As usual, the 2016 World Junior Championships got started this weekend with more than a handful of blowout wins. The WJC’s top teams have already begun to separate themselves from the riff raff, but a few injuries and outcomes will leave impacts that will last through the tournament’s end.
2016 World Junior Championships: USA upsets Canada, Sweden loses Nylander
Canada and Sweden suffered huge setbacks this weekend.
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USA-Swiss
The most highly anticipated game of any WJC opened the tournament on Saturday, and it was easily the best action of the day. The Americans ran into trouble in the first period when Alex DeBrincat was ejected for spearing Canada forward Travis Konecny. Despite the golden opportunity, Canada was unable to score on the five-minute power play.
Mathew Barzal got Canada on the board early in the second period off a feed from Rourke Chartier, but the Americans got an equalizer at 16:33 with a Colin White goal off a faceoff in the offensive zone.
Both offenses erupted in the third period. Zach Werenski's early goal for the U.S. was negated by a power play goal for Canada by Dylan Strome soon after. But USA pulled ahead again thanks to late goals from Louis Belpedio and Auston Matthews, earning a 4-2 win over their rivals. Matthews finished with a goal and an assist in the win.
Sweden wins
Sweden topped the Swiss in a big 8-3 win to open their tournament, but it came at a price. Both William Nylander and Adrian Kempe left the game with injuries early on and didn't return. In their stead, Maple Leafs prospect Dmytro Timashov registered two goals and an assist and Alex Nylander tallied three assists of his own. Tino Kessler scored two of Switzerland's three goals in the loss.
Finland wins
An offensively challenged game opened the 2016 World Juniors, but Russia ended up victorious. Alexander Georgiev (who went undrafted by NHL teams in 2015) stopped 24 of 25 shots in the win. Minutes after his goal was disallowed due to interference, Czech forward Michael Spacek scored a dandy of a goal on a penalty shot to take a 1-0 lead in the first. Russia didn't equalize until the third period, when Artur Lauta banged in a rebound chance in tight.
Russia ended things in a shootout with a goal from Maxim Lazarev.
Finland shuts out Belarus in 6-0 rout
Finland essentially sleepwalked through their opening match and came away with a strong win over Belarus. The combination of Sebastian Aho, Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi was too much for Belarus to handle. Finland’s top line combined for seven points and four goals to placate their rousing fan base. The host country sits atop Group B heading into a big game against Russia on Monday.
Czech wins
The Czech Republic’s hold on second place in Group B is stronger after their 5-3 win over Belarus on Wednesday. Belarus actually hung with the Czechs for two periods,
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