WJC Recap: Mittelstadt and Team USA Dominate Day One

The 2018 World Junior Championships got underway yesterday in Buffalo, NY. Here at Die By The Blade we’ll look to give you daily recaps of the events of the previous day throughout the tournament.

Game 1: Czech Republic (1-0-0) vs Russia (0-1-0)

Final Score: Czech Republic 5 | Russia 4

Czech Goal Scorers: Necas (CAR), Safin (EDM), Zadina (18 DE), Chytil (NYR) and Kral (18 DE)

Russia Goal Scorers: Polodyan, Sholokhov, Kayumov (CHI) and Syomin

Players of the Game: CZE - Necas (1G, 1A) | RUS - Zaitsev (NJ) (1A)

Game 2: Sweden (1-0-0) vs Belarus (0-1-0)

Final Score: Sweden 6 | Belarus 1

Sweden Goal Scorers: Pettersson (VAN), Brannstrom (VGK), Gustafsson, Boqvist (NJ) and Andersson x2 (NYR)

Belarus Goal Scorers: Sharangovic

Sabres Prospects: Alex Nylander - 0 G, 2 A, 3 SOG, 20:14 TOI | Marcus Davidsson - 0 G, 0 A, 1 SOG, 10:25 TOI

Game 3: Canada (1-0-0) vs Finland (0-1-0)

Final Score: Canada 4 | Finland 2

Canada Goal Scorers: Katchouk (TBL), Steel (ANA), Batherson (OTT) and Raddysh (TBL)

Finland Goal Scorers: Heponiemi (FLA) and Jokiharju (CHI)

Players of the Game: Mete (MON) and Vesalainen (WPG)

Sabres Prospects: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - 28 saves on 32 shots | .875 save percentage | 4.12 GAA

Game 4: USA (1-0-0) vs Denmark (0-1-0)

Final Score: USA 9 | Denmark 0

USA Goal Scorers: Mittelstadt x2 (BUF), Jones (ANA), Bellows x2 (NYI), Yamamoto (EDM), Harper (NSH), Peeke (CBJ) and Samberg (WPG)

Denmark Goal Scorers: None

Players of the Game: Mittelstadt (BUF)

Sabres Prospects: Casey Mittelstadt - 2 G, 0 A, 3 SOG, 18:43 TOI