Ian Scott goes back to Prince Albert with no medal. Pontus Holmberg goes back to Sweden and Rasmus Sandin is heading right back to work with the Marlies.

Filip Kral and the Czechs put up little fight against the USA, who won 3-1, and Russia is stomping the Slovaks into icy dust as of writing.

The semis go on Friday, and TSN just saw their ratings collapse.

In NHL News:

John Tavares Named To NHL All-Star Game - Pension Plan Puppets
Joining captain Auston Matthews.

Canucks Trade Nilsson, Archibald to Ottawa for McKenna, Pyatt - Nucks Misconduct
Is it Thatcher Demko’s time? Anders Nilsson gets a fresh start as the Canucks make a game day deal with the Sens.

Library Book Review: The Down Goes Brown History of the NHL - Arctic Ice Hockey
A new unscheduled series reviewing hockey books new and old.

Biggest stories in women’s hockey in 2018 - The Ice Garden
Let’s look back at the year

Tampa Bay Lightning ten game report: Halfway home - Raw Charge
So far, so good.

Remember the game is at 2 p.m. today and we’ll have a preview up soon, and a GDT at around 1:30 or so. Unless I see sense in the interim, I’m going to try to do the recap as a liveblog format, so we’ll see how that goes.

We know Frederik Andersen won’t be playing today, so Garret Sparks will get the start. Someone will be called up today to back him up.

From The Branches