Game Previews: December 30, 2017

By BuffaloWorldJuniors.com Staff

Posted 12/30/17

Game One: Czech Republic vs. Belarus

Noon at KeyBank Center

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By Aaron Cheris

 

Plenty is on the line in a crowded Group B as the Czech Republic meets Belarus in an afternoon matchup at KeyBank Center on Saturday.

 

Currently winless through three games, Belarus sits in the bottom of the table. Having never finished higher than ninth in the tournament before, Belarus needs to win on Saturday or they will end up playing for their tournament life in the relegation bracket.

 

On Friday at HarborCenter, Belarus was outshot 40-19 in a 5-2 loss to Russia. Dimitri Deryabin and Sergei Pishuk each scored their first goal of the tournament in the third period, but it was too little too late.

 

Goaltender Andrei Grishenko has played every minute of every game for the Belarusians so far, and that is unlikely to change on Saturday. Over his first three games, he has posted a 4.69 goals against average and .879 save percentage as Belarus has been outscored 14-5. No player on the Belarus roster has recorded more than two points in the tournament so far.

 

Looking to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals, a rested Czech Republic team has split their first two games, beating Russia 5-4 in the tournament’s first game on Tuesday before falling 3-1 to Sweden on Wednesday.

 

Over their first two games, the Czechs have been led by Filip Zadina, who scored the team’s only goal against Sweden and recorded a goal and an assist against Russia. Two other players also have three points as Martin Necas has a goal and two assists while Martin Kaut has recorded three helpers in the loss.

 

Goaltenders Jakub Skarek and Josef Korenar have each played in one game so far, and it will be interesting to see who coach Fillip Pesan turns to in goal for this crucial matchup. A win for the Czech Republic guarantees them a spot in the quarterfinals.

 

Game Two: Sweden vs. Switzerland

2 p.m. at HarborCenter

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By Ryan Evans

 

Sweden looks to stay perfect on the penultimate day of group play at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship as it faces off against a Switzerland team aiming to improve its standing for the quarterfinals.

 

At plus-7, Sweden owns the second-best goal differential of the tournament and has been scored on just twice in two games.

 

Backed by lethal power play, which ranks No. 2 at 33.33 percent (4-for-12), and a deep blue line, the Tre Kronor have cruised through Group B thus far and has firmly established itself as one of the event’s most potent attacks and a strong medal contender.

 

Forward Alex Nylander, the Buffalo Sabres first round pick in 2016, and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, projected to be a top pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, have notched multi-point efforts in back-to-back games and, at four points apiece, both rank among the tournament’s top 10 scorers. Forward Elias Pettersson is not far behind with two goals and three points (2+1) of his own.

 

They will test a Switzerland penalty kill that has conceded two power play goals on only five tries to its opponents. A win against the Swiss would extend Sweden’s win streak in World Juniors group stages to 43 games. It is 6-0 against Switzerland over that span but two of those games, in 2012 and 2013, required a shootout.

 

After splitting its games with Belarus and Russia, Switzerland sits in a tie for third place with the Czech Republic in Group B at three points but owns a one-goal worse goal differential, which makes its last two games crucial for its potential quarterfinal seeding.

 

If it stays where it is, Switzerland is looking at a match-up with the Group A winner—likely Canada or the defending champion United States.

 

Without Nico Hischier’s dynamic offensive ability, the Swiss have not been as threatening as last year when they upended the Czechs in the group stage and put a scare into the U.S. in the quarterfinals. Switzerland has just five goals in two games and may find tough sledding against Sweden’s talented crop of defenders.

 

Forwards Marco Miranda (1+1), Philipp Kurashev (1+1) and Guillaume Maillard (0+2) lead their country with two points and five players share the goals lead with one apiece.

 

 

Game Three: Slovakia vs. Finland

4 p.m. at KeyBankCenter

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By Alec Gearty

 

Slovakia hopes to continue its winning ways against Finland on Saturday at the 2018 World Junior Championship. Slovakia, who holds a 1-1 record, shocked tournament viewers as it defeated the United States on Thursday.

 

The win not only delivered a devastating blow to the United States’ chances of winning the group, but Slovakia now maintains momentum and has some extra confidence heading into its matchup with the Finns.

 

Goaltender Roman Durny was nearly impossible to beat in the 3-2 upset over the U.S. Durny, who made his first start of the tournament, made 43 saves to stymie the offensive threat of the host nation.

 

The Slovakian goaltenders have maintained a heavy workload over the last few games – arguably the heaviest that any team endured thus far. Durny and David Hrenak, who started in the team’s opener against Canada, have faced at least 40 shots in each start.

 

Despite playing only one game where others logged in at least two, both rank in the top six in saves among goaltenders in the tournament.

 

Finland isn’t one to pushover on offense. The Finns have outshot opponents 85-32, but what makes them so unique is the heavy contribution from the team’s blue line.

 

In Finland’s latest outing, a dominant 4-1 victory over Denmark, defensemen Jusso Valimaki, Henri Jokiharju and Miro Heiskanen each recorded at least a point. The amount of production from the Finnish defense is none too surprising as all three of those players were first-round selections in last year’s NHL Draft.

 

Finland’s goaltender, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, maintained the starting job thus far, but he didn’t see much action against Denmark. Luukkonen had a relatively easy outing, needing to make only six saves to contain the Danish offense, which found the back of the net once.

 

He will likely make his third start unless head coach Jussi Ahokas plans on saving the netminder for its Sunday afternoon matchup with the United States.

 

The game between Finland and Slovakia will ultimately determine who takes hold of second place in Group A. Canada virtually has the group locked up with 7 points, but a win by either the Finns or Slovakia leapfrogs them above United States for second.

Both teams last met in 2015, where Finland’s Patrik Laine recorded three points to lead the team past Slovakia 8-3.

 

Game Four: Canada vs. Denmark

8 p.m. at KeyBank Center

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By Jim Christopher

 

Following a disappointing shootout loss at the hands of the United States during the outdoor game at New Era Field on Friday, Canada will look to rebound by taking on Denmark at 8 p.m. at KeyBank Center.

 

Denmark comes into this game looking for their first win after being beaten handily by the United States 9-0 on Tuesday and 4-1 by Finland on Thursday.

 

Nikolaj Krag has the lone goal for Denmark.

 

Canada, meanwhile, held a two-goal lead  they will have the challenge of moving past a defeat at the hands of the United States with a two goal lead going into the second period and focusing on Denmark.

 

Canadian forward Sam Steel is currently tied for fourth in the tournament with four points (2+2) in three games played. Goaltender Carter Hart has played well for Canada in the first few games and currently boasts a 2.88 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. Colton Point made all 20 saves he faced in his only start of the tournament for Canada so far.

 

A win for Canada would clinch first place in Group A heading into the quarterfinals.