Davos join Servette earning the bye

The tournament format allows teams placed third to continue to compete as only the first seeded teams in each group get a bye before the semi-finals. So Servette and Davos won't be playing any hockey tomorrow, following their today's wins - over CSKA and Team Canada respectively.

HC Davos skated off to a win over Team Canada in the last game of the group stage and the game proved that the Spengler Cup matters, both teams provided a fight till the last drop of blood.

A sold out Valliant Arena, great fans following the whole tournament, atmosphere to remember. And, of course, Davos winning the game.

The Canadians never had the lead in the game as Davos started off with a double: after a scoreless first period Marcus Paulsson gets the hosts up front at 27:19 on a 2-on-1 breakaway with Niklas Persson.

At 31:43 it's already 2:0, this time Peter Guggisberg beats York in net, Guggisberg finding himself in open ice and slides a feed from Ryan O'Connor across the goal line.

Darren Hayder found an answer when he cut the lead to half at 44:45 after a strong opening to the third period of play by the Canadians. Byron Ritchie and Jason Williams set the whole thing up and Noronen had to collect the puck from the net.

And we had an interesting game from that point on. All the way until the end. Two goals were scored within the last three minutes and a lot of action before Davos' net, especially in the final minute.

First Andres Ambuhl restored a two-goal lead on the assists from Beat Forster at 57:01 on a powerplay as Kwiatowski was serving a penalty in the box.

At 57:45 Nickals Danielsson announces a dramatic finish to the game when he draws a penalty and pays a visit to the box for tripping. The Canadians immediately take the time-out, and decide to pull York to the bench realizing there is nothing to lose.

But a lot to gain! Byron Ritchie fires from the spot and beats Noronen on a hard, precise wrister to make it a one-goal game late in the third.

Davos were playing at full strength, but Canada again pull the goalie and feel lucky when Marcus Paulsson gets called half a minute before the end for delaying the game. The pressure was there, but the execution was missing. Team Canada missed three scoring opportunities in that last minute and with the time winding down Davos made the clearance from the zone that ended the game.

Spengler Cup action continues tomorrow as CSKA will play Vitkovice and Team Canada will have to find a way through to the semi-finals via Rochester. Interesting matchups coming up, and surely everyone will want to win and get the last chance to win this prestigous tournament.

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