
We've reached the half-way point of the pool, where some key events will take place. The Qualifier game on Tuesday is a free chance for some who took players from Sweden, Czechia, and Germany to pile on extra points. Then come the Quarterfinals, where a single loss by any team will send them packing. The key battle to watch will be Sweden against USA - can the Tre Kronos knock out the Americans and their 311 picks two games early?
 | Juuse Saros' easy shutout has changed the leaderboard.
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Canada had its second straight dramatic comeback, but it was a big offensive game by USA that was the story in Friday's semifinals. Big games by Jack Eichel and Tage Thompson lifted Jerry Gluss and Gareth Neilson into a four-way first place tie with Andrew Tompkins and Dan Meister. Wayne Burke sits just one point back, in fifth. One point behind them, just two off the lead, are five people who took Connor Hellebuyck as their goalie instead of Jordan Binnington, setting up a final showdown Sunday that is based on the winning team and goalie.
Macklin Celebrini's goal and two assists on Wednesday gives him 15 points in the pool, putting the 19-year-old at the head of the pack, two points ahead of linemate Connor McDavid. Who knew he'd be this good? Apparently 60 poolies did, including all of the top 26. Holding the podium spots going into the semis are Andrew Tompkins and Dan Meister, tied with 66 points with Ruth Beder two points back in third. Gareth Neilson, Ethan Suski and Mark MacDonald are one point behind Ruth and the final podium spot.
After a scary round of quarterfinals - where Canada and Finland were both trailing in the third period and won in overtime, as USA also got an OT scare - we get the expected final four. Sweden, with 59 players and 2 Gold picks, were a victim of the format while Czechia (32 picks) and Germany (20) were also eliminated. It leaves Canada (539 players, 136 Gold picks), USA (311, 27) and Finland (38, 1) along with Slovakia (none) for the final two games.
The qualifying games proved to be helpful for those with niche picks not on Canada and US. Dan Meister has regained first place with three points from William Nylander, to lead by one point. Andrew Tompkins collected a point to enter the top three while Ethan Suski got four from Leon Draisaitl to tie for fourth.
Then we have some big jumpers. Matthew Messer's nine points from Germany launched him from 106th to 25th, an 81-spot rise. Cameron Messer's Swedes lifted him 75 spots (125 to 50). Three different countries helped Joshua Workman up 74 spots while Colin Kennedy and Dwane Harris are also up over 50 places. Good picking to all involved.
Ruth Beder leads the pool coming out of the round robin, with 53 points. She has a two-point lead over Dan Meister, Gareth Neilson, Sheri Messer, Andrew Tompkins, and Wayne Burke. Gareth and Shane Kozlowich led the huge-scoring day with 21 points while Andrew, Mark Brewster, Mark MacDonald and Shawn Morrison collected 20.
Auston Matthews had six points (2G,1A,GWG) and youngster Macklin Celebrini had five points on Sunday as the top picks proved their worth. Celebrini (60 picks) and Matthews (54) are both in the top five skater picks, along with Connor McDavid (152), Nathan MacKinnon (144), and Jack Eichel (66). Connor Hellebuyck is the top goalie with 80 picks.
Finland's 11-0 romp over Italy has scrambled the leaderboard, with seven entries leapfrogging the leaderboard. Hanna-Marea Kennedy has taken the lead with 38 points on the back of Juuse Saros's shutout and Mikko Rantanen's big game. Hanna-Marea has opened a three-point gap over Darren Charters and Anna Kwan who are tied for second. The former leaders have dropped to 8th, six points back.
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