Lepisto scores! Lepisto scores! Wait... that's not a good thing?

Normally, watching Sami Lepisto score in overtime would be good times for Caps (and Bears) fans, but if you're a fan of USA hockey it's the last thing you wanted to see this morning. Caps farmhand Sami Lepisto ended team USA's run 3 minutes and 59 seconds into overtime, sending Team USA packing and moving Finland into the semifinals of the tournament for the third straight year.

That's enough of that

Onward to the consolation bracket IIHF World Championships, where just about a third of the Caps roster is expected to play.

USA ousted by Finland at World Championships

Team USA was defeated by Finland in a shootout after the two teams skated to a 4-4 draw during regulation and overtime.

If there's one thing the NHL does right, it's making sure Stanley Cup playoff games don't end this way. Using the shootout to decide a regular season or preliminary round game is fine. Using it to send a team packing from a knockout round? Not so much.

Then again, we beat the Finns when it mattered most.

It's hard to judge Team USA's performance (what with not getting to see the games and all), but I am a firm believer in their decision to use a youth filled roster at the World Championships. While we'll never forget the players that won the World Cup of Hockey (nee Canada Cup) in 1996, it was clear that those players' time had passed.

And if you think this whole post is just a reason for us to get in references to two of the top moments in USA Hockey history, you know us all too well.

Backstrom tallies assist, Sweden beats Slovakia

Nicklas Backstrom had another assist from behind the goal line as Sweden's offense proved too much for Slovakia, with the Swedes winning 7-4.

Backstrom seems extremely comfortable in Gretzky's workshop back behind the net. Hopefully transitioning from international ice to the NHL surface (where there are two less feet between the goal line and the boards) won't hamper his game.

Caps sharpshooters Alexander Semin and Alex Ovechkin must be positively drooling over the thought of hammering home one timers in front set up by the young Swede. I know Capitals fans are chomping at the bit to see it.

Ovechkin on playing both ways

This just in... The Russian Machine likes to win. And he's willing to play in both ends to make it happen. From IWHC.net, Ovechkin's quote after Russia's 4-0 quarterfinal win over the Czechs:

"It doesn't matter if I don't score as long as I play well defensively," said Ovechkin, who's been limited to one goal so far. "We support each other all the other time. It doesn't matter who scores goals. We're just happy for everybody."

Of course, it's easier to say that and mean it when your team wins every one of its games.

Now if only we can get Ovechkin some of the same kind of top flight talent the Russian National Team has here in DC to take some of the offensive load off him...

US loses to Canada, will play Finns in Quarters

Team USA got torched early and often against Canada, going down 1-0 only 8 seconds into the contest and never leading. Canada steamrolled the US in the first period, scoring 4 first period goals on their way to winning 6-3. Team USA backup goaltender Jason Bacashihua saw his first action of the World Championships in the third period.

Team USA now looks to regroup before taking on Finland in the knockout round on Thursday. Despite having the same qualifying record as Slovakia, Team USA takes second in group F by virtue of their +5 goal differential, 2 better than the Slovaks. By finishing 2nd, the US avoids a quarterfinal matchup with perennial international powerhouse Sweden.

Matchups for the quarterfinals are as follows:

Russia (1E) v. Czech Republic (4F)
Sweden (2E) v. Slovakia (3F)
Canada (1F) v. Switzerland (4E)
Team USA (2F) v. Finland (3E)

Russian Machine powered off

Per just about everybody, Alex Ovechkin was suspended for one game for his hit on Swiss forward Valentin Wirz.

I didn't see the hit, but it wouldn't surprise me if this was a situation like Ilya Kovalchuk's ejection from the Olympics a couple years ago. For whatever reason, physical play is frowned upon in international competition, and the Russian Machine is nothing if not physical. At least it's not the Olympics where any ejection gets a player removed from the entire competition.

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Late edit- here's a youtube clip of the hit. Notice Ovechkin keeps his shoulder tight and doesn't extend the elbow. A clean, solid hit. It wouldn't even get 2 minutes in the NHL.

