Game Previews: December 27, 2017

by BuffaloWorldJuniors.com Staff

Posted 12/27/17

Game One: Belarus vs. Switzerland

3 p.m. at KeyBank Center

By Aaron Cheris

 

After reaching the quarterfinals and ultimately placing seventh in the 2017 tournament in Canada, Switzerland returns to the World Junior Championship hoping for a better result in 2018 in Buffalo.

 

Playing in their first game of the tournament on Wednesday afternoon at KeyBank Center, Switzerland is likely to have fresh legs. They will need to use their speed to get past a Belarus team hungry for a win after a disappointment on Tuesday.

 

Likely to get the start in goal is Matteo Ritz, who was a backup for the 2017 tournament. Also returning from the 2017 squad is defenseman Nico Gross. Playing for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals, Gross has recorded eight points in 27 games as just a 17 year old.

 

But the top defender on the Swiss squad is likely Tobias Geisser, a Washington Capitals fourth-round draft pick in 2017. With strong size and a good shot, he will log heavy minutes on defense.

 

Likely the top playmaker on Switzerland’s roster is 18-year-old forward Philipp Kurashev. Playing for the Quebec Ramparts in the QMJHL this season, he is at nearly a point per game pace with 31 points in 33 games.

 

They will have to contend with a Belarus squad that fell 6-1 to Sweden on Tuesday afternoon at HarborCenter.

 

In their first game back at the top division after being relegated in 2015, Belarus got a goal in the first period from Yegor Sharangovich to tie the game at 1-1, but could do little offensively after. In that first period, goalie Andrei Grishenko stopped nine of 10 shots to keep the game level.

 

However, three Swedish goals in the second and two more in the third put the game out of reach for Belarus, which managed only nine shots on goal, compared to 36 for Sweden.

 

While Grishenko may not play on back-to-back days, look for either Dmitri Rodik or Nikita Tolopilo to get the start in goal.

 

In a matchup that could decide which team from Group B faces relegation, three points are crucial for both sides. Faceoff at KeyBank Center is scheduled for 3 p.m.

 

 

Game Two: Canada vs. Slovakia

7 p.m. at KeyBank Center

By Alec Gearty

 

Fresh off last night’s win over Finland, Canada must face a quick turnaround as it prepares for Slovakia in Day 2 of the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship at Keybank Center.

 

Canada withstood an equally impressive Finnish team, who didn’t appear to play second fiddle to the Canadians, as one shot separated the shots on goal differential.

Taylor Raddysh recorded two points in the victory as he looks to continue his junior success tonight.

 

Raddysh, a top forward with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, led Canada with five goals in last year’s tournament. He’s found a more significant role this year with Team Canada, playing on the team’s power-play unit as well as the second line with Robert Thomas and Boris Katchouk, who also led Canada with two points on Tuesday. In all, the trio combined for five points in their 4-2 win over Finland.

 

Slovakia has yet to have the luxury of getting that crucial first game out of the way, as they were off on the tournament’s opening slate. Instead, a relatively new Slovakian group must encounter a projected favorite to begin its journey.

 

Last year, Slovakia ended its tournament run with a 1-3 record and was outscored 14-6 in that span. It was a disappointing result for a team that saw a quick exit in the quarterfinals – an 8-3 defeat at the hands of Sweden.

 

Slovakia returns six skaters from last year’s team, including goaltender Roman Durney, who continues to battle with David Hrenak for the starting job, and forward Adam Ruzicka are amongst returnees.

 

Ruzicka, who scored 39 points in 34 games in 2017-18 with the OHL’s Sarnia Sting, was one of the youngest forwards on last year’s roster. Now with a year of tournament experience under his belt and the age gap between fellow skaters dwindling, Ruzicka will be looked at to lead the team of hopefuls.

 

With Canada and the United States already pulling ahead in Group A, the combined losses by Finland and Denmark gives the Slovaks hope to start their tournament in the right direction.