Photo by Derek Felix courtesy NHL Network via IIHFHockey
There were two games played in Monday’s semifinals at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. The first saw heavily favored Canada steamroll Russia 5-0 in a game that was never close.
The U20 World Junior Championship hosts got to Predators’ first round pick Yaroslav Askarov early in a three goal first period. In the game’s opening minute, Alex Newhook took a Braden Schneider feed and came out in front where he fired a good wrist shot high glove side inside the bar on Askarov. His defense was out of position and it was way too easy for Newhook. The puck went in so quickly, they used video review to confirm it.
Connor McMichael continued his good tournament when he got loose at the side of Askarov’s net to put away a nice centering feed from Jakob Pelletier for a 2-0 Canadian lead at 10:33. Leading scorer Dylan Cozens picked up a secondary assist on the nice scoring play.
An undisciplined Vasily Podkolzin took a hi-sticking double minor to hand Canada a four-minute power play. With the Russian captain in the penalty box, they made him pay when Cole Perfetti scored on Askarov in the second half of the man-advantage for a 3-0 lead with 4:55 left in the first period. On the play, the Winnipeg Jets first round pick took advantage of a scrambling Askarov, who dropped his goal stick to finish off a pass from Avalanche prospect Bowen Byram. Once again, it was set up by Cozens. The Sabres prospect has had a wonderful WJC. His empty net goal and two helpers gave him a tournament best 16 points. He was named one of Canada’s three Best Players along with Byram and Panthers’ goalie prospect Devon Levi.
The nightmare continued for Russia. Askarov lost his goal stick again on Canada’s fourth goal. With the 18-year old clearly having issues, Schneider took full advantage by firing a quick wrist shot past Askarov at 4:09 of the second. The play was set up by Ryan Suzuki (Hurricanes) and Dawson Mercer (Devils).
At that point, Hall of Fame coach Igor Larionov could’ve pulled his goalie. Instead, he stuck with him. Maybe he knew that it wasn’t all the kid’s fault. The shots by then favored Canada, 18-7. They are a great team that have dominated throughout outscoring opponents 41-4 and never trailed. It says a lot about the Czech Republic and Slovakia that they held an explosive Canadian team to three goals. The Czechs even outshot them in the quarters and played as well as you can.
Russia simply did not. They struggled defensively, were undisciplined and didn’t start competing until it was too late. They even had an apparent goal wiped out by a successful coach’s challenge. That’s how it went. At least Askarov stopped Cozens on a penalty shot. That was the only highlight for them.
Levi finished with 28 saves to earn another shutout. He was never under serious pressure. For him to face adversity, it would have to be a closer game. At least the Czechs put up a fight. We’ll see if Team USA can threaten Canada. They were lucky to win 4-3 over Finland in a memorable semifinal.
They set up a classic USA versus Canada WJC Final by sticking with it. A late goal from Staten Island native Arthur Kaliyev with 1:16 left in regulation was the difference in a wild third period. It was the Kings’ prospect that fell to the second round in the 2019 NHL Draft who rescued his team after they blew a two-goal lead to the relentless Finns.
It was a stunning scene reminiscent of what Finland did to Sweden in the quarters. In that one, they rallied from a two-goal deficit to score three straight goals including the stirring game-winner by Roni Hirvonen with 23.3 seconds remaining. One where the devastated Swedes could only drop to their knees in heartbroken fashion. Simply put, this was a role reversal.
Life can be cruel sometimes. Tell that to Finland, who worked so hard to come back and tie USA up in an inspired third period. Goals off the sticks of Kasper Simontaival and Hirvonen less than five minutes apart had the Americans reeling. They had been shaky trying to protect the two-goal lead they built thanks to second period goals from John Farinacci (breakaway) and Matthew Boldy (power play).
Back in the first period, it was top center Alex Turcotte breaking a scoreless tie by steering home a Kaliyev shot in front at 12:39. The Kings’ prospect has anchored a potent top line featuring top point getter Trevor Zegras (assist) and Kaliyev. Turcotte has been mostly a playmaker who is effective along the boards at creating offense off the forecheck. That would play a big part in what happened later. He went fifth overall in the same draft as future teammate Kaliyev. It’s ironic that they are forever linked.
Less than a minute later, a Sam Colangelo slashing minor resulted in Simontaival finishing off a beautiful passing play started from Jets’ prospect Ville Heinola and Kasper Puutio for a power play goal at 14:06. Just tremendous teamwork by the combination of Heinola and Puutio to get the puck to an open Simontaival for the easy finish past Spencer Knight.
For the most part, USA has been very disciplined during the WJC ’21. However, they weren’t as sharp in this match and it almost cost them. Finland went two-for-five on the power play. If the Americans hand the potent Canadians that many opportunities, they won’t have any shot of winning gold. Forget the last three meetings this century. That’s history.
After successive penalty kills helped their cause, Jackson Lacombe was able to lead Farinacci for a breakaway goal. The heady two-way center out of Harvard University was able to wrist a shot by Finland netminder Kari Piiroinen for a 2-1 USA lead with 4:07 remaining in the second period.
An Aku Raty double minor for hi-sticking got Finland in further trouble. It didn’t take long for Cole Caufield and Zegras to set up Boldy in front for a power play tally that increased the USA lead to two at exactly the 37-minute mark of the game. The goal took only 39 seconds to materialize. What isn’t noticed is the hit Kaliyev took against the boards to make the play. He didn’t get a point. But that kind of commitment is what wins these games.
Nursing a two-goal lead, USA started to sit back. A resilient Finland started carrying the play. They buzzed around Knight’s net forcing the Florida first round pick into some difficult stops. You could feel the momentum shift towards the pesky Finns. They’re never out of a game. Sure enough, their persistence paid off when Simontaival buried a perfect Puutio feed that Knight had no chance on to slice the deficit to one with still 8:22 left in the third. Defenseman Sam Helenius got the other helper on a well executed scoring play.
They continued to look dangerous. With some jittery play creeping into the Americans that included a few turnovers and a pair of delay of game minors, it was destined to get tied. Prior to Henry Thrun taking a costly minor penalty with 4:42 left, an on-rushing Farinacci was hauled down right in front of the referee. Play on. He was tackled. The ref simply didn’t want to call it. Then a silly delay of game minor happens right after. That’s the IIHF for you. I don’t like the inconsistency. If a player is taken down, there should be a call.
You knew once they determined that Thrun backhanded the puck out of play, Finland was going to capitalize. They sure did. Fifty-nine seconds later, it was Hirvonen able to beat Knight on a weird one started by Heinola. The leading Finnish defenseman got the puck to Anton Lundell (Panthers). He wisely threw a sharp angle shot on Knight that he mishandled. The rebound came back out to Lundell, who put it in front for an innocent looking Hirvonen rebound attempt that went through Knight to tie the game at 56:17. It happened that fast.
The question was would there be sudden death overtime, or would the Finns do to Team USA what they did to Sweden? Following some puck pressure from Finland, USA Hockey coach Nate Leaman got his best line out with time winding down in regulation. It was the right move by the Providence College coach.
On a good Jake Sanderson pinch, the defenseman