World Cup of Hockey 2016 Results: Scores, Highlights and Reaction from Thursday

One last day of round-robin competition at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey settled the fourth and final team that would make the semifinals.

After seeing Canada, Sweden and Team Europe clinch their spots in the next round, Russia controlled its destiny Thursday. With a win, it would clinch the final semifinal spot in Group B. If it gained anything less than two points, though, the under-23 North American team would move on after a thrilling overtime win over Sweden on Wednesday.

In an anticlimactic Group A game to cap off group play Thursday night, the United States will end its disappointing tournament against the Czech Republic. 

Here are Thursday's updated results and how the standings look:

Team	Team	Result
Finland	Russia	3-0 RUS
United States	Czech Republic	4-3 CZE

Group A	Team	Points	Regulation Wins	GD
Group B	Team	Points	Regulation Wins	GD
1	Canada*	6	3	11
2	Europe*	4	1	1
3	Czech Republic	3	1	-6
4	United States	0	0	-6
1	Sweden*	5	2	2
2	Russia*	4	2	3
3	North America	4	1	3
4	Finland	0	0	-8

Russia 3, Finland 0

Russia eliminated Team North America and took the final semifinal spot in Group B by defeating Finland 3-0 thanks to goals by Vladimir Tarasenko, Ivan Telegin and Evgeni Malkin.

Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky recorded a shutout, turning away all 21 of Finland's shots. 

Many hockey fans outside of Russia were pulling for the Finns to pull out their first win of the tournament to ensure that North America would move on. 

Yahoo Sports' Greg Wyshynski was relying on Boston Bruins and Finland goalie Tuukka Rask to lead the charge:

For the defensive-minded Finland, offense was at a premium to start. Through the game's first 10 minutes, both the Finns and Russians put four combined shots on goal. 

In the final 10:43 of the period, Russia could muster only one shot after spending four minutes short-handed. However, Finland's offense looked out of sorts and could not take advantage of its power plays. 

Regardless, Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times appreciated Finland's effort even though it had already been eliminated:

After Russia squandered a power play to start the second period, Mikael Granlund of the Minnesota Wild had the best chance for Finland when his wrist shot grazed off Bobrovsky's crossbar. 

Just a minute after that chance, with 16:18 left in the second, Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin meandered into the Finnish zone, distracted three defenders and slotted a pass to an unmarked Tarasenko. 

With a wide-open net, an easy tap-in put Russia up 1-0, via the Capitals: 

Just 1:19 later, Russia doubled its lead when Telegin received a pass from Vadim Shipachev, dragged the puck around Rask and stuffed it home, via Sportsnet: 

It was a huge blow for North America's hopes, and TSN's Nabil Karim was expecting panic:

However, Team North America was holding out hope for a third-period turnaround by the Finns:

But the hope was extinguished 3:39 into the period when Malkin came down the left wing and snapped a wrister past an off-his-angle Rask, giving Russia a 3-0 lead.

Lazerus was not a happy camper:

But TSN's Kristen Shilton saw it as an opportunity for North America to grow:

For Finland, this is the first time that it didn't record a win at a major senior tournament since the 1987 Canada Cup, per Sportsnet Stats. It was outscored 9-1 in three games at the World Cup of Hockey. 

Russia's reward for making it through is a harsh one, as it will meet host Canada on Saturday with a trip to the championship game on the line.

Postgame Reaction

Ovechkin didn't waste much time looking ahead to Saturday's semifinal against Canada, via Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press:

This renews an international rivalry with Canada captain and Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby, as the two have been intertwined since being drafted in 2004 and 2005, respectively. 

The last time these two squared off in a major international tournament, Crosby and Canada took care of Ovechkin and Russia 7-3 in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games from Vancouver.

It's a game that Ovechkin is trying to keep out of his head, via TSN's Mark Masters:

Regardless of who wins on Saturday night, hockey fans are ensured a a titanic matchup of two world superpowers and two of the best players on the planet.

Czech Republic 4, United States 3

The United States fell flat on its face in a tournament in which it was considered one of the favorites to make the last four. On Thursday night, the U.S. capped it off with a 4-3 loss to the Czech Republic.

After losses to Europe and powerhouse Canada, Thursday's game was just a formality as the red, white and blue was already eliminated. 

The Czech Republic managed to salvage a point against Europe, but it was also headed home after its game against the United States. 

It didn't create the most electric atmosphere for a prime-time game, per Wyshynski:

For Lazerus, it didn't create much more on the ice, either as the teams remained scoreless for the first 13 minutes of the first period:

But with a delayed penalty on the U.S. looming, the Czech Republic took the lead with 7:17 left in the first when Zbynek Michalek of the Arizona Coyotes sent in a shot from the point that managed to beat Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop. 

The U.S. goalie's vision was limited thanks to a screen set in front by Michalek's Coyotes teammate Martin Hanzal. 

The disappointing Americans found an answer quickly, though, when they were able to capitalize on a power play. A great setup 1:45 after Michalek's goal presented San Jose Sharks star Joe Pavelski with a golden chance that he was able to convert, via USA Hockey:

Seeing as it was the United States' third goal of the tournament, Pavelski's goal was an unusual sight, especially for Wyshynski:

The Czech Republic would take the lead in the second period after a scrum in front saw Wild defenseman Ryan Suter hit the puck into his own net. 

Milan Michalek of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who is Zbynek's younger brother, was the last to touch it for the Czechs and was credited with the goal. 

Radio host Michael Grey didn't hold back in his assessment of Team USA:

The Americans responded via Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader with 5:47 to go in the second. He was the beneficiary of a perfect pass from Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien, whose long, cross-ice dish was put right on the tape of Abdelkader's stick as he one-timed the shot past Detroit Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek, via Sportsnet:

But the wheels fell off for the United States, more specifically Bishop, in the final 3:10 of the period. 

Bishop's NHL teammate and Czech defenseman Andrej Sustr put his side in front when he caught the American goalie straying from his post, slotting a tough-angle shot into the back of the net. 

Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star wasn't kind to the Americans after that goal:

Just 39 seconds later, Milan Michalek scored his second of the night to put the Czechs up 4-2 when he roofed a shot over Bishop and completely deflated the Americans heading into the third period. 

It also signaled the end for the Lightning goalie as New Jersey Devils netminder Corey Schneider and his patriotic pads made their World Cup of Hockey debut to start the third period, much to the delight of his NHL team:

Whether it was the pads or an intermission talk, the U.S. was able to shrink its deficit to one just 2:22 into the third while down a man when New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh turned in a pass from Jets captain Blake Wheeler for his second goal of the tournament, via USA Hockey:

But as time ran out on the United States, David Larkins of the Winnipeg Sun took a moment to take one last shot at the team and its fans:

The Americans join Finland as the only teams at the World Cup of Hockey who did not record a single point in their three round-robin games. It was also the first time in 13 best-on-best tournaments that the United States failed to record a win, via the ESPN telecast. 

Postgame Reaction

Three goals weren't enough for the Americans and head coach John Tortorella, who has been trying to search for answers this past week, via Jeff Veillette of The Nation Network:

However, he did seem somewhat content with his offense on Thursday, via the NHL:

While it remains unforeseen if Tortorella will be back behind the bench for Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics, it's a safe assumption that this team will undergo some hefty changes over the next two years.