#83/2014 IIHF WJC Blog

Biscuits and Breezers 

World Junior Championships:
Day 1

     

     Well we have come to one of the best things about Christmas break, the World Junior Championships! Teams from around the world have gathered in the beautiful Swedish city of Malmo, and are ready to show off their skills to the entire globe. Many 2013 NHL draft picks will be seen on these rosters such as New Jersey's Stefan Matteau, Ottawa's Quentin Shore, Nashville's Filip Forsberg, Pittsburgh's Oskar Sundqvist, D.C.'s Andre Burakovsky, Columbus' Alexander Wennberg, and more including some 2014 NHL Entry Draft prospects hoping to up their round selections in Philly with their performances over the next 11 days. 4 games were played today in either the Malmo Arena or the Malmo Isstadion. In this round we had Germany vs. Canada in Game 1, Norway vs. Russia for Game 2, Czech Republic vs. USA in Game 3, and Switzerland vs. Sweden in Game 4! Also before we get to the game reviews, Group A's countries include Canada, USA, Czech Republic, Germany, and Slovakia, and Group B includes Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Finland. 

Game 1 - Germany vs. Canada

    The final score of this Group A match up at the Malmo Isstadion was a whopping 2-7 win in the favor of the Canadians. 20th overall 1st round Detroit Red Wings 2013 NHL Entry Draft pick Anthony Mantha lifted Team Canada over the Germans with his first hat trick of the tournament. The first goal of the game was scored when Germany's Dorian Saeftel lit the lamp at 1:34. Then at 6:21, Team Canada made it 1-1 when Matt Dumba scored on Germany's tendy Marvin Cupper. 10:41 marked the first of Anthony Mantha's goals. The Germans's were able to tie everything up at 15:59 from the blade of Janik Moser. Mantha whipped back at it again as he scored his second goal of the game and brought the score to 3-2 at 17:36 in the first period. The last goal of the first was scored at 18:29 when Bo Horvat slipped it past Cupper with help from 2014 hopeful Sam Reinhart, this made the score 4-2 in Team Canada's advantage. 5-2 was shown on Canada's side when Sam Reinhart got his own biscuit past Cupper at 6:45 after a couple of whacks on the goalie on a breakaway and an assist from Joshua Morrissey. At 11:36  into the second period, Anthony Mantha capped off his hat trick. The score would now be 6-2 and Mantha would be the first Canadian player in two years to score a hat trick in the Juniors since Mark Stone against Finland on December 26th, 2011. Mantha's goal came on the Canadian power play being played by Jonathan Drouin. The final goal of the game was scored early in the third (10:13) to have a final of 7-2. Nicolas Petan cut the game to a close when a beautiful play came from 16 year old Connor McDavid. McDavid stole the puck from German captain Leon Draisaitl and attempted a wrap around but Petan shoved it in on the rebound. Connor McDavid is the first 16 year old to play for Team Canada since Sidney Crosby in 2004.  Canada will play next on the 28th against the Czech Republic and Germany plays on the 27th against Slovakia. Canada's goaltender Jake Paterson  stopped 22 shots while Marvin Cupper for Germany made 23 saves. One last thing, Sam Reinhart's older brother Griffin will sit out for the first 3 games of the championships due to a suspension given last year.

Game 2 - Norway vs. Russia

  What a game played by Team Russia! At the Malmo Arena, the Osnovin-Barabanov-Zhafyarov line produced three of the 11 goals and stood out among their team mates as the best line during the game. I was unable to get a full statistics sheet on this game but, the 11 Russian goals came from  Vyacheslav Osnovin, Nikita Zadorov (2), Damir Zhafyarov, Vadim Khlopotov (2),  Mikhail Grigorenko, Anton Slepyshev (2), Nikita Tryamkin, and I believe Alexander Barabanov.  The Tamp Bay Lightning's number 19 first round 2012 draft pick Andrey Vasilevskiy stopped all 7 Norwegian shots and Norway's Henrik Haukeland saved 17 out of 27 shots and back up Joachim Svendsen stopped 7 out of 8 shots. Norway will play on the 27th against Finland and Russia will play again on the 28th against Switzerland. 

