Game Previews: December 31, 2017
By BuffaloWorldJuniors.com Staff
Posted 12/31/17
Game One: Switzerland vs. Czech Republic
Noon at KeyBank Center
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By Jim Christopher
Switzerland and the Czech Republic will wrap up their preliminary pool play this afternoon when they face off at noon at KeyBank Center. With both teams already having clinched a spot in the quarterfinal round, this game could potentially have a large impact on seeding.
For the Czech Republic, forward Filip Zadina has been dominant on the power play, scoring three goals while on the man advantage. Zadina leads all players in the tournament with his three power play goals and is currently tied for fourth among all skaters in overall goals. He also has a goal in each of his team’s first three games.
While the Czech Republic has been very good overall on the power play, currently boasting a 36.3 power play percentage (4-for-11), they also have the most penalty minutes of any team throughout the tournament with 63. Opposing teams have made the Czechs pay while on the penalty kill, allowing five goals on 14 power play opportunities. Their 64.2 penalty-kill percentage is second worst in the tournament.
After starting out the preliminary round with a 3-2 win over Belarus on Wednesday, Switzerland hasn’t been able to find a second win with losses to Russia (5-2), and Sweden (7-2) in back-to-back games.
Switzerland goaltenders Phillip Wuthrich and Matteo Ritz have split time in net the first three games with Wuthrich getting the team’s only win. He is expected to get the start in net today again.
Game Two: USA vs. Finland
4 p.m. at KeyBank Center
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By Alec Gearty
Sunday marks the final hours before 2017 comes to a close. That also means it’s the last day of the preliminary round and the United States has arguably its toughest matchup of the tournament – with the most at stake – against Finland.
Group A is still left with many unanswered questions. After Canada clinched the top spot in the group on Saturday, the remaining three slots are fair game. The United States, who enters Sunday with 5 points — three for a win and two for a shootout win — trails Finland by one for the group’s second seed.
The United States hasn’t played since its thrilling 4-3 victory over Canada at New Era Field on Dec. 29.
Forward Casey Mittelstadt led all skaters with three points, assisting on each goal before the game was decided by a shootout. Mittlestadt, who has six points in three games, is tied with Sweden’s Elias Pettersson and Rasmus Dahlin for the tournament scoring lead.
Forward Kieffer Bellows scored his fourth goal of the tournament against Canada and now sits atop of all goal scorers alongside Pettersson and Swedish captain Lias Andersson.
And after enduring a loss to Canada to begin the tournament, Finland has since outscored its opponents 9-3. The Finns continue to gain momentum behind its defense and goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Finland defeated Slovakia last night to seize control of Group A’s second seed. A win over the Americans means Finland clinches the second spot and leaves the United States with much uncertainty — Slovakia closes its schedule against Denmark later in the evening and could also pass the Americans.
Over three years have passed since the United States and Finland last met at the World Junior Championship. In that meeting in Dec. 2014, the United States defeated Finland 2-1 in a shootout. Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel scored one of the three goals to lead the Americans past the Finns.
Since the United States clinched a spot in the playoff stage, it will play at 8 p.m. EST in the quarterfinals.
Game Three: Slovakia vs. Denmark
4 p.m. at HarborCenter
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By Aaron Cheris
Denmark and Slovakia conclude Group A play on Sunday afternoon with seeding and a berth in the quarterfinals on the line.
For Slovakia, a win guarantees a spot in the quarterfinals as either the third or fourth seed out Group A. Their placement will also depend on the result of the 4 p.m. game between Team USA and Finland.
With a loss, Denmark will finish the preliminary round pointless and face Belarus in the relegation stage.
On Thursday, Slovakia pulled off the upset of the tournament with a 3-2 win over the United States behind a 43-save performance from goaltender Roman Durny. In that game, Samuel Bucek dazzled by scoring the winning goal on a strong individual effort.
In Saturday’s game against Finland, Bucek scored again, but it wasn’t enough as the Slovaks fell 5-2 for their second loss in three games.
Currently leading his team with four points and eight shots on goal, Bucek will be the one to watch out for again on Sunday afternoon as his eight shots on goal also leads the team. Filip Krivosik scored twice in the win over the Americans, and will look to take the team lead in goals on Sunday.
In goal, Durny has started twice while David Hrenak has played once. Durny has better stats, but Hrenak will be the fresher goaltender with Slovakia playing on back-to-back afternoons.
Denmark has struggled in the tournament, having lost all three of its games by a combined score of 21-1. In its most recent game on Saturday night, Denmark took a tournament-high 18 shots on goal, but nothing found the net in an 8-0 loss to Canada.
In their 4-1 loss to Finland on Thursday, Denmark was held to just seven shots on goal and did not manage a shot in the third period. However, NIkolaj Kraj managed to score the only goal of the tournament for the Danish squad.
After Emil Gransoe took the loss on Saturday, look for Kasper Krog to start on Sunday in a crucial game. The netminder stopped an incredible 58 of 62 shots in the loss to Finland.
Game Four: Russia vs. Sweden
8 p.m. at KeyBank Center
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By Ryan Evans
The top spot in Group B will be settled on New Year’s Eve as undefeated Sweden takes on one-loss Russia in the final game of the 2018 IIHF World Championship preliminary round on Sunday.
If Sweden wins, they will be crowned the king of Group B and granted a top seed for the quarterfinal round a match-up with Group A’s No. 4 team. Sweden has won its group in each of the last 10 years and has not been defeated in the group stage since a 3-2 overtime loss to the United States on Dec. 31, 2006.
Sweden is 6-0 against Russia in group play over the lifetime of that streak.
Sweden’s roll has continued in Buffalo as it has blown through Belarus, the Czech Republic and Switzerland to the tune of a tournament-best plus-12 goal differential. Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (0+6) and forward Elias Pettersson (4+2) are each tied for the World Juniors scoring lead at six points. Forwards Alexander Nylander (1+4) and Lias Andersson (4+1) are not far behind with four apiece.
Sweden has scored at least once on the power play in each of its three games so far and ranks third with a 31.25 percent (5-for-16) conversion rate.
If Russia prevails in regulation there is the potential for a three-team logjam at the top of the group depending on the result of the Czech Republic-Switzerland game earlier in the day. If the Czechs and Russians win, then Sweden likely still emerges from the ensuing three-time tie as the group winner based on their superior goal differential.
For Russia to claim the top spot, it will need to hope for a Czech Republic loss to the Swiss coupled with a win over Sweden. It would then claim the top spot by virtue of its head-to-head win over the Swedes.
After succumbing to the Czech Republic, 5-4, on opening day the Russians—who have medaled at seven straight tournaments—have responded nicely with back-to-back 5-2 triumphs over both Switzerland and Belarus.
Forwards Artur Kayumov and Klim Kostin pace the Russian attack with three goals and five points apiece.
Working against them against a standout Swedish attack, though, is suspect play between the pipes. Goaltenders Vladislav Sukhachyov and Alexei Melnichuk have combined for an event-worst .839 save percentage on 56 shots.
