Canada vs Sweden, World Juniors – it can’t get much better. Especially as both teams come in undefeated for a showdown that will likely decide the division. Sweden has yet to allow a goal and has a strong PP led by Otto Svenberg. It will be up to the Canadian shutdown pair of Maveric Lamoreaux and Denton Mateychuk and defensive center man Owen Beck to step up big time.
The game started out at just under 1,000 miles per hour – a loud, sold out crowd encouraged both sides to the attack and cheered every hit and there lots of those. Two Canadian breakaways one by Macklin Celebrini and the other by Conor Rehkopf, failed to convert. At the other end QMJHL goalie Mathis Rouseau made a huge toe save to keep it at zeroes. The final SOG were 7-6 Sweden mostly due to a 4 minute power play, all thwarted by Team Canada. Man, what a period of hockey !
The Swedes took control of the middle stanza, out chancing Canada by at least 7 to 3. A strong forecheck added to Canada’s poor clearing attempts and led to the games first goal at 18:07 when Tom Velander wristed a low, stick sider. The period didn’t have quite the same electricity – was Canada tired or nervous ? They weren’t able to clear their own zone and there were inconsistent attacks and low attention to their forecheck. Their 3rd breakaway also failed when Savoie had the Swedish goalie beat only to have the puck roll off his stick at the critical moment. After another huge save by Rouseau the Swedes went up 2 zip at 9:21. Overall, the Tre Krona had a well-deserved lead.
Disappointing for certain – but Canada was beaten by the better team on this day. Sweden just wanted it more. They out chanced the Canadians, played better defense and used their speed and skill better. Owen Beck was boarded and a major was called. Only in the IIHF could a penalty be reviewed. After review, the penalty was called off. Sour grapes ? Nah !
HOPPER NOTES: That Gotenberg rink was rockin’…Sweden has not allowed a goal in 3 games…both of today’s goalies (Hugo Havlat and Mathis Rouseau) won “Player of the Game” for their work…hard to believe that neither has been drafted for NHL duty…Sunday’s game against Germany on Sunday is now rather meaningless since Canada has lost first place in Division A…I honestly thought that Canada had the better first period…CHEERS !