2021 World Junior Championship Day 2 -- Multiple High Scoring Games

In day two of the 2021 World Junior Championship, we saw a great deal of pucks enter the net. Team Sweden played a very strong match against team Czech Republic, team Canada mopped the floor against team Germany and team USA shutout a not so good Austrian team. In this blog I will give brief summaries of Team Canada and Swedens win's. Then, I will go into depth on the great American victory that occurred last night. Finally, we will see how the standings sit after day two of this highly skilled competition. Let's take a look at how the second day of games went.

Game 1 -- Sweden vs. Czech Republic

The first period was a pretty even match between the two teams. Both Sweden and the Czech Republic netted a goal in the first period, the shot differential after the first was 15-12, Sweden. It was a pretty even game going into the second until Sweden turned on the jets. The Swedes scored a power-play goal 9:08 into the second period and shortly after they managed to score a short-handed goal. Sweden then went on to score another late in the second to total three goals in the second period. They then went on and scored three more in the third period. After the first period, Sweden really turned it on and players showcased their talent. One nifty goal was Sweden's fifth that came from Elmer Soderblom. Soderblom goes in to screen the goalie and was fed a pass by Lucas Raymond, Soderblom catches the puck on his forehand and pulled it between his legs, and roofed it top left -- a complete fluent motion and a truly beautiful goal. Overall, Sweden dominated team Czech Republic, I am excited to see how they match up against other powerhouse teams like Canada, Russia, and USA.

Final -- Sweden(7) - Czech Republic(1)

Game 2 -- Canada vs. Germany

Well, we could have seen this coming. team Canada went on an absolute tear yesterday, a relentless Canadian performance left team Germany hurting. team Canada got a lot of pucks to the net, they won the shot category 44-15. Canada got off to a quick start and scored 1:54 into the first period. Shortly after that, the Canadians managed to grab a short-handed goal. It was from this point, we knew team Canada was going to demolish Germany. Germany was able to net a power-play goal in the first, but Canada responded with a goal a minute later. Canada led the game 4-1 after the first period and then went on to score seven goals in the second period. They completely dominated this game, the puck was in control of a maple leafed jersey most of this game. In the third period, team Canada scored another five goals. By the end of the third period, Canada was winning 16-1. In a last-minute power play, Germany was able to score another to end the game 16-2. Overall, Germany will have a hard time competing in this tournament. They are simply out-talented and out-staffed. I think team Canada is a force and they will be a hard team to beat in this tournament. Granted on paper, they are the most stacked team, this is the squad expected to win.

Team Canada Statistics

Dylan Cozens #22 - 3 goals & 3 assists

Dawson Mercer #20 - 2 goals & 2 assists

Philip Tomasino #26 - 2 goals & 1 assist

Peyton Krebs #18 - 2 goals & 1 assist

Alex Newhook #15 - 2 goals & 1 assist

Final -- Canada(16) - Germany(2)

Game 3 -- USA vs. Austria

After analyzing this beat-down team USA gave team Austria, we as fellow Americans should be absolutely fired up about this win. Team USA put on a clinic last night and it was almost like an NHL video game. Dustin Wolf got a shutout after coming into a difficult situation in the middle of the game against Russia. Goalies will help you win this tournament, so we should be excited about Wolf's performance. The first period was a weird one, team USA had far more chances than Austria. Then, 15:31 into the first period for Drew Helleson to trickle one past the Austrian goalie to put USA up by one. The rest of the first period was scoreless, but USA led the shot category 22-3. Going into the second, it was a whole different story. They started creating a ton of space to work with their speed and skill. The space allowed them to offensively dominate this second period.

