COLOGNE/MANNHEIM – Russia, Finland, Denmark (Group E), Sweden, Switzerland, and Canada (Group F) are the first teams to clinch a spot in the 2010 IIHF World Championship quarterfinals.

The quarterfinal picture became clearer on Monday afternoon with three games left now in each group.

Russia leads its qualification round group in Cologne, while Sweden and Switzerland are in pole position in Mannheim.

The trio had already secured advancement to the quarterfinals on Sunday. Canada, Denmark and Finland join in following the scores on Monday afternoon.

For Denmark it’s the first quarterfinal participation in hockey history. Denmark has never finished better than tenth (1949, 2007) before.

Current situation in the groups after the May 17:

Group E in Cologne, games/points:

1. Russia 4/12
2. Finland 4/9
3. Denmark 5/6
4. Belarus 5/5
5. Germany 4/4
6. Slovakia 4/3

Russia (qualified)
Russia will finish at least among the best two teams and stay in Cologne for the quarterfinals. The Russians need one point against Finland to win the group.

Finland (qualified)
Finland secured its spot in the quarterfinals by defeating Slovakia. The Finns can claim first place by defeating Russia in regulation, otherwise they’ll finish in second. They will play their quarterfinal game in Cologne.

Denmark (qualified)
Denmark’s six points are enough to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time ever thanks to their head-to-head victories against both Germany and Slovakia. The Danes will finish the group in third or fourth place, and will travel to Mannheim for the quarterfinals.

Germany (candidate)
Germany took an important point in its game against Belarus and can still claim a quarterfinal berth in an all-deciding game against Slovakia on Tuesday. The Germans need a victory against Slovakia, no matter if it’s in regulation time, overtime or shootout. If they win, it would be the first time Germany reaches the quarterfinals since 2003. A win in regulation time would secure third place, in overtime/shootout fourth place. Germany would have to travel to Mannheim for the quarterfinals.

Slovakia (candidate)
The Slovaks have three points, but they can still reach the quarterfinals without help from other teams. All they need is a victory against Germany to claim fourth place and advance to the quarterfinals. The Slovaks’ game would be in Mannheim.

Belarus (out)
Belarus is out of the tournament. They missed the necessary point in the overtime win against Germany. The victory against Denmark had little relevance for the standings.

Group F in Mannheim, games/points:

1. Sweden 4/9
2. Switzerland 4/9
3. Canada 4/6
4. Czech Republic 4/6
5. Norway 5/6
6. Latvia 5/3

Sweden (qualified)
Sweden reached the quarterfinals and needs a victory against Switzerland to win the group. Otherwise they will finish in second or third place.

Switzerland (qualified)
Switzerland will finish the group in the top two and will stay in Mannheim. To finish first, the Swiss need to beat Sweden.

Canada (qualified)
Canada’s six points and their head-to-head victories against Latvia and Norway are enough to secure the quarterfinal spot. They need to defeat the Czechs to finish in third place, otherwise Team Canada will be fourth. Their quarterfinal game will be in Cologne.

Czech Republic (candidate)
The Czech Republic is not through yet. After beating Latvia, the Czechs need one more point against Canada to advance. A victory would secure third place, and a win in regulation time even second place if Sweden loses to Switzerland in regulation. On the other side, missing the quarterfinals would be the worst result in the long Czech and Czechoslovak hockey history.

Norway (candidate)
Norway’s chances to reach the quarterfinals increased significantly after grabbing three points in the last-chance game against Switzerland. Norway has the advantage over the Czechs in their head-to-head meeting. Now as the Norwegians have played all games, they can just wait and hope. Should the Czechs lose in regulation time against Canada, the Norwegians would become fourth and reach the quarterfinals.

Latvia (out)
The maroon-white squad kept its hope alive with a win over Norway on Sunday. But they needed three points against the Czech Republic and gained none of them. The tournament is over for them.

MARTIN MERK