2018 WJHC (World Junior Hockey Championship)

[bustaheims]

I'm really struggling to find a reason to be interested by this Canadian team.

It's a rag-tag group of nobodies trying to become somebodies?

Just a bunch of scrappy first and second round draft picks.

There are some 4th and 5th round picks on the roster, you know! They're not all the best of the best.

[hockeyfan1]

So, Team Canada upends Team Finland 4-2 in yesterday's (Tuesday) opener, with Canadian 'keeper Carter Hart having made 29 saves.  Canada took the lead early in the game, a lead they never relinquished.  Some say "controversial".  On what?  On Canada's first goal in the opening period, that saw Canadian forward Boris Katchouk barrel in on not just a breakaway but into Finnish goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkhonen, after wristing a backhander that slid under Luukkhonen and into the net.

Interference, challenged the Finns.  Video review ruled it a fair goal.  The puck was already sliding into the net therefore negating Katchouk's "interference."

It seemed that this goal rejuvenated Team Canada and deflated Team Finland's mentality.  Perhaps so, but it was more the case of Team Canada making the most of their chances & opportunities and taking charge on the play.  Coupled with Hart's solid net minding, it wasn't difficult to see why the Canadians emerged victorious.

Canada is now 33-0-1 in opening games of the WJHC.

Canada plays Team Slovakia tonight.

GO CANADA GO!

Story:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/katchouk-leads-canada-past-finland-open-world-juniors/

[hockeyfan1]

Other results at yesterday's WJHC:

Team USA demolished Team Denmark 9-0; Team Czech Republic stunned Team Russia 54-; and Team Sweden easily handled Team Belarus 6-1.

For more:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/mittelstadt-bellows-shine-u-s-domination-denmark/

[Frank E]

Rasanen didn't play yesterday, right?

[hockeyfan1]

Rasanen didn't play yesterday, right?

Correct. He didn't play.   Might seem a little puzzling for Leaf fans expecting to see this talented prospect.  The Team Finland people claim he could be added to the lineup if needed.

Check this out:
https://theleafsnation.com/2017/12/26/wjc-prospect-report-day-1-woll-shuts-out-denmark-liljegren-on-swedens-top-d-pair/

[herman]

https://twitter.com/hockeywebcast/status/946125859206901768

Timoth is saving the mono for the gold medal celly.

[hockeyfan1]

Speed and forcing turnovers are Canada's staples at these WJHC and as one could see, Team Slovakia was no match for anything Canadian thrown at them. 

Team Canada shutout Team Slovakia by a score of 6-0 and got offensive contributions from several different forwards such Jordan Kyrou, who not only leads the OHL but also these World Juniors, in points, followed by fellow Canadians Jonah Gadjovich, Taylor Raddysh & Sam Steel.  All at the top of the overall points order.

Colton Point, back up netminder played solid in net, in place of starter Carter Hart (who backstopped Canada in Tuesday's opening 4-2 win over Finland).

On the other side of the rink, Slovakia was outshot 54-20, with Slovakian netminder Hreniak braving the shot onslaught.

While the Canadian roster is relatively injury-free, three of Team Canada's key defencemen -- Dante Fabbro, Kris Clague, and Jake Bean are not necessarily in the best shape.  Fabbro is still getting adjusted here, while Clague took a shot off his foot, and Bean suffered a head-on collision on net.

Canada's next game is Friday outdoor against host USA at New Era Field, home of the NFL's Buffalo Bills.   Whether the game will go ahead as an outdoor one will be determined depending on the cold temperature.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/backup-point-perfect-canada-blanks-slovakia-world-juniors/

[hockeyfan1]

Other WJHC results:

Team Switzerland edged Team Belarus 3-2, despite outshooting Belarus 40-29.  Give credit to Belarussian goalkeeper Andrei Grishenko who kept his squad in the game.

More:
http://2018.worldjunior.hockey/en/news/sui-blr/

[Bates]

Wouldn't that kinda be the expected score when shots are roughly 40 to 30?? 

Other WJHC results:

Team Switzerland edged Team Belarus 3-2, despite outshooting Belarus 40-29.  Give credit to Belarussian goalkeeper Andrei Grishenko who kept his squad in the game.

More:
http://2018.worldjunior.hockey/en/news/sui-blr/

[L K]

Slovakia beat the US 3-2.  Woll was in net for the loss.

[hockeyfan1]

Wouldn't that kinda be the expected score when shots are roughly 40 to 30?? 

Other WJHC results:

Team Switzerland edged Team Belarus 3-2, despite outshooting Belarus 40-29.  Give credit to Belarussian goalkeeper Andrei Grishenko who kept his squad in the game.

More:
http://2018.worldjunior.hockey/en/news/sui-blr/

I suppose so, yes, it would be but I think that many expected Switzerland to win by a slightly higher margin.   It can go either way though shots don't always determine the score or outcome.

[hockeyfan1]

Yesterday's (Thursday') WJHC results:

Defeating Team USA sure felt good, in Team Slovakia's 3-2 win, in the words of Slovak forward Martin Studenic, in what could be described as a thrilling victory:

"This is unreal," Studenic enthused. "This is like a dream. This is the first time I've beaten an opposing team like the USA. For our small country, it's like winning the Stanley Cup. I'm so proud of these guys. We worked like a team, and we won...."

Team Slovakia's netminder played brilliantly in backstopping his squad in the win.  Certainly a goaltending battle between Team USA's Joseph Woll (a Maple Leaf prospect) and Durny.  And, thanks to what proved to be the go-ahead goal by Slovakia's forward Bucek, a rebound Woll had no chance on.

More:
http://2018.worldjunior.hockey/en/news/usa-svk/


Elsewhere, Team Sweden held on to defeat Team Czech Republic 3-1, led by young defensive phenom & draftee Rasmus Dahlin; Team Russia beat Team Switzerland 5-2; and Team Finland handled Team Denmark 4-1.


http://2018.worldjunior.hockey/en/

[disco]

https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/status/946792475355766787

[herman]

Makar starts the Canadians off on the PP with wrister from the top of the circle.

[barney_rebel]

We rule man


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