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2016 World Cup of Hockey Day 6 Game Thread: Russia faces Finland seeking semifinals berth

The final day of the preliminary round has one game that’s vital and one that’s... not.

World Cup Of Hockey 2016 - Team Russia v Team North America
Get off my back (and lawn)
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Three semifinalists are set at the World Cup of Hockey - Team Canada, Team Sweden and Team Battlestar Galactica. One spot remains and Team Russia can take it with a win over Finland this afternoon.

  • Team Finland vs. Team Russia, 3 p.m., ESPN, SN, TVA Sports
  • Team USA vs. Team Czech Republic, 8 p.m., ESPN2, SN, TVA Sports

Russia will be without center Pavel Datsyuk, who is dealing with a “small injury.” What’s bad news for Russia is good news for Team North America, who could grab that open semifinals spot if Finland wins. The Young Guns though they had it locked up already with their OT win over Sweden on Wednesday but, psych!

The Finns are 0-2-0 and already eliminated, but will start Tuukka Rask again in net. Sergei Bobrovsky starts for Russia.

Sounds like Islanders forward Nikolay Kulemin will be on Russia’s second line, with Evgeni Malkin and Artemi Panarin.

The semifinals will start Saturday evening, with either Russia or North America playing Team Canada and probably holding on for dear life against the tournament’s Godzilla team. The already-set second semifinal will be Team Europe versus Team Sweden on Sunday afternoon.

The tournament’s final preliminary round game will be Team USA against the Czech Republic on Thursday night. LOL