Archive for the ‘World Juniors’ Category
Cory Perry leads Canada routing of Russia
February 24th, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, Vancouver 2010, World Juniors
Vancouver, Ca — Ryan Getzlaf opened the scoring early, and Canada never looked back defeating a very talented Russian squad 7-3 on Wednesday night.
It was a night where everybody contributed, Cory Perry got 2 goals, Ryan Getzlaf had 1, Shea Weber had 1, Brendan Morrow had 1, Rick Nash had 1, and Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle had 1.
Russias goals were scored by Maxim Afineganov, Sergei Gonchar, and Dmitri Kalinin.
This comes as a surprise to most people, Russia was picked as a high favorite to win the gold this year in Vancouver, but will be looking forward to 2014 when the games go to Russia.
Canada will play either Sweden or Slovakia on Friday.
It was a game in which everything went Canada’s way, from the moment the puck was dropped between Jonathan Toews and Russia’s No. 1 centre Evgeni Malkin. Canadian coach Mike Babcock cobbled together a checking line consisting of Toews, Mike Richards and Rick Nash, with Nash drawing the task of shadowing Russia’s all-world scoring sensation, Alex Ovechkin.
Nash had been Canada’s most physical forward in this tournament and physically, the best equipped to go head-to-head against Ovechkin, who’d knocked the Czech star Jaromir Jagr right out of the tournament in an earlier game. But Nash was strong against Ovechkin all night – or as long as it mattered, which was probably no more than the early stages of the second period, by which time Canada had the game sealed and delivered.
Richards was just as good, hounding Malkin, a frequent NHL adversary in the Pittsburgh Penguins-Philadelphia Flyers’ rivalry. Richards’ play, to strip Malkin of the puck just inside the Russian blue line with Canada holding a 2-0 first-period lead, may have been the turning point in the game. Richards moved the puck up to Toews on a quick transitional play, who then found Nash breaking into the clear.
Evgeni Nabokov had given up 6 goals before being yanked from the net, and being replaced by Phoenix Coyote’s goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov.
The crowd at Canada Hockey Place had to content itself by mocking Ovechkin with the cry, “Ovie, Ovie” whenever the Russian touched the puck.
The test now will be to harness the emotion Canada had off the start and see if they can reach that fervor pitch again in time to play Slovakia or Sweden.
In 2006, when Russia won the meeting against Canada in the quarter-final, they fell apart in the final two games, failing to score in either the semi-final or the bronze medal game.
Gold rush is over
January 5th, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, World Juniors
The rush ended on a gloomy day for an entire nation. After a dramatic third period comeback, and an almost OT winner from Alex Pietrangelo, John Carlson ended the Canadian gold rush, with a shot that beat Martin Jones on his left side.
The victory, is only USA’s second gold medal in their tournament history, ironically there last gold medal was in Finland, against the Canadians.
Going into overtime, it seemed like Canada had all the momentum. With under 4 minutes to go, Canada would get a powerplay, and the always heroic Jordan Eberle would narrow the gap to one, and then shortly score another, the bar was raised quite high for overtime, but USA killed the joy quick.
The packed Credit Union centre saw one of the best games in gold medal history, a game that saw both starting goaltenders getting pulled, Mark Lee in the first, and Jake Allen in the third.
Canada came flying out of the gate. A beauty feed from Jordan Caron, a great backhand goal from Luke Adam that was put in the five hole of Lee, put Canada up 1-0 early in the first period.
USA would rally, Chris Kreider would beat Allen over the shoulder, and 36 seconds later Jordan Schroeder would beat Allen giving the red white and blue their first lead of the game.
The response was once again, a quick one. Nazem Kadri would find Greg Nemisz, and put the puck in the back of the net, it was his first of the tournament.
Canada would play undisceplined, when Alex Pietrangelo would take a 10 minute misconduct, and a two minute minor. USA would capitalize quickly, and John Carlson nailed a blast from the point for his first goal of the game.