Game 3 - Czech Republic vs. USA

  In the Malmo Isstadion, the very powerful incoming USA team rolled over the Czech Republic. At 1:21 in the first, Team USA's and Capitals 2012 NHL draft pick Riley Barber opened the scoring on a power play with a backhand goal past Dolejs. Barber had an assist from Matthew Grzelyck. To make the score 2-0, 2013 Colorado draft pick Will Butcher lit the lamp at 2:02 showcasing the American's incredible puck movement. This was also a power play goal with the help of Jack Eichel. The lead was extended to 3-0 when 2013 LA Kings draft pick Hudson Fasching was able to score on a rebound at 9:23 in the second period. The score then showed 4-0 for the USA as 2012 Carolina Hurricanes draft pick Jaccob Slavin also scored on a rebound at 17:03 in the second period with help from Quentin Shore. The lone Czech goal was scored at 5:47 in the third period from the stick of Havl Brod native Michal Plutnar. Chicago Blackhawks draft pick Vince Hinsostroza ended the game with a final score of 5-1 on a breakaway goal at 17:49 in the third. Starting goalie and 2012 Calgary Flames draft pick Jon Gillies saved 23 shots for Team USA. The Czech goaltender Daniel Dolejs beat Coyotes draftee Marek Langhammer for the starting position and saved 28 out of 33 shots. Team USA will play on the 28th against Slovakia and the Czech Republic will play Canada on the 28th as well. 

Game 4 - Sweden vs. Switzerland

   Sandro Zangger started out the scoring for this game in favor of the Swiss with the help of Yannik Rathgeb and led the Swedes 1-0 with a power play goal at 5:43 into the first period. 71 seconds later, the Swedes tied it 1-1 with a beauty of a goal from Nashville Predators draftee Filip Forsberg. Vincent Praplan assisted Kevin Fiala on a goal when Fiala beat Swedish goaltender Oskar Dansk. 21 seconds later, the Swedes tied it up 2-2 when Erik Karlsson was able to help Lukas Bengtsson deke the Swiss goaltender Melvin Nyffeler. Then Sweden took their first lead of the game at 17:19 in the first when captain Filip Forsberg helped put the biscuit in the basket with a goal credited to Oskar Sundqvist. The second period contained no goals but 61 seconds after the start of the final period, Fabrice Herzog tied everything at 3 for the Swiss team when he beat Dansk with a loose puck. Quick to respond though, Washington Capitals draftee Christian Doojs scored to have Sweden lead 4-3. Andreas Johnson (pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs) scored the last goal of the game at 17:13 when he was fed the puck from Columbus Blue Jackets draftee Alexander Wennberg. The final score at Malmo Arena was 5-3 in favor of the host team, Sweden.Montreal Canadiens' Jacob de la Rose was credited with two assists during this game. Oskar Dansk of Team Sweden made 30 saves while Switzerland's Melvin Nyffeler stopped 31 potential goals. Team Sweden will face off against Finland on the 28th while Switzerland will play Team Russia on the 28th as well. 

   

I am doing things a little differently this year and instead of showing the 3 stars, I will be posting the top statistical leaders!

Scoring Leaders 3 pts each:

1. Anthony Mantha - Canada

Tied for second:

2. Filip Forsberg - Sweden

2. Mikhail Grigorenko - Russia

2. Damir Zhafyarov - Russia

5. Jonathan Drouin - Canada

Assist Leaders:

1. Jonathan Drouin 3 pts - Canada

8 players tied for second with 2 pts each:

2. Pavel Buchnevich - Russia

2. Jacob de la Rose - Sweden

2. Filip Forsberg - Sweden

2. Mikhail Grigorenko - Russia

2. Ilya Lyubushkin - Russia

2. Connor McDavid - Canada

2. Derrick Pouliot - Canada

2. Damir Zhafyarov - Russia

Goalkeepers:

1. Ivan Nalimov 0 GAA - Russia

1. Andrei Vasilevski 0 GAA - Russia

3. Jon Gillies 1 GAA - USA

4. Jake Paterson 2 GAA - Canada

5. Oskar Dansk 3 GAA - Sweden

Penalty Leaders:

1. Ludvig Hoff 12 PIM - Norway

6 players tied for second with 4 PIM each:

2. Pavel Buchnevich- Russia

2. Connor Carrick - USA

2. Kevin Fiala - Switzerland

2. Taylor Leier - Canada

2. Lennart Palausch - Germany

2. Oskar Sundqvist - Sweden

    Thanks for reading another blog of Biscuits and Breezers! Every blog will be filled with updated hockey news, player reviews, and much more! Until next time remember, don't get your breezers in a bunch because hockey is always around the corner. Remember, it's always a great day for hockey and it's a lifestyle not just a sport!