OFB in RUS

So the OFB crew is headed to Moscow to cover the World Championships on Poppa Ted's dime. No, we're not jealous. Not at all. Not even an itty bitty bit. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're going to go cry by ourselves in the corner.

I'm sure everyone would totally rather read our fantastically awesome Caps stats culled from postgame scoresheets than measly firsthand accounts of the games and yawn inducing exclusive interviews with Caps players.

And yes, we've gotten into the cough syrup again.

More from the Worlds

Milan Jurcina set up Marian Gaborik for his second point of the World Championships in Slovakia's 4-2 loss to the USA. Neither Chris Clark nor Brian Pothier recorded a point in the US win.

Capitals points in the WCs so far:

Brian Pothier (USA) - 4 Games, 0 Goals, 1 Assist, -1
Chris Clark (C - USA) 4 Games, 2 Goals, 1 Assist, even
Alexander Ovechkin (RUS) 3 Games, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, +2, 1 Player of the Game award
Milan Jurcina (SVK) 4 Games, 1 Goal, 1 Assist, +4 (team +/- leader)
Nicklas Backstrom (SWE) 3 Games, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, +3

Not too shabby.

US loses heartbreaker at Worlds

Team USA rallied from a two goal deficit to tie their game with the Czech National Team (well, in honesty, 2/3 of the Czechs. The rest are playing for the Rangers) with only 5 minutes to go yesterday, only to lose the game in heartbreaking fashion. With just over a minute remaining, John Grahame was beaten by Jaroslav Bednart to secure the Czech Republic's victory and first overall in their group.

Both teams now advance to the knockout round by virtue of their 1-2 finish in group B.

Team Russia won their third game in a row to secure their position atop group D, defeating Finland, who also advanced.

No current Caps scored in either affair.

Also, I'm bitter that Vancouver wasn't able to hold on to a 2-0 lead and dropped game 4 to Anaheim last night. The Canucks didn't just take their foot off the gas in the third period, they slammed the car into reverse and backed over All-Universe Roberto Luongo, who was once again spectacular in a loss.

Although he lacks the polish that Patrick Roy had, Luongo's technique is the most accurate approximation of Roy's modified butterfly in the league. I don't expect him to dominate the way Roy did, but he's certainly adding an exclamation point to an already fantastic season in the playoffs. The chants of MVP heard throughout Vancouver's arena last night are not without merit. I can't say I'm unhappy that he's no longer in our conference. Nice trade, Keenan.

Caps at the World Championships

Caps players at the World Championships:

Nicklas Backstrom - 2 Games, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, +3
Team USA Captain Chris Clark - 2 Games, 2 Goals, 1 Assist, +1
Alexander Ovechkin - 2 Games, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, +1
Brian Pothier - 2 Games, 0 Goals, 1 Assist, Even
Milan Jurcina - 1 Game, No points, +1

It's none and done for Semin at the Worlds

Per Mike Vogel, Alexander Semin has been dismissed from the Russian National team. Semin was cut because the flight he had scheduled into Moscow would not arrive until after the team's deadline for players to report to training camp. Semin was unable to switch his flight reservations in time to comply with coach Sergei Nemchinov's timeline, and thus will not play in the tournament.

Although at first glance this seems terribly unfair, the Russian team has had issues in recent years with players who seemed either indifferent or uninterested in playing for their country. Russian hockey officials have repeatedly stated that they only want players who want to represent their country.

While Semin seems to have the desire to play for the team, Nemchinov believed he had to stick to his guns and set an example by suspending Semin, even though he admitted the team would miss Semin's offensive ability.

While Nemchinov's actions may have been for the long term good of the Russian hockey program, there is no doubt that Semin's suspension from the team does nothing but hurt their chances at the World Championships. It's a shame that things had to unfold this way, especially since Semin seemed to be looking forward to playing in the tournament.

One can only wonder what effect cutting Semin will have on the morale of Caps teammate Alex Ovechkin and the rest of the Russian team.