WJC 2015 Day 6 Recap
Wednesday December 31, 2014
The standings are set and the preliminary round is wrapped up after an eventful day at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship on Wednesday. A pair of goals from Max Domi gave Canada a win in their annual New Year’s Eve Clash against the United States while the Czechs and Finns stayed alive with victories. Here’s a look at all of Wednesday’s action.
CANADA 5, UNITED STATES 3
The annual Canada/USA New Year’s Eve clash didn’t disappoint in Montreal as the two teams played a fast paced, energetic game to set the tone for the quarterfinal round that begins Friday. Canada’s top six forwards continued to perform like top six forwards, coming through in the clutch as Max Domi (London Knights), Connor McDavid (Erie Otters), Sam Reinhart (Kootenay Ice), Curtis Lazar (Ottawa Senators/Edmonton Oil Kings), Nic Petan (Portland Winterhawks) and Robby Fabbri (Guelph Storm) all had points.
The goaltenders set the tone early, with Eric Comrie (Tri-City Americans) providing dual denials of Tyler Motte and Jack Eichel off the rush. American netminder Thatcher Demko answered the bell three minutes later, getting his leg out to rob Sam Reinhart of what looked to be a sure goal.
After a scoreless first, Demko would continue his sensational play into the second, turning aside Darnell Nurse (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) in alone with the blocker. Canada would solve Demko 7:07 into the second off the rush though, with Domi teaming up with Reinhart to record his third goal of the tournament.
The Canadian powerplay struck just over three minutes later at 10:11 on its first opportunity of the game. Nic Petan and Robby Fabbri collected assists on a Josh Morrissey (Kelowna Rockets) one-timer from the point to increase the lead to two.
The U.S. would draw within one at 13:12, scoring a powerplay goal of their own. Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Anthony DeAngelo (Sarnia Sting) was the beneficiary of some fine passing between Jack Eichel and Sonny Milano (Plymouth Whalers), as Milano centred to the slot for DeAngelo who was pinching in to capitalize on a broken play. Canada led 2-1 after two.
Canada would take out some insurance on their lead at 10:01 of the third as Connor McDavid transitioned quickly off an American turnover in the neutral zone to break down the wing and attempt to beat Demko with a shot up high. The U.S. goaltender managed to stop the initial attempt, but Canadian captain Curtis Lazar was on the doorstep to bury the rebound.
The Americans would take advantage of a Canadian miscue at 17:26 to reduce Canada’s lead to 3-2. A misplayed puck onto the stick of Sonny Milano was quickly moved to Hudson Fasching who found Detroit Red Wings first round pick Dylan Larkin buzzing into the slot for the tap in past an outstretched Comrie.
Down a goal, the Americans would pull their goaltender inside the final two minutes of the third period, a development that would work against them as Sam Reinhart hit the open net at 19:06.
Trailing by two with under a minute to play, Larkin would net his second of the contest, beating Comrie on the short side from down the right wing at 19:18. In a second attempt with the extra attacker, the Americans would surrender Max Domi’s second goal of the night at 19:56 to seal the deal on a New Year’s Eve thriller at the Bell Centre.
Canada’s 5-3 victory saw them outshoot Team USA 43-28 and improve their record to 4-0 in the tournament, securing first place in Group A.
The Americans will face Russia on Friday at 1:00pm ET in Montreal while Canada squares off against Denmark on Friday at 8:00pm ET in Toronto.
CZECH REPUBLIC 4, RUSSIA 1
A determined Czech Republic squad put forth an inspired performance on Wednesday at the Air Canada Centre, outshooting Russia 26-17 in a 4-1 victory to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. Former Acadie-Bathurst Titan and Rimouski Oceanic forward Patrik Zdrahal scored twice while Boston Bruins first round pick David Pastrnak tallied three assists as the Czechs effectively eliminated Switzerland from medal contention.
Pastrnak got the Czechs rolling 11:05 into the first period, drawing two Russian defenders in his direction before flipping to Zdrahal who beat Igor Shesterkin inside the far post.
Defenceman Jan Kostalek (Rimouski Oceanic) would set the table for Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting) to give the Czechs a 2-0 lead, keeping a play alive at the offensive blueline to find Pastrnak who registered another assist in finding Zacha who blew a hard wrist shot past Shesterkin 4:32 into the second period.
Ivan Barbashev’s (Moncton Wildcats) penalty shot bid to get Russia on the board at 10:31 of the second would be denied by goaltender Miroslav Svoboda who provided a quick pad save off the St. Louis Blues draftee. Barbashev would convert moments later though, connecting with Vyacheslav Leshenko on a powerplay 2-on-0 at 15:44.
Zdrahal would make it a 3-1 game in favour of the Czechs at 2:54 of the third before Ondrej Kase hit the empty net with 47 seconds remaining to make it a 4-1 final.
The Czechs will face Slovakia in the quarterfinal round on Friday at 5:00pm ET in Montreal while Russia squares off with the United States on Friday at 1:00pm ET in Montreal.
SWEDEN 5, SWITZERLAND 1
The Swiss came out inspired in a do or die situation on Wednesday, but couldn’t maintain their jump in a 5-1 loss to Sweden at the Air Canada Centre. Plymouth Whalers defenceman Yannick Rathgeb would open the scoring for Switzerland on a powerplay before Sweden took over with an Oskar Lindblom hat-trick steering them to victory.
Rathgeb opened the scoring 3:29 into the first period, blowing a slapshot past the glove of Linus Soderstrom in the Swedish goal. The goal seemed to ignite the Swedes though, who capitalized on a powerplay of their own shortly after. Adrian Kempe would tie the score at one just over a minute later on a shot from the top of the circle.
A dominant second period from Sweden saw them outshoot Switzerland 18-6, scoring four goals in the process. Oskar Lindblom scored a natural hat-trick with three goals in a span of 11:18 before Jens Looke added another to give Sweden a 5-1 lead after two, a lead they’d hold until the final buzzer.
With a Czech Republic victory over Russia, Switzerland will compete in the relegation round that begins Friday at the Air Canada Centre, squaring off against Germany. Sweden will battle Finland at the Air Canada Centre on Friday at 3:00pm ET in quarterfinal action.
FINLAND 2, GERMANY 0
Goals from former Swift Current Broncos defenceman Julius Honka and Mikko Rantanen gave Finland their first win of the tournament on Wednesday, defeating Germany 2-0. The win secures Finland’s spot in the quarterfinals that begins Friday.
Honka got Finland on the scoreboard just 2:47 into the first period on a blast from the point through traffic past German goaltender Kevin Reich.
Rantanen collected his third goal of the tournament at 14:22 of the second period with assists going to Joonas Lyytinen and Aleksi Makela. Rantanen tipped Makela’s drive from the blueline past a screened Reich.
St. Louis Blues prospect Ville Husso made 24 saves in goal for Finland to record the shutout. The Finns outshot Germany 38-24.
Finland continues its quest for a second consecutive gold medal on Friday, meeting rival Sweden at 3:00pm ET in Toronto. Germany will face Switzerland in the relegation round that begins at 11:00am ET on Friday in Toronto.
For full coverage of the 2015 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships, including updates and schedules, visit worldjunior2015.com or hockeycanada.ca.