Results
Czech Republic 4, Denmark 0
Sweden 4, Kazakhstan 1
Russia 2, Canada 1
United States 4, Finland 1
Gaining momentum
Center Ryan Poehling (Montreal Canadiens), who leads all scorers at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship with eight points (five goals, three assists), said the United States has a lot to be proud of after playing its most complete game in a 4-1 win against Finland on Monday.
The U.S. finished second in Group B and will play Czech Republic in the WJC quarterfinal round on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN).
“Collectively, this was our best game (against Finland); we played great,” Poehling said. “We played a full 60 minutes which was nice to see, and it’ll be good for us heading into the medal rounds with this kind of confidence.”
United States coach Mike Hastings agreed that the U.S. played its best game Monday. Finland was out-shot 39-28.
“It was our best of the four we played, start to finish,” Hastings said. “I thought we were more responsible with the puck, our puck management was better throughout the game and we also got pucks behind their defensemen. We were able to possess some pucks, our special teams were good again. Throughout our lineup we had contributions in different ways and if we can continue that we’ll keep getting better.”
Canada seeks advantage at home
Canada playing on home ice at the World Junior Championship traditionally is thought to be a huge advantage but players are still adjusting to pressure that comes with that added responsibility.
At no time was that more evident than when Canada was outplayed by Russia in the first period of a 2-1 loss before 17,556 at Rogers Arena on Monday.
“We maybe got a little bit nervous, maybe some guys weren’t expecting it that loud,” said captain Max Comtois (Anaheim Ducks). “Now we are aware of that.”
Goaltender Michael DiPietro (Vancouver Canucks) made 29 saves and needed to be Canada’s best player in the first period when Russia held a 13-9 shot advantage.
“We knew heading into this atmosphere what we were getting ourselves into and it was definitely going to be a loud crowd and we knew that,” DiPietro said. “If we start better in the first — I know we jumped out to a 1-0 lead — but if we truly start better and kind of dictate the play and be more physical I think it would be a different outcome.”
Russian players said they fed off a crowd that booed them and the referees for every call that went against Canada.
“When all fans are against you, booing at you, you hear all that, so it makes our team close,” said forward Grigori Denisenko (Florida Panthers), who scored a power play goal 5:21 into the first period for a 1-1 tie. “We are becoming like a family and it helps us to produce our best.”
Sweden sweeps preliminary round … again
Sweden earned the top seed from Group B after finishing unbeaten in preliminary-round play for the 12th straight year at the World Junior Championship and will play Switzerland in the quarterfinal round at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Wednesday.
Sweden had just 10 forwards and five defensemen play in a 4-1 win against Kazakhstan on Monday; five players were out due to the stomach flu: forwards Johan Sodergran (Los Angeles Kings), Filip Sveningsson (Calgary Flames), and Rickard Hugg, and defensemen Adam Ginning (Philadelphia Flyers) and Philip Broberg (2019 NHL Draft eligible).
Sweden has won 48 straight preliminary-round games, last losing 3-2 in overtime to the United States on Dec. 31, 2006. The Swedes have outscored the opposition 250-85 during the streak, which includes 42 wins in regulation, two in overtime and four in a shootout. Sweden has won one gold medal and five silver medals during the streak.
“We didn’t think it would last this year,” Sweden coach Tomas Monten said of the streak. “We had a group that, on paper, maybe isn’t better than Finland or the U.S. I thought coming in here it would be really tough, but we just battled through and hopefully we can do that in the quarterfinals as well.”
Junior darlings
Kazakhstan was certainly a big hit with the fans in preliminary-round play of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship at Save-On-Foods Memorial Center in Victoria.
“The players and coaches really appreciate the support,” Kazakhstan coach Sergei Starygin said. “We don’t have as big of crowds cheering for the junior team in Kazakhstan. When the stadium is full like it was here, it’s so nice to play. It helps psychologically. Playing this tourney after working to get here was good for our program.”
The country, returning to the top level of the WJC for the first time since 2009, finished 0-0-0-4 and was outscored 28-5, but received tremendous ovations before each period, and after every positive play in their favor. Fans jubilantly sang along when the country’s goal song ‘Sweet Caroline’ was played after each of its five goals in four games.
The Neil Diamond goal song, chosen after a suggestion by Victoria Royals game DJ Tom Grainger of the Western Hockey League, struck a chord with players and fans.
“The song was chosen for us and we love it,” Kazakhstan goalie Denis Karatayev said. “The song helped us to play and it really got us going. I’m going to download it to my iPhone and listen to it later.”
Russian goalie steals show
Pyotr Kochetkov did his best to make certain he’s not overlooked in the NHL Draft a second straight year when he made 30 saves in Russia’s 2-1 win against Canada on Monday.
The 19-year-old goalie, passed over at the 2018 NHL Draft, exhibits a style similar to Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky with explosive athleticism that allows him to push across and make timely saves such as the one to deny Comtois on a backdoor pass from Owen Tippett (Florida Panthers).
“That maybe changed the game,” Comtois said. “He made some huge saves.”
Kochetkov (6-foot-3, 183 pounds) has split Russia’s four games with Danil Tarasov (Blue Jackets). He made 24 saves in a 2-1 win against the Czech Republic on Friday; the only goal coming on a power play deflection. He has a .964 save percentage in two games.
“He was great, and his saves gave team lots of confidence,” Denisenko said. “He is a real man.”
NHL.com correspondent Kevin Woodley contributed to this story
What’s next | Complete schedule
Wednesday
Quarterfinal round
Sweden vs. Switzerland (4 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN)
Canada vs. Finland (6:30 p.m. ET; TSN)
United States vs. Czech Republic (8 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN)
Russia vs. Slovakia (10:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN)
Relegation Round (Best-of-3)
Denmark vs. Kazakhstan (2 p.m. ET)
from A Viral Update http://bit.ly/2AqVLGS
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