WJC Recap: USA, Canada, Czech Republic and Sweden Advance
We’re down to the final four in the 2018 World Junior Championships
Quarterfinal Game 1: Czech Republic (2 - Group B) vs Finland (3 - Group A)
Final Score: Czech Republic 4, Finland 3 (2-1 SO)
Czech Republic Goal Scorers: Filip Zadina x2 (18’ DE) and Reichel
Finland Goal Scorers: Rasanen (Oilers), Juolevi (Canucks) and Vesalainen (Jets)
Sabres Prospect Update: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - 23 saves on 26 shots and .867 save percentage | Vojtech Budik - 0 G, 1 A, 2 SOG and 26:09 TOI
Relegation Game 1: Denmark (5 - Group A) vs Belarus (5 - Group B) | Best of Three (1-0 Denmark)
Final Score: Denmark 5, Belarus 4
Denmark Goal Scorers: Rondbjerg (Golden Knights), Schultz (18’ DE), Blichfeld x2 (Sharks) and Grundtvig
Belarus Goal Scorers: Litvonov, Yeryomenko, Drozdov and Martynov
Quarterfinal Game 2: Canada (1 - Group A) vs Switzerland (4 - Group B)
Final Score: Canada 8, Switzerland 2
Canada Goal Scorers: Howden (Lightning), Makar (Avalanche), Batherson x2 (Senators), Kyrou (Blues), Timmins (Avalanche), Dube (Flames) and Comtois (Ducks)
Switzerland Goal Scorers: Rohrbach and Simic
Quarterfinal Game 3: Sweden (1 - Group B) vs Slovakia (4 - Group A)
Final Score: Sweden 3, Slovakia 2
Sweden Goal Scorers: Lundestrom x2 (18’ DE) and Zetterlund (Devils) and
Slovakia Goal Scorers: Bodak x2
Sabres Prospect Update: Alex Nylander - 0 G, 0 A, 1 SOG and 17:00 TOI | Marcus Davidsson - 0 G, 0 A, 2 SOG and 11:57 TOI
Quarterfinal Game 4: USA (2 - Group A) vs Russia (3 - Group B)
Final Score: USA 4, Russia 2
USA: Bellows x2 (Islanders), Yamamoto (Oilers) and Anderson (Devils)
Russia Goal Scorers: Sholokhov and Altybarmakyan (Blackhawks)
Sabres Prospect Update: Casey Mittelstadt - 0 G, 1 A, 4 SOG and 21:19 TOI
Semi-Final Matchups
USA vs Sweden - 4 PM EST | January 4th
Canada vs Czech Republic - 8 PM EST | January 4th
Players to Watch Update
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: 2-3-0 | .878 save percentage | 3.13 GAA | 116 saves on 132 shots (final tournament stats)
Marcus Davidsson: 5 GP | 1 G | 1 A | 2 PTS | 9 SOG
Alex Nylander: 5 GP | 1 G | 5 A | 6 PTS | 17 SOG
Vojtech Budik: 5 GP | 0 G | 4 A | 4 PTS | 2 SOG
Rasmus Dahlin: 5 GP | 0 G | 6 A | 6 PTS | 21 SOG
Filip Zadina: 5 GP | 5 G | 1 A | 6 PTS | 31 SOG
Casey Mittelstadt: 5 GP | 4 G | 6 A | 10 PTS | 16 SOG
Brady Tkachuk: 5 GP | 2 G | 5 A | 7 PTS | 12 SOG
Andrei Svechnikov: 5 GP | 0 G | 5 A | 5 PTS | 4 SOG (final tournament stats)
Quinn Hughes : 5 GP | 0 G | 2 A | 2 PTS | 9 SOG