Lee would see his last shot come from the stick of Taylor hall who had the answer for Canada, Lee was chased from the net, and 17 year old Jack Campbell would replace Lee.
Canada would allow USA to have another odd-man-rush, and Jerry D’Amigo would put home his first of the game. Allen would see his last shot, when Derek Stepan found a loose rebound, and put what looked like the insurance marker behind Jake Allen, who was also pulled.
Now, it was business as usual for Canadian hero Jordan Eberle, who carried the team on his shoulders, while Jones provided stellar goaltending at the other end of the ice.
The semi-final against Russia would be re-lived, initially on a powerplay when Alex Pietrangelo fed Eberle the puck, and he put it in on an open net. Not a minute later, Eberle would find twine again, putting a shot over Campbell, the game was headed to overtime.
USA wouldn’t quit, a Canadian chance would result in a 3 on 2 for the Americans, John Carlson made no mistake and put his 2nd of the game home, winning the gold for USA.
USA will meet Canada for the gold medal
January 3rd, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, World Juniors
USA got yet another shorthanded goal, and beat Sweden 5-2 to earn a gold medal date with Canada on Tuesday night.
America, will try and stop Canada from winning a sixth straight gold medal, USA lost to Canada 5-4 in a shootout on New Years Eve, and will be looking for revenge. The meeting will mark the first gold medal meeting since 2004 when USA beat Canada 4-3 in Finland.
Jerry D’Amigo added a pair, including a shorthanded marker that clinched the win for USA. Tyler Johnson and John Carlson also scored. A.J. Henks added an empty net goal to make it 5-2.
The game was tied, until Carlson took a shot from the point, that got through Jacob Markstrom, a shot he should have had. D’Amigo scored shorthanded, not soon after.
Edmonton Oilers prospect, and alternate captain Anton Lander also had a pair of goals in the second period.
U.S. goalie Mike Lee stopped 27 shots for the victory while Markstrom, a Florida Panthers prospect, made 30 saves.
Things werent going well for Sweden, captain Marcus Johansson took a five minute major for a elbow to the head on D’Amigo early in the third period. The Swedes killed off the lengthly penalty.
The Swede’s only lead of the game came on Lander’s second goal, but D’Amigo would deadlock the game not soon after.
Sweden (4-0) went undefeated to finish first in Group B and clinch the bye to the semifinal.
Canada will play USA for the gold medal, and Sweden, who had hoped to advance to the gold medal game to avenge their two losses to Canada, but instead will play Switzerland for bronze.
Canada will play for gold
January 3rd, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, World Juniors
Taylor Hall scored two goals, and Jake Allen made 20 saves as Canada beat Switzerland 6-1, to advance to the gold medal final for the 9th straight time, they will play either Sweden or USA.
Even though Canada only lead 1-0 after 1, goals from Marco Scandella and Taylor hall under two minutes apart would put Canada up 3-0, a lead they wouldn’t give back.
The score does not tell the story, it was much closer than the initial 6-0 routing in the first matchup.
The Swiss started the game shorthanded as they were missing their top two defencemen, Anaheim Ducks’ prospect Luca Sbisa and Roman Josi due to injuries.
The first goal was scored by Jordan Eberle on the powerplay, he sets a record with his 11th straight game with a point.
In the 2nd, Canada would score shorthanded when Gabriel Borque would feed a streaking Scandella who would score on a second effort, putting Canada up 2-0 early in the 2nd.
Under two minutes later, Taylor Hall would add more comfort when he made a couple nice moves and put it in.
The Canadians did not have much time to celebrate as moments later the Swiss replied on a power play as Mauro Jorg beat Allen to give Switzerland some life after it appeared as though Canada was ready to take over.
Brayden Schenn would score in the 3rd, making it 4-1 Canada, and Stefan Della Rovere would add another, and Taylor Hall would score on the wrap around making it a 6-1 game.