Trevor Zegras started the goal-scoring in the second period. Arthur Kaliyev dished the puck to Alec Turcotte behind the net, Turcotte pushed it up the boards and dropped in on the dot for Zegras to pick up. Zegras laser a wrist shot in to make it 2-0, 4:35 into the second period. Thirty seconds later, John Farinacci awkwardly stick-handled the puck through two Austrian defenders and fluttered a little wrist shot top right to make it 3-0. Team USA netted their 4th of the game on a power play with 11:52 left in the second, it was a beautiful give and go one-timer. Brendan Brisson dished it to Jake Sanderson at the point from the top of the right circle, Sanderson fed it back and Brisson let a cannon of a slap shot go to put USA up 4-0. Trevor Zegras nets another to put team USA up 5-0 with 8 minutes left in the second period, he flew down the left board cut in at the dot, and roofed it top left. It was a beautifully placed shot, Zegras was putting on a show. Deeper into the second a beautiful two on none rush leads to team USA's 6th goal with 5:44 left in the second. Brock Faber hit Mathew Beniers with a center ice pass, giving Benier and Mathew Boldly a two on none, Benier pushed it to the far right pipe and dished it across for Boldy to tap in. In a late second-period power play, Boldy nets a rebound that was given to him from Austria’s goalie with 1:25 left in the period to put team USA up 7-0. Team USA had five goals on twenty shots in the second period.

It took 2:25 into the third period for USA to be up 8-0. Brett Berard made a fantastic full-ice rush and move on Austria's goalie to beat him on the far left pipe. Shortly after that, Brendan Brisson goes to the net for a rebound from Tyler Kleven's point shot. Brisson made a beautiful pass with his right skate to his stick to beat the goalie on his right, 3:07 into the third to put them up 9-0. Team USA scored their tenth goal 5:52 second into the third, Boldy nets a beautiful tap in on the left pipe. Zegras sent an absolute laser beam of a pass from the right corner for Boldy to finish off. Another right corner pass to the far left pipe for a tap-in is how team USA scored their 11th goal, 9:45 into the third Sam Colangelo taps in a beautiful pass from Brock Faber. By the 8 minutes left in regulation mark, team USA had 69 shots on net and Austria still had not had a shot on net in the third. A cheap hit from Austria's Philipp Wimmer's sent USA's Patrick Moynihan to the locker room with 1:07 left, Wimmer was called for an illegal check to the head, he was suspended for the rest of this game and the next.

Team USA eventually won 11-0 and Zegras was awarded player of the game. Overall, this is what we love to see from team USA. Although Austria is not so good, we can be confident that USA is picking up their play and have developed some great offense as a unit. I love to see so many guys contribute to a great team win, and that is what team USA did here. I am excited to see how the rest of the exhibition matches go for USA, they are a top competitor in this tournament.

Team USA Statistics

Trevor Zegras #9 - 2 goals & 2 assists

Mathew Boldy #12 - 3 goals

Brett Berard #21 - 1 goal & 2 assist

Alex Turcotte #15 - 3 assists

Brendan Brisson #18 - 2 goals

John Farinacci #25 - 1 goal & 1 assist

Patrick Moynihan #19 - 2 assists

Arthur Kaliyev #28 - 2 assists

Brock Faber #11 - 2 assists

Drew Helleson #2 - 1 goal

Sam Colangelo # - 1 goal

Final -- USA(11) - Austria (0)

What a second day of games, still no teams have surged over the other. There is a six-way tie for first place between Canada, Finland, Slovakia, Russia, Sweden, and USA. After this second day, it is apparent that Russia, Canada, and USA as always are some of the top competitors. I do not want to count out Sweden, Finland, and Slovakia just yet because these teams have great talent and have shown some great things throughout these first two days. Overall, there are so many good players on each team and it really comes down to who wants it more. Team Canada went out and put up 16 goals, which is scary. Team USA put up eleven unanswered goals. It is hard to tell who will be the gold medalist at the end thus far.

Looking onto day 3 of the WJC. Finland should come out on top against Switzerland. Canada and Slovakia should have a good match, but I think Canada is too good for them to be able to compete. Finally, Russia should have no problem beating the Czech's because of a tough loss they took yesterday against Sweden. This tournament is really heating up, it should be exciting to watch unfold.