bern defenceman Eric Blum assisted on the lone Swiss tally.

Finally, in Ostrava's nightcap, Denmark beat Scandinavian rival Norway 4–1, nearly assuring its return to the elite group next season, while simultaneously ruining Norway's quarter-final hopes. Nichlas Hardt of Linkoping HC had one assist in a winning cause.

“Denmark was just hungrier for the win. They were better in every department,” said Dusseldorfer EG's Ken Andre Olimb, the lone Norwegian goal-scorer.