Arizona Coyotes Playing In The IIHF W. C. Update

Update on IIHF World Championships: Arizona Coyotes players

NOTE: Seven players who competed for the Coyotes during the 2014-15 NHL season are playing for their countries at the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Championship in Czech Republic. They are: Mark Arcobello (USA), Martin Erat (Czech Republic), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Sweden), John Moore (USA), Connor Murphy (USA), Tobias Rieder (Germany), and Mike Smith (Canada).

FORMAT: The 16 teams are divided into two groups for the Preliminary Round.

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The top-four ranked teams of each group advance to the quarter-finals that will be played cross-over. The first-place team in each preliminary-round group plays the fourth-place team of the other group, while the second-place team plays the third-place team of the other group. 1A-4B, 2A-3B, 1B-4A, 2B-3A. The winning teams advance to the semi-finals.

Semi-final pairings: Winner 1A-4B vs Winner 2B-3A, Winner 1B-4A vs Winner 2A-3B. Both semi-final games and the medal games will be played in Prague.

The winning teams of the semi-final games advance to the gold medal game while the semi-final losing teams play for bronze.

OFFICIAL SITE: Click here to visit iihfworlds2015.com

Here are the match ups before the action completed today, May 14, 2015 per the IIHF site:

Arizona Coyotes Players:

Mike Smith – GP > 8 W > 6 L > 0 GA > 11 SVS > 126 SOG > 137 SV% > .920 GAA > 1.83 SO > 1

OK, now these are numbers I’m certain most Arizona Coyotes fans will welcome. I know… it’s NOT the NHL, but a portion of the players in this tournament are NHL players, and even if they are playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs once their team is eliminated they join their country’s team at the IIHF tournament. Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals will be joining the Russian team if they defeat the Swedish team tonight. Mike’s last game was a shutout, and even if it was against Belarus, it’s still a shutout. Good Job SMITTY ! !

So, critics might suggest that Mike Smith’s numbers in the IIHF are not better because the competition is not as skilled. I don’t agree with that theory. My theory is that Smitty has better players around him, thus his results are improved. The USA and Canada teams are primarily NHL players on their rosters. International teams like Russia and Sweden have very competitive rosters.

What’s your thoughts? As always I welcome comments from my readers.

Tobias Rieder – GP > 7 G > 0 A > 3 SOG > 12 plus/minus > +1

“Speeder” Rieder is taking in some needed action by playing in this tournament. His team did not qualify to go to the next round, but he got to show how his skates seem to have turbo-boosters on them. Watch this young player next season, as he has the tools to succeed in the NHL, and the Arizona Coyotes will be glad to have him on their team.

Connor Murphy – GP > 8 SOG > 5 plus/minus > -2

Team USA, like Team Canada has not lost a game yet. Connor Murphy has teamed up well with fellow Arizona Coyote teammate, John Moore to help Team USA be undefeated. I expect nothing but promise out of Connor. His grit and physicality has shown me he’s ready to be a regular NHL defenseman. He too is benefiting from playing additional games after the season ended.

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John Moore – GP > 8 A > 1 SOG > 6 plus/minus > 0

John has been teamed up with teammate Connor Murphy, and they have played well, as has the Team USA. Moore didn’t have too many games with the Arizona Coyotes to show us what he has to offer, but I see nothing but upside to his game. He and Murphy make a good blue-line duo, and I expect them to meet or exceed expectations for next season.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson – GP > 8 G > 2 A > 10 plus/minus > 1 GWG > 1 SOG > 28

What else can be said about OEL? He’s following up his tremendous season with yet another reason to be glad he wears an Arizona Coyotes uniform. Even with his excellent tournament numbers, his Swedish team was eliminated by Russia today 5-3. OEL had one assist in the game. I feel quite confident that Oliver will continue to get better and better as his career goes forth. He’s a special player, and showed us all that by being second in scoring in this tournament until his team’s elimination. He’s on the verge of super-stardom, and the sky’s the limit.

Martin Erat -GP > 8 G > 1 A > 3 plus/minus > −1 SOG > 11

Czech Republic is moving on after they defeated the Finnish team today, 5-3. They got the draw of Team Canada in the next round… all I have to say is “good luck.” The Canadian team is running on all cylinders, and I petty any team having to face them.

Mark Arcobello – GP > 8 G > 1 A> 2 plus/minus > −1 SOG > 16 GWG > 1

Mark performed well, as he did for the Arizona Coyotes after he was picked up on waivers by crafty GM Don Maloney. Team USA is moving on to face Russia on Saturday May 16, 2015. It will be a classic matchup between the two teams. USA finished with 17 points, and Russia with 15. Let’s see if Mark can net some goals against the Russian team, and continue his exemplary play for the Arizona Coyotes.

RESULTS

TUESDAY, MAY 12

USA 5, Slovakia 4 (OT):

Competing for Team USA, defenseman Connor Murphy played 15:54 and took one shot on goal, defenseman John Moore played 13:11, and forward Mark Arcobello played 17:16 and took a team-high four shots on goal. Moore and Arcobello assisted on Team USA’s first goal.

Team USA finished the preliminary round with a 5-1-0-1 record and qualified for the quarterfinals, which begin Thursday. The Americans will play Switzerland at 6 a.m. (AZ time).

Click here to READ RECAP

Canada 10, Austria 1:

Goalie Mike Smith stopped 14 of 15 shots for Team Canada, which finished the preliminary round with a 7-0-0-0 record and qualified for the quarterfinals, which begin Thursday. The Canadians will play Belarus at 7 a.m. (AZ time).

Click here to READ RECAP

QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:
Thursday MAY 14, 2015

USA 3 Switzerland 1
Canada 9 Belarus 0
Sweden 3 Russia 5
Finland 3 Czech Republic 5

Next: Arizona Coyotes In The IIHF Championship

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