Game Previews: January 4, 2018

By BuffaloWorldJuniors.com Staff

Posted 1/4/18

Semifinal Game One: United States vs. Sweden

4 p.m. at KeyBank Center

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By Jim Christopher

 

The United States is one win away from having the opportunity to defend their World Junior Championship gold medal on home soil.

 

The only thing standing in their way is potentially the top pick in this year’s draft and one of the stoutest defensive corps in Sweden.

 

Trailing only Canada in goals allowed, Sweden hasn’t surrendered more than three goals in any game so far this tournament. In contrast, aside from their 3-2 defeat at the hands of Slovakia, the United States has scored at least four goals in every game.

 

United States forward Logan Brown left the game against Slovakia with an injury and has yet to return. Yesterday at practice, Brown skated wearing a non-contact jersey and has a chance to return tonight according to Team USA head coach Bob Motzko.

 

“He’s close. He’s knocking on the door,” Motzko said.

 

Brown, a 6-foot-6 physical forward who has the ability to score, could be a welcome addition to the United States in an effort to trying to break through a Swedish defense that has only allowed nine goals in five tournament games.

 

In Tuesday’s 4-2 quarterfinal win over Russia, forward Kieffer Bellows added to his tournament-leading goal total when he tallied two to help propel his team to victory.

 

Casey Mittelstadt has been dominant this tournament, as well, leading all skaters with 10 points (4+6) in five games.

 

With a victory, the United States would clinch a spot in their sixth gold medal game in the programs history. It would also mark the first time the United States appears in back-to-back gold medal games.

 

Sweden, who is a two-time gold medalist, will be looking for their first trip back to the gold medal game since 2014.

 

Lias Andersson is the current goal-scoring leader for Sweden, boasting five goals in as many games. Alexander Nylander has been effective in the offensive zone as well, leading all Swedish forwards with five assists. Isac Lundestrom scored two goals in Sweden’s 3-2 quarter final victory over Slovakia. 

 

Sweden has also been receiving goal scoring and defending from each line. By having only one player on the team in the negative for their plus/minus rating,

Sweden has shown they can get offensive production and defensive responsibility from all four lines.

 

The winner of this matchup will face the winner of Canada and Czech Republic in the gold medal game on Friday at 8 p.m.

 

 

Semifinal Game Two: Canada vs. Czech Republic

8 p.m. at KeyBank Center

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By Ryan Evans

 

Separating Canada from its second-straight gold medal game appearance is an upstart Czech Republic team hungry for an upset. The two sides will decide which plays for the title on Thursday in the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship semifinals.

 

Canada is 13-1-2 all-time against the Czechs at World Juniors, but has lost three of its last five semifinal games dating back to the 2012 tournament. This is the Czechs’ first semifinal appearance since winning bronze in 2005.

 

The Czech Republic comes in as the David to Canada’s goliath. The country has not won a World Juniors medal in 13 years, but has utilized a strong power play and team-first mentality to grind out wins and reach the final four.

 

“It is a great challenge for us to be this close to the medals,” Czech head coach Filip Pesan said. “We will do anything to win.”

 

To do so, the Czech Republic will have to overcome a Canada team that has rolled through the tournament so far. The deep and potent Canadian offense has out-scored its opponents, 29-8, in five games and boasts a power play that is clicking at 52.63 percent (10-for-19)—which may prove to be the difference against a struggling Czech Republic penalty kill (14-for-21, 66.67 percent).

 

“The Czechs have gotten stronger and stronger with each game they have played,” Canada forward Brett Howden said. “They are surprising people and feeling good about themselves. We have to focus on us and stick to what we do best.”

 

“We’re not looking too far ahead. We’re focusing on the task at hand.”

 

Forward Jordan Kyrou paces Canada with seven points (2+5), while forward Drake Batherson leads the way with four goals. Overall, Canada’s 29 goals have been balanced among 15 players and 19 of its 20 skaters have registered at least a point.

 

“Canada is the best team at World Juniors,” Czech forward Filip Zadina said. “We have to play our game. We will try out best. Our confidence is very high.”

 

Zadina has been the Czech Republic’s most dangerous player with five goals—four of which have come on a power play that ranks No. 2 in the tournament at 50 percent. Forward Martin Necas leads the team with nine points (3+6).

 

The Czechs will certainly be hoping for another performance between the pipes like the one they got in their quarterfinal upset of Finland. Goaltender Josef Korenar stood on his head in that game with 51 saves as his team equalized late before prevailing in the shootout.

 

Goaltender Carter Hart is expected to get the start for Canada. He boasts a 1.96 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage in four starts.

 

 

Relegation Game Two: Denmark vs. Belarus

Noon at KeyBank Center

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By Aaron Cheris

 

Fighting for their spot in the 2019 World Junior Championship in Canada, Belarus and Denmark engaged in an epic battle on Tuesday afternoon at HarborCenter.

 

Down 4-3 in the final minute of play, Denmark tied the game with 34 seconds left on a goal from Joachim Blichfeld as the game looked destined for overtime. But just 19 seconds later, Andreas Grundtvig scored from a tough angle to propel Denmark in front, giving them a stunning 5-4 win over Belarus in the first game of the best-of-three relegations series.

 

Following a day off on Wednesday, the teams will meet again on Thursday afternoon, with Belarus fighting to stay alive and force a decisive game three on Friday afternoon.

 

Tuesday’s game was a a game of runs, with Denmark scoring the first two goals to led 2-0 after one, Belarus answering with two of their own to tie it 2-2 after two then score two more to take a 4-2 lead in the third before Denmark’s three-goal comeback earned them a win.

 

The relegation series features two teams that went winless in the preliminary round, and for good reason. Through Tuesday’s action, Belarus and Denmark rank ninth and 10th in the tournament in shots on goal with 106 and 102, respectively.

 

However, Belarus has made the most of its chances by scoring on 14 of 106 shots for a 13.21 scoring percentage, second in the tournament behind Canada. Denmark ranks last in that category, having scored seven goals on 102 shots for a 6.86 percentage.

 

For Belarus, captain Maxim Sushko has led the way with six points on a goal and five assists while Yegor Sharangovich has three goals and two assists over five games. In goal, Andrei Grishenko has started every game for the Belarusians, and that is unlikely to change. Over five starts, he’s posted a 5.24 goals-against average and a .854 save percentage.

 

Jonas Rondbjerg has led the way for the Danes with a goal and four assists while Blichfeld’s three goals lead the team. In net, look for Kasper Krog to start again after earning the win on Tuesday. In four games, he’s posted a 5.49 GAA and a .869 save percentage.

 

With a loss, Belarus is relegated to Division I A tournament for the second time in three years while a win would force a decisive game three on Friday.