For two teams – Belarus and Slovakia – it’s a matter of securing a place in the last eight. For three more - USA, Russia and Finland - it’s about jockeying for position and gaining the most favourable possible opponent as the business end of the tournament gets underway.

The first issue to be decided is the team that gets into fourth place. As things stand, it’s advantage Belarus, with Dave Lewis and his men taking on Norway in the lunchtime game knowing that a point will extend their tournament. “It’s in our own hands,” Lewis said after the shoot-out defeat against Finland put Belarus three points ahead of Slovakia. “If we bring our game like we did today we will be in control of our own fate.”

Defeat against the Norwegians in regulation could still see Belarus pipped by Slovakia, though. Vladimir Vujtek’s team got an overtime win over Belarus and would progress by virtue of a better head-to-head record if it beats the USA in regulation time and claws back that three-point deficit. Either Belarus or Slovakia would then travel to Prague to play an impressive Canadian roster in the last eight.

But the Americans also have something to play for in that afternoon game – any kind of victory today against Slovakia would see them top Group B and earn a quarter-final meeting with Switzerland in Ostrava. Defeat would open the door for the winners of the evening game between Finland and Russia, both of whom are a point behind but both of home lost to the USA earlier in the group stage. Whatever the outcome, though, the Americans cannot finish lower than second.