Russia vs. Czechs --Still a Big Game

Political implications used to make games between the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia highly emotional. Neither country is the same--the Soviet Union splintered into various republics and Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Nonetheless, Monday’s round-robin finale between Russia and the Czech Republic promises to be tense.

“But for different reasons,” said Czech goaltender Dominik Hasek.

Both teams are 2-0, so the winner will win Group C and get an easy quarterfinal matchup against Belarus, the last-place team in Group D. “It’s a very important game,” said Hasek, the NHL’s most valuable player last season with the Buffalo Sabres. “It’s one we want. We want to be the first team in the group. I don’t know much about Belarus, but I like to play against Belarussians.”

Hasek shut out Finland in his team’s opener and gave up his first goals of the tournament Sunday, in an 8-2 victory over Kazakhstan. “I think we play pretty well, but I think defensively we didn’t play such a good game as against Finland,” he said. Hasek also said he still considers the U.S. and Canada the tournament favorites and doesn’t mind that his team isn’t generally mentioned among the top contenders.

“I like it. I think Canada and the U.S. team have maybe more talent, but you never know,” he said. “The quarterfinals is only one game.

“I like our team because we are winning, but Finland and Kazakhstan are not such good teams like Russia, Canada or America,” he said.

An official of the Czech team said right wing Jaromir Jagr, the high-scoring Pittsburgh Penguin right wing, had pulled a groin muscle in the Czech Republic’s 8-2 over Kazakhstan on Sunday. However, it was unclear if the injury is serious and will cause him to miss any games.