Game Previews: December 26, 2017
by BuffaloWorldJuniors.com Staff
Posted 12/26/17
Game One: Czech Republic vs. Russia
12 p.m. at KeyBank Center
By Jim Christopher
The Czech Republic and Russia will kick off the 2018 World Junior Championships today at noon at the KeyBank Center. With only two players returning from last year’s bronze medal team, Russia will turn to projected Top 5 pick Andrei Svechnikov to help get the offense going. Svechnikov is averaging more than a point per game for the Barrie Colts this season posting 21 points (14+7) in 16 games.
After seven straight podium appearances, Russia will consider anything less a disappointment.
For the Czech Republic, they will be looking to capture their first medal since they won bronze in 2005. Filip Chytil and Martin Necas are expected to anchor the top line for the Czechs. Both players were first round selections in the 2017 NHL Draft.
Necas was picked with the 12th overall selection by the Carolina Hurricanes while Chytil was selected 21st by the New York Rangers. Necas and Chytil have appeared in NHL games this season and look to channel that experience into success at the junior level.
Filip Zadina is another player to watch this tournament as he is projected to compete with Svechnikov for a top-five draft selection. Zadina who has been described as having “high end puck skills with a deadly release” is currently second in the QMJHL in points and goals having posted 46 and 24 this season, respectively, for the Halifax Mooseheads.
Game Two: Sweden vs. Belarus
2 p.m. at HarborCenter
By Aaron Cheris
Belarus returns to the top division after winning gold at the 2017 Division I tournament in Germany. In that tournament, Belarus won four of five games to earn the title and a trip to Buffalo. Having never finished higher than ninth in its history, Belarus will look to jump out of the gates quickly while trying to reach new heights.
To do that, Yuri Faikov’s squad will need to pull off an upset or two, and the coach may lean on his 17-year-old goalie, Nikita Tolopilo to man the net. At 6-foot-6, he is the biggest goalie on the Belarusian roster and posted a 2.91 goals against average with .926 save percentage in two games leading up to the tournament.
Only five players on the Belarus roster currently play in North America. One of them is defenseman Vladislav Yeryomenko, a good puck-mover with an offensive flare. In 31 games this year for the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, he has posted eight goals and 18 assists.
Of the forwards, the offsene is likely to come from Maxim Sushko, a fourth round selection by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2017 draft. Currently, he’s playing for the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL and has scored 16 goals and added 10 assists in 28 games.
Since winning gold in 2012, Sweden’s tournament has ended in disappointment each year. In 2013 and 2014, they had to settle for silver before falling in the bronze medal game each of the past three years, including a 2-1 overtime loss to Russia last year in Canada.
With a roster full of NHL draft picks, Sweden coach Tomas Monten has some tough decisions to make. All three of his goalies have been picked by NHL teams. Filip Larsson, a sixth round pick by the Red Wings in 2016, has been the hottest of the trio this season, posting a 1.45 goals against average and .946 save percentage for the Tri-City Storm in the USHL.
On defense, few players in Buffalo are as highly ranked as Rasmus Dahlin. Projected to be a top pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, Dahlin became the youngest player ever to dress for Sweden when he played in last year’s tournament in Canada at 16. A strong all-around player, Dahlin will be fun to watch in Buffalo.
Looking to put up the points will be Elias Pettersson, the fifth overall selection in the 2017 draft by the Vancouver Canucks. In 26 games this season in the Swedish Elite League, he has scored 11 goals while posting 35 points. In last year’s tournament, he only posted one assist in six games and he hopes to increase that total this time around.
Game Three: Canada vs. Finland
4 p.m. at KeyBank Center
By Jim Christopher
Perennial favorites, Canada gets their tournament underway with a matchup against Finland. After suffering a heartbreaking loss in the shootout of the gold medal game against the United States, the junior hockey powerhouse will look to avenge that loss on American soil.
In an effort to try to replace the IIHF Best Defenseman award-winner from last tournament, Thomas Chabot will be blue liner Victor Mete. Mete will be relied upon heavily for Canada as he has the most NHL experience among anyone in the tournament, appearing in 27 games for the Montreal Canadiens this season.
Goaltending projects to be one of the biggest strengths for the Canadiens with Carter Hart projected to get most of the time in the cage. Hart, a second round selection of the Philadelphia Flyers has compiled a 13-3-1 record to go along with a .961 save percentage and a 1.32 goals against average for the Everett Silvertips this season.
Finland became the first team in the history of the tournament that failed to qualify for the quarterfinals after winning it the year prior. The gold medal winners from 2016 and 2014 are hoping to return to their winning ways. Buffalo Sabres goaltending prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will get to show his future hometown what he can do as he is expected to get the majority of the time in net.
Returning nine players from last year’s squad, Finland will rely on that experience and look to build off of last year’s disappointing showing to try to get back to the podium.
Game Four: Denmark vs. United States
8 p.m. at KeyBank Center
By Jim Christopher
Last year’s gold medalists and host country, United States gets to open their title defense against Denmark later tonight at the KeyBank Center. The United States has 20 NHL prospects and ten former first round picks on their roster. The U.S. is loaded with talent and experience, a perfect combination to help their efforts in repeating. Defenseman Adam Fox was the leading point scorer during the World Junior Summer Showcase this past August with nine points (3+6) in five games and is expected to help move the puck and create offense in this tournament.
Buffalo Sabres prospect Casey Mittelstadt will get a chance to show his future city how he can perform against top competition when he makes his debut in the World Junior Championship.
Mittelstadt will certainly be a topic of discussion among local fans as he hopes to build off of his nine-point showing from the World Junior Summer Showcase. He may see some playing time with projected Top 5 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft Brady Tkachuk who has 14 points (4+10) in 19 games at Boston University this season.
Denmark had their best finish in program history at last year’s tournament when they finished fifth.
Goaltender Kasper Krog was a star at last year’s tournament as his .919 save percentage was third best of all goaltenders. He is expected to get most of the time in net.
Oliver Larsen is the only returning defenseman from last year’s team and Jonas Rondbjerg, a third round selection of the Las Vegas Golden Knights is one of their four NHL prospects.
