Columbus Blue Jackets’ Todd Richards, Bobrovsky Set to Face Off in IIHF World Championship Semi-Finals
By Jason Funke
The Columbus Blue Jackets had a good day at the IIHF World Hockey Championship. All players and staff still competing won their quarter-final match-ups today and will advance to the semi-finals on Saturday.
Todd Richards & Staff (USA)
Blue Jackets Head Coach Todd Richards led USA to a 3-1 win over Switzerland today. USA hasn’t fared well in the IIHF quarter-finals, having lost 12 of 18 quarter-finals games, so a big congratulations goes out to Todd Richards and Team USA for advancing this far in the tournament!
USA will face off against Russia in the semi-finals on Saturday. The game will feature three Blue Jackets players, one prospect, and five members of the coaching staff. USA beat Russia 4-2 earlier in the tournament, but Alex Ovechkin will join Russia this Saturday for his first IIHF game after his Washington Capitals were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ovechkin was Russian’s team captain last year when they won the IIHF tournament.
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Eyes On Isles
David Savard (Canada)
David Savard picked up an assist today in Canada’s 9-0 thrashing of Belarus. Savard’s assist came on Canada’s eighth goal of the game, scored by Ryan O’Reilly (Colorado) in the third period. He also recorded 3 shots on goal and finished with a +2 rating. Savard now has 3 assists and 12 shots on goal in the tournament.
David Savard and Team Canada will face off against former Blue Jacket Jakub Voracek and the Czech Republic on Saturday.
Sergei Bobrovsky (Russia)
Bob stopped 25 of 28 shots in Russia’s 5-3 win over Sweden. His tournament record improved to 5-2, with a .901 %SV and a 2.13 GAA. Bob will compete against Blue Jackets Head Coach Todd Richards and Team USA on Saturday.
Artem Anisimov (Russia)
Anisimov was held to just one shot and no points in Russia’s 5-3 win over Sweden. We’ll keep an eye on how Russia’s lines will change with addition of Ovechkin. Can you imagine a power play unit featuring, Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, and Vladimir Tarasenko? That might keep me up at night if I was Todd Richards.
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- Columbus Blue Jackets Prospect Vladislav Gavrikov Makes Olympic Team
- Former Columbus Blue Jackets D-Man James Wisniewski Heading to the Olympics
Jeremy Morin (USA)
Jeremy Morin logged just one shift (0:39 seconds) in USA’s 3-1 win over Switzerland. A few others on USA saw limited-to-no ice time, as well, and this will be something to keep an eye on in the semi-final match-up against Russia.
Mike Reilly (USA)
Blue Jackets Prospect Mike Reilly had 1 shot on goal in USA’s 3-1 win over Switzerland. These might be the final days of referring to Mike Reilly as a “Blue Jackets prospect,” though, as he’s thought to be considering signing with another team.