Canada’s good news would run out, when a frustrated Jeffrey Fuglister would run down Travis Hamonic, who appeared to be favoring his left arm as he headed to the locker room.
Canada, will play for gold on Tuesday, and Switzerland will play for Bronze against the loser of Sweden/USA on Tuesday afternoon,
USA beats Finland, will play Sweden
January 3rd, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, World Juniors
The USA were not hungover from the devastating New Years eve loss against Canada, and proved it by beating Finland 6-2 on Saturday night.
USA will now play Sweden in the semi-finals, the winner will play Canada or Switzerland in the gold medal game on Tuesday.
USA would get out of the gate strong, Matt Donovan and Kyle Palmieri would score early in the first, setting up a 2-0 lead Finland couldn’t come back from.
“Getting up 2-0 on that team kind of puts them back,” said Jordan Schroeder, who recorded three assists on the night. “You don’t want to get down to those guys because it’s tough to comeback.”
“The loss to Canada hurt, but a lot of good things came out of that game,” said Blais. “And if we knew we could skate with them, then we could skate with anybody.”
The Americans were looking for redemption, after a devestating 5-3 loss to Slovakia last year in the quarter finals.
“It’s in the past now,” said Schroeder, who is appearing in his third world junior tournament. “The leaders on this team knew what happened last year.
“I think they really stepped up today and yesterday trying to explain to the guys that this (was) a do or die game.”
Jordan Schroeder scored his 26th point tonight, and beat Jeremey Roenick’s record.
Jerry D’Amigo scored his first of two goals midway through the second to put the Americans up 3-0, but Finn Eero Elo gave his team life with a goal before the period was out.
In the end, the Finns were just a step behind the Americans.
“We were too nervous,” said Finland captain Jyri Niemi. “We weren’t ready to play and they scored right away and we put ourselves in a big whole right off the bat.
“We didn’t have any luck, but you have to earn your luck.”
The Finns will take on Russia in the fifth-place game on Monday.
Chris Kreider scored to open the third to give the Americans a 4-1 lead. When Iiro Pakarinen made it 4-2 with five minutes left in the game, it was too late for Finland.
D’Amigo potted an empty net goal, and Danny Kristo scored nine seconds later to ice the game.
“We had our chances to play in the semis,” said Niemi. “We blew it ourselves — we didn’t play at our level.”
Mike Lee stopped 23 shots in the win for the United States. Joni Ortio made 38 saves in the loss.
Switzerland upsets Russia
January 2nd, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, World Juniors
Patrick Geering, had probably one of the biggest goals of his career, as he tipped in Nino Niederreiter’s shot from the point, and Switzerland pulled of the upset beating Russia 3-2.
Switzerland, now meets Canada on Sunday afternoon in the semi-finals. Canada routed the Swiss 6-0 in their first meeting. The winner, will go on to face Sweden, USA, or Finland in the gold medal game.
Russia appeared poised to clinch a 2-1 victory late in the third before Niederreiter scored with 33 seconds left to send the game into overtime.
Michael Loichat gave the Swiss 1-0 lead in the second period after he stripped a Russian defender of the puck behind the net, and beat Igor Bobkov on a wraparound at 8:25.
But the Russians returned fire before the period was out to take a 2-1 lead to the third. Vladimir Tarasenko beat Swiss goaltender Benjamin Conz at 18:44 before Kirill Petrov put home a pass from Nikita Filatov just 16 seconds later.
Conz, who was a key player in Switzerland’s win over Slovakia 4-1 on New Year’s Eve, was outstanding again against the Russians, making 50 saves.
Bobkov made 28 saves in net for the Russians.
Canada beats USA in thriller
January 1st, 2010
Posted in Krnsports, World Juniors
Group A on the line, a new years eve classic, Canada vs. their arch rivals, USA. Canada would come back from a two goal deflict, and beat their rivals in the shootout in a 5-4 victory that puts Canada in the semi-finals.
