CSKA and Canada win their ways to the semi-finals

CSKA - Vitkovice 3:2 OT

Yakov Rylov scores 46 seconds into the overtime and burries the winner for CSKA which find the way through to the semi-finals and will play Davos tomorrow.

All the goals were scored in an utterly exciting second period as CSKA recovered from a two-goal deficit and waved their flags victorious in he end.

Richard Stehlik scores at 24:36 and gets Vitkovice on the boards for the first time and Vladimir Svacina doubles only half a minute later.

Ruslan Zainullin cuts the lead to half with the goal at , and Vladimir Zharkov levels the score on the powerplay getting the assists from Nikolai Prokhorkin and Yakov Rylov. That was Rylov's second point of the night, but first that far in the game.

The tensions were growing as the game was closing up and the clock winding down so a mintue and 50 seconds before the end Peter Huzevka gets called for holding - which will prove to be an expensive penalty. It gave CSKA an opportunity to go 4-on-3 in overtime and they knew how to take advantage of it.

Vitkovice travel back home, CSKA will try to make a break for the finals on New Year's Eve.

Team Canada - Rochester Americans 6:3

The only American team ever to be represented at the Spengler Cup, paying their second visit, will not remember this year's Spengler Cup by any good. The last time they were in Davos, Switzerland they went on to win the Calder Cup back home. This year they were happy to come back and were looking for a double - the Spengler Cup and the Calder Cup. With 3 losses that's become a virtual wish and they will join Vitkovice as they're headed home as well.

Canada were off to a great start and from early on wanted to give their opponents something to think about. Jacob Micflikier and Byron Ritchie both racked up two goals while Ahren Spylo added three assists.

The Canadians openend the scoring at 7:30 though Ritchie, and Micflikier added two by the end of the first period and team Canada were shooting for the skies.

A sign of life from the Amerks as Alexandre Hutchings gives some hope at 21:55, but five minutes later it's Derrick Walser who picks up a rebound and restores a three-goal lead.

The Americans came very close - Daniel Catenacci score less than a minute later and Joel Armia, the talented Finn, brings the AHL team to a goal deficit.

But two goals in the last period sealed it, first Ritchie adding his second midway through the period and then Alexandre Giroux finishes the Americans off with an empty-netter during the final minute.

Team Canada will play Geneve Servette in the semi-finals tomorrow. The winners of the semi-finals will meet on New Year's Eve at noon to decide the 2013 Spengler Cup winner.

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