World Cup Today: Big rivalries take centre stage

Team-Canada's-Carey-Price-(31)-makes-a-save-against-Team-USA's-Ryan-Kesler-(17)-during-the-first-period-of-a-World-Cup-of-Hokey-game-at-Nationwide-Arena-in-Columbus,-Ohio,-Friday,-Sept.-9,-2016.-(Kyle-Robertson/The-Columbus-Dispatch-via-AP)

Team Canada's Carey Price (31) makes a save against Team USA's Ryan Kesler. (Kyle Robertson/The Columbus Dispatch via AP)

Here’s a look at what’s happening at the World Cup of Hockey today.

• Geographical neighbours Finland and Sweden, and Canada and the United States meet each other in two huge games.

• Today’s matchups both feature a 1-0 team versus an 0-1 team.

• In pre-tournament play, both USA-Canada and Sweden-Finland split their two matchups against one another. In total, Sweden outscored the Finns 8-6 and Canada outscored the USA 7-6.

ESSENTIAL INFO: Finland vs. Sweden, 3 p.m. ET
WCOH_FINvsSWE_Facebook_Sept20

• Victor Hedman scored the winning goal and Jacob Markstrom made 27 saves to lead Sweden to a 2-1 win over Russia in their first round-robin game.

• Team Finland will be looking for its first victory of the tournament.

• No team from Group B can clinch a spot in the semi-finals regardless of the outcome of today’s Team Finland-Team Sweden game.


ESSENTIAL INFO: Canada vs. USA, 8 p.m. ET
WCOH_CANvsUSA_Facebook_TUES_Sept20

• Team USA needs to pick up a win to stay alive in the tournament.

• Clinching scenarios:

  • Team Canada will clinch a spot in the semifinals if it defeats Team USA in any fashion.
  • Team USA will be eliminated from semifinal contention if it loses to Team Canada in any fashion.
  • Team Europe (idle) will clinch a spot in the semifinals if Team USA fails to defeat Team Canada in regulation.
  • Team Czech Republic (idle) will be eliminated from semifinal contention if Team USA fails to defeat Team Canada in regulation.

    • In case you missed it, here’s what happened yesterday:

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