With 10 minutes left in the game, Canada was down by 2 goals. A Brandon McMillan shot from the point would deflect off of Jordan Eberle’s stick and into the USA net, and Alex Pietrangelo would score from the right circle, tying the game at 4.
Overtime was held scoreless for the entire 5 minutes, a shootout was needed. The first shooter was Jordan Eberle, he barely snuck one by Jack Campbell, Danny Cristo would answer, and Nazem Kadri would score. USA once again had the answer, Jeremy Morin would score, once again tieing the shootout.
It was Brandon Kozun’s turn, and he made no mistake putting one through the legs of Campbell, USA sniper Jordan Schroeder would attempt a five hole, but Jake Allen had the answer, sending the Canadian crowd into a frenzy.
The 1st period was fast, end to end hockey. Eventually, a rebound would fall right to the stick of Stefan Della Rovere, the lead would be short lived, as Phillip McRae tied less than two minutes, on a wide open net.
The second period had several defensive breakdowns for Canada, Jordan Schroeder would score short-handed, one of two that were suffered by Canada on the night. USA was up two nothing.
Canada would tie the game, when Jordan Eberle came streaking in, made a beautiful backhand move around Campbell, and tied the game at 2 a piece.
Chris Kreider was awarded a penalty shot, but the shot was wide, the game remained tied.
With 11 seconds left in the 2nd period, Tyler Johnson scored another shorthanded goal, putting the US up 3-2 at the end of the second.
Danny Cristo would score at the beginning of the third on a breakaway, putting USA up 4-2. But the Americans couldn’t maintain the lead, and Eberle and Pietrangelo both scored, tying the game at 4.
With 2:10 left, Canada thought they had the lead, but the referee declared it was interference, and the goal was declined. For a brief moment, Hamonic thought he had the winner.
Canada claimed a bye straight in to the seminfinals, while the USA will have to play a quarterfinal game against Finland (9pm et/6pm pt on TSN, TSN HD and TSN.ca). Russia will play Switzerland in the other quarterfinal game (4:30pm et/1:30pm pt on TSN, TSN HD and TSN.ca).
SCORING SUMMARY
Canada 5, United States 4 (Shootout)
First Period
1. Canada – Della Rovere (Adam, Caron), 2:03.
2. United States – McRae (D’Amigo) PP, 3:40.
Second Period
3. United States – Schroeder (Johnson) SH, 7:08
4. Canada – Eberle (Schenn, Scandella) 11:15
5. United States – Johnson, (D’Amigo) SH, 19:49
Third Period
6. United States – Kristo (Stepan), 1:01
7. Canada – Eberle (Schenn, McMillan), 10:03
8. Canada – Pietrangelo, SH, 15:45
Overtime
No Scoring.
Shootout
Canada – Eberle, Goal
United States – Kristo, Goal
Canada – Kadri, Goal
United States – Morin, Goal
Canada – Kozun, Goal
United States – Schroeder, Save
Starting Goaltenders
Canada – Jake Allen
USA – Jack Campbell
Hall leads Canada over Slovakia
December 29th, 2009
Posted in Krnsports, World Juniors
Taylor Hall notched three goals, and Canada won its 13th straight game, and got another convincing win with an 8-2 rout of Slovakia.
The matchup sets up the 2nd straight year Canada will play USA on New Years Eve, a game that decides who gets the bye to the semi’s, and who plays in the quarter finals.
Alex Pietrangelo, Luke Adam, Ryan Ellis, Brayden Schenn and Stefan Della Rovere added singles for Canada while Richard Panik and Martin Bakos replied for Slovakia.
Penalties hurt Slovakia, who landed in the box 9 times, Canada was able to convert on 3 of those.
Martin Jones was in net for Canada, but the shutout streak ended in the 2nd period when Panik scored on the power play. Canada had not let a goal in the net in 157:25 minutes of hockey.
