WJC 2015 Day 7 Recap
Friday January 2, 2015
Russia and Sweden both grinded out victories on Friday in the quarterfinal round while Slovakia played a tight defensive game in a 3-0 win over the rival Czech Republic. Offense was on full display in Toronto as Canada collected eight goals against Denmark in a decisive victory to prepare them for semi-final play that begins Sunday. Here’s a look at Friday’s action.
CANADA 8, DENMARK 0
Goals from seven different Canadian forwards, including two from Curtis Lazar (Ottawa Senators/Edmonton Oil Kings) secured a spot in Sunday’s semi-finals as Canada defeated Denmark 8-0 at the Air Canada Centre. Canada controlled the pace of the game from the drop of the puck and outshot a hard working Denmark squad 50-14 by time all was said and done.
Captain Curtis Lazar (Ottawa Senators/Edmonton Oil Kings) opened the scoring midway through the first with an assist from Connor McDavid (Erie Otters) before Sam Reinhart (Kootenay Ice) added to the lead at 15:17 from Anthony Duclair (New York Rangers/Quebec Remparts).
Three more Canadian goals in the second from Lawson Crouse (Kingston Frontenacs), McDavid and Lazar had Canada in the lead 5-0 after 40 minutes of play.
Third period tallies from Nick Paul (North Bay Battalion), Brayden Point (Moose Jaw Warriors) and a powerplay goal from Nick Ritchie (Peterborough Petes) saw Canada finalize the 8-0 win.
McDavid received Player of the Game honours with a goal and two assists while Lazar scored twice and added a helper for three points of his own. Defenceman Joe Hicketts (Victoria Royals) provided three assists on the night while Lawson Crouse had a goal and an assist.
Goaltender Zachary Fucale (Quebec Remparts) faced a light workload, turning aside 14 shots in the shutout victory.
The Danes were met with applause by the Toronto crowd after reaching the quarterfinal round for the first time in their nation’s history at the tournament.
Canada faces Slovakia in semi-final play on Sunday at 8:00pm ET at the Air Canada Centre.
RUSSIA 3, UNITED STATES 2
For a second straight year, the United States goes home after a quarterfinal loss to Russia. Though the Americans controlled things on the shot clock and carried the pace through much of the game, the opportunistic Russians made the most of their chances to take a 3-2 victory at the Bell Centre.
First period goals from Ivan Barbashev (Moncton Wildcats) and Alexander Sharov put Russia in the lead 2-0 as the U.S. ran into penalty trouble, taking five separate minors.
The United States would capitalize on a powerplay of its own in the second, with Sarnia Sting defenceman Anthony DeAngelo finding a lane to the net for a hard slapshot on a two man advantage at 12:43.
An American penalty early in the third put the Russians on their eighth powerplay of the game, one they’d convert on to increase their lead to 3-1. Forward Sergey Tolchinsky (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) snapped a shot off an American defender and past Thatcher Demko in goal 1:27 into the period.
In desperation mode, the United States sent everything the way of Igor Shesterkin in the Russian goal. Their bombardment would eventually pay dividends as defenceman Zach Werenski wristed a screen shot past Shesterkin from the point at 8:56 with an assist from Auston Matthews.
The United States outshot Russia 20-5 in the third period and 41-25 in the game, but Shesterkin stood his ground to make 39 saves to advance his team to the semi-finals against Sweden in Toronto on Sunday.
SWEDEN 6, FINLAND 3
A rematch of the 2014 gold medal game didn’t disappoint on Friday as two Scandinavian neighbours rekindled their historic rivalry. Though the Finns stayed with Sweden and made an exciting game of things, late goals from Adrian Kempe and Oskar Lindblom combined with a successful four minute third period penalty kill secured a 6-3 win for the Swedes.
After a fast-paced scoreless first period, Finland opened the scoring 1:24 into the second on a goal from Juuso Ikonen who beat Swedish goaltender Linus Soderstrom with a quick release. Some powerplay momentum worked in Sweden’s favour in the second though, with Gustav Forsling pounding home his third goal of the tournament on a one-timer during a two man advantage at 4:03. Lucas Wallmark would give Sweden a 2-1 lead 47 seconds later on the same powerplay, beating goaltender Ville Husso under the crossbar on the short side. The Swedish onslaught continued just over three minutes later as Adam Brodecki deflected a Robin Norell point shot past Husso at 8:11.
Down 3-1, Finland dug deep and found some life with draft eligible forward Mikko Rantanen burying his team leading fourth of the tournament at 9:54. Moments later at 15:49, Pittsburgh Penguins first rounder Kasperi Kapanen would echo with his first, getting to a rebound off the pad of Soderstrom to tie the score at three.
A six goal second period gave way to Finnish penalty trouble early in the third. Los Angeles Kings prospect Adrian Kempe converted on a two-man advantage to give Sweden a 4-3 edge. Finland would have a big opportunity to draw even on a four minute powerplay but were unable to solve the Swedish penalty kill.
Oskar Lindblom would find his fourth of the tournament with an assist from William Nylander to put the game out of reach as Sweden took a 6-3 decision.
Finland outshot Sweden 33-30 but their powerplay was unable to convert on its chances while Sweden scored three powerplay goals in the game to advance to the semi-final against Russia in Toronto on Sunday.
SLOVAKIA 3, CZECH REPUBLIC 0
Tight defence and some timely goals gave Slovakia a big 3-0 win over their neighbours from the Czech Republic on Friday, advancing them to the semi-finals for the first time since 2009.
Michal Kabac provided the eventual game winner in the first period at 18:46, cutting in to beat Czech goaltender Miroslav Svoboda with a backhand shot with an assist to Patrik Koys.
Peter Cehlarik and Martin Reway scored third period goals for the Slovaks to put the game out of reach in the third period, with Cehlarik tapping a rebound past Svoboda at 5:42 and Reway hitting the empty net in the dying seconds.
Slovakian goaltender Denis Godla continued his stellar play, making 34 saves in the shutout victory to eliminate the Czech Republic and keep them without a medal since 2005.
Slovakia now prepares for a semi-final date with Canada on Sunday at 8:00pm ET in Toronto.
SWITZERLAND 5, GERMANY 2
A pair of goals and an assist from San Jose Sharks prospect Noah Rod along with three assists from Denis Malgin led Switzerland to a 5-2 win over Germany in game one of relegation play on Friday in Toronto.
Kevin Fiala gave Switzerland a 1-0 lead 3:50 into action from Rod and Malgin and Switzerland never looked back, adding three in the second and another in the third. German goals came from Parker Tuomie and Patrick Kurz as they remain winless through five games.
Switzerland outshot Germany 32-31. The two clubs meet again on Saturday in Toronto at 7:00pm ET.
For full coverage of the 2015 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships, including updates and schedules, visit worldjunior2015.com or hockeycanada.ca.