On the final day of preliminary round play in Sochi, Team USA clinched first place in Group A after cruising to a 5-1 win over Slovenia highlighted by a natural hat trick by Toronto Maple Leafs' forward Phil Kessel. It was the first hat trick recorded at the Olympics since the Flyers' John LeClair accomplished the feat in 2002 in Salt Lake City.
Additionally, three of the Flyers' five Olympians were in action on Sunday. The breakdown:
*
Michael Raffl scored his first Olympic goal and was credited with the game-winner in Austria's 3-1 win over Norway. On the play, Raffl went to the net, received a pass from Michael Grabner, and beat both defenseman Mats Trygg and goaltender Lars Haugen.
*
Andrej Meszaros unofficially had four blocked shots and officially had 20:39 of ice time in Slovakia's 1-0 shootout loss to Russia. Meszaros was credited with two shots on goal. He took a third-period minor penalty as the Slovaks clung to the scoreless tie. In the closing seconds of the first period, Meszaros hobbled off the ice after blocking a shot that struck him in the foot. He returned for the second period.
*
Kimmo Timonen skated 26 shifts for 18:31 of ice time and had one shot on goal in Finland's 2-1 overtime loss to Canada. The game started with a quick pace in the first period but dragged at times, especially in the second stanza. The Finns were outshot by a 27-15 margin for the game and generated only seven shots after first period. However a Tuomo Ruutu deflection goal tied the game at 1-1 late in the second period. Former Flyers defenseman Lasse Kukkonen (12:10 TOI, one shot on goal, plus one) and Ossi Väänänen (secondary assist on goal, 13:41, plus one) were on the ice for the Finns at the time of their lone goal.
After the preliminary round, the standings are as follows:
AUTOMATIC SPOTS IN QUARTERFINALS
1. Sweden
2. USA
3. Canada
4. Finland
QUALIFICATION ROUND (TUESDAY)
Slovenia vs. Austria (winner plays Sweden on Wednesday)
Russia vs. Norway (winner plays Finland on Wednesday)
Czech Republic vs. Slovakia (winner plays USA on Wednesday)
Switzerland vs. Latvia (winner plays Canada on Wednesday)
SEMI-FINALS (FRIDAY)
Winner of SWE - SLO/AUT plays winner of FIN - RUS/NOR
Winner of USA - CZE/SVK plays winner of CAN - SUI/LAT
BRONZE MEDAL GAME (SATURDAY)
GOLD MEDAL GAME (SUNDAY)
*********
Click below to follow me on Twitter:
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
Join the Discussion:
»