The first period saw Taylor Hall score on the power play, and Alex Pietrangelo scored an even strength goal, Hall would pounce on a puck midway through the period, and put one over the glove, Canada had another big start.
The goal spelled the end of the night for Ciliak, who was subsequently replaced by Tomas Halasz in the Slovakian net.
The crowd got into it, as it was Canada’s most physical game of the tournament.
Not long after, Ryan Ellis took a pass from Hall and rocketed a shot past Halasz.
Slovakia would net one after Patrice Cormier landed in the box, but Taylor Hall got his third, and Brayden Schenn erased any chance of a Slovakian comeback.
First Period
Canada – Hall (Ellis, Eberle) PP, 7:18
Canada – Pietrangelo (Cormier, Bourque) 7:39
Canada – Hall (Unassisted), 10:43
Second Period
Canada – Adam (Della Rovere) 5:08
Canada – Ellis (Hall, Kadri) PP, 13:20
Slovakia – Panik (Hrasko, Rais) 17:25
Canada – Hall (Pietrangelo, Ellis) PP, 17:42
Canada – Schenn (Kozun, Pietrangelo), 18:39
Third Period
Canada – Della Rovere (Schenn) SH, 12:41
Slovakia – Bakos (Stastny), 13:43
Goaltenders
Canada – Martin Jones
Slovakia – Marek Ciliak, Tomas Halasz (10:43, 1st)
Canada gets second straight shut out
December 28th, 2009
Posted in Krnsports, World Juniors
Brand MacMillan had a 3 goal game, including one just as time was expiring and Canada cruised to a 6-0 win over Switzerland on Monday afternoon.
Jordan Eberle, who was voted the player of the game for Canada, had 1 goal and 4 assists, with the win Canada stays tied with USA for the Group A lead. Alex Pietrangelo and Nazem Kadri also had goals for Canada.
Canada, has two straight shutouts, Jake Allen has only faced 25 shots in two games, and made 15 today for the win.
After drubbing Latvia on Saturday, Switzerland was expected to give them a better run for their money, but just 23 seconds into the game, McMillan already had put Canada up 1-0. Alex Pietrangelo also scored midway through the first.
In the second, Canada scored 3 goals in under four minutes, and Switzerland couldn’t keep up to Canada’s always fast paced play.
In the third, Canada slowed down, and helped Jake Allen to his second straight shutout, but late in the frame McMillan notched his third of the game, on a wide open net.
SCORING SUMMARY
Canada 6, Switzerland 0
First Period
Canada – McMillan (Eberle, Schenn), 0:23
Canada – Pietrangelo (Hall, Eberle) PP, 8:14
Second Period
Canada – Kadri (Ellis, Hamonic) PP, 1:06
Canada – Eberle (Ellis, Kadri) PP, 1:26
Canada – McMillan (Eberle, de Haan), 3:42
Third Period
Canada – McMillan (Cowen, Eberle) PP, 19:23
Goaltenders
Canada – Jake Allen
Switzerland – Benjamin Conz
Day one of the World Juniors
December 27th, 2009
Posted in Krnsports, World Juniors
It could be summed up in any way, most teams that were favored, dominated the opposition. Examples come from Canada’s 16-0 routing of Latvia, Swedens 10-1 demolishing over the Czech Republic, or USA’s come from behind 7-3 win over Slovakia.
Records were almost broken with Gabriel Borque’s 7 point preformance, that included two goals and five assists, he was one of three players that had two goals for Canada.
USA’s win wasn’t one player in particular, seven different USA players were able to find twine. John Carlson, Jeremy Morin, Derek Stepan, Matt Donovan all scored, making the game 4-2 for the Americans. Jordan Schroeder also had a goal, he has played for USA in two previous tournaments.
But what’s more surprising, is that the Czech’s still havent picked up from opening game last year. Last year, they were defeated 8-2 by Canada, this year 10-1 by Sweden. Slow starts are affecting their play? Its tough to say, but in I think anyones experience the mindset isn’t great after a loss like that.