Game Previews: December 28, 2017
by BuffaloWorldJuniors.com Staff
Posted 12/28/17
Game One: Finland vs. Denmark
Noon at KeyBank Center
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By Alec Gearty
The matinee matchup on Day 3 features action between Finland and Denmark, both teams desperately searching for its first win of the tournament.
Finland opened up its tournament hopes with a 4-2 loss at the hands of Team Canada, where it trailed for a significant portion of the matchup
Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 28 saves in the losing effort, while Finland found scoring from forward Aleksi Heponiemi and defenseman Henri Jokiharju.
The experienced group that features a handful of returnees could find no issue in regrouping against Denmark, but a loss to the Danes could deliver a catastrophic blow to their chances of advancing past the preliminary round.
Along with Denmark, Finland is one of three teams in Group A to be without a win. Slovakia, who didn’t play until yesterday, dropped its opening matchup to Canada as well.
Denmark gained the advantage over Finland at last year’s tournament.
In the only meeting between the two, Denmark defeated the Finns 3-2. It eventually led to Denmark advancing to the Quarterfinal while Finland was left to play in the Relegation stage.
Joachim Blichfield tallied the game-winning goal in that matchup and is one of the featured returnees for Denmark.
Blichfield, who led Denmark in scoring at last year’s tournament, plays for the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League. In the 2017-18 season, he tallied 30 points while playing alongside Jokiharju and the United States’ Kieffer Bellows.
Goaltender Kasper Krog made 34 saves in Denmark’s previous meeting with Finland. However, there is no official word that Krog, who was pulled after allowing seven goals in Denmark’s 9-0 loss to the United States, will make his second consecutive start.
Denmark’s road ahead doesn’t get any easier after Thursday afternoon. Canada and Slovakia both remain on the team’s preliminary round schedule. If Denmark fails to gain at least a point against Finland, returning to the playoff round becomes an immensely difficult task.
Puck drop is scheduled for noon at KeyBank Center.
Game Two: Russia vs. Switzerland
2 p.m. at HarborCenter
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By Aaron Cheris
Sitting at opposite ends of the Group B standings, Switzerland and Russia will meet on Thursday afternoon at HarborCenter in their second game each of the tournament.
Russia played in the tournament’s first game on Tuesday afternoon, but was stunned in a 5-4 loss to the Czech Republic.
The teams traded goals early as the game was tied 2-2 less than 10 minutes in, but the Czechs scored twice in the second and once in the third to build a three-goal lead. Russia mounted a furious comeback in the third period as they scored two goals in the final three minutes to cut the deficit to 5-4, but a tying goal was not in the cards as the Russians dropped their opening game.
Vladislav Syomin and Artur Kayumov each recorded a goal and an assist in the loss while German Rubtsov produced two assists. In goal, Russia started Alexei Melnichuk, but pulled him after he gave up four goals on 16 shots in the first two periods. Vladislav Sukhachyov played the third and surrendered the eventual winning goal.
Having medaled in seven straight tournaments, Russia quickly finds itself in jeopardy of having that streak end if they don’t get a favorable result against Switzerland.
The Swiss are coming off a dramatic 3-2 win over Belarus on Wednesday at KeyBank Center. Down a goal with under 10 minutes to play, the Swiss rallied for two late goals to earn a win in their opening game of the tournament.
In goal, Philip Wuthrich was strong as he made 27 saves on 29 shots to secure the win. Switzerland produced 39 shots on offense, but only the third period goals from Valentin Nussbaumer and Philipp Kurashev were enough to win.
A win would put Switzerland in strong position to reach the quarterfinals and exceed their seventh place finish last year.
Faceoff between Canada and Switzerland is scheduled for 2 p.m. at HarborCenter.
Game Three: Sweden vs. Czech Republic
4 p.m. at KeyBank Center
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By Ryan Evans
After both securing wins and three points in their opening games, Sweden and the Czech Republic will face off with Group B supremacy on the line Thursday at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The two sides will match up at 4 p.m. at KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo.
After awakening from a slow opening period in Tuesday’s 6-1 win over Belarus, Sweden showed off the deep and potent attack that has it pegged as one of this year’s medal favorites.
Five different Swedes found the back of the net and 11 notched a point, including six who registered multi-point efforts—forwards Lias Andersson, Fredrik Karlstrom, Alexander Nylander and Elias Pettersson, and defensemen Erik Brannstrom and Rasmus Dahlin.
Andersson, a New York Rangers first round pick, led the way with a team-high two goals, while the Buffalo Sabres’ Nylander notched two assists, including the primary on Brannstrom’s game-winner.
The convincing win over Belarus extended Sweden’s win streak in the World Juniors group stage to 41 straight. The Tre Kronor have not been upended in group play since a 3-2 overtime loss to the United States on Dec. 31, 2006.
The Czech Republic charted the tournament’s first upset on its first day, racing out to a 5-2 lead and holding on for a 5-4 win over defending bronze medalist Russia despite conceding 38 shots against.
Goaltender Josef Korenar was brilliant between the pipes with 34 saves—the most for any goaltender in the opening round—while forwards Martin Kaut (0+3) and Martin Necas (1+1), the Carolina Hurricanes’ first round pick last summer, led the way offensively. Kaut’s three points led all players on opening day.
Both teams have found success with the man advantage during the young tournament. Sweden exhibited stellar puck movement en route to two power play markers against Belarus, while the Czechs fired at a 40 percent (2-for-5) clip to power their upset of the Russians.
Game Four: United States vs. Slovakia
8 p.m. at KeyBank Center
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By Jim Christopher
In the final game of the day on Thursday, the United States, who are coming off of an impressive 9-0 victory over Denmark on Tuesday, will take on Slovakia, who had a difficult time handling Canada in a 6-0 loss on Wednesday.
The U.S. will have to be careful not to overlook Slovakia, as their much anticipated outdoor matchup with Canada at New Era Field looms on Friday.
In their last game, the United States suffocated Denmark at every turn and allowed only 17 shots on net, all of which were stopped by goaltender Joseph Woll.
At their outdoor practice at New Era Field on Wednesday, the U.S. kept fairly similar lines to what we saw in Tuesday’s game so expect to see a heavy dose of the Riley Tufte, Casey Mittelstadt and Patrick Harper combination, which produced five total points. Kieffer Bellows, who also had two goals, will be a top priority for the Slovaks to stop as well.
Going back to the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, the United States has now won nine straight games in tournament play.
Slovakia will have to produce much better in the defensive zone if they hope to avoid another showing like they did in their Wednesday night loss to Canada, where they were outshot 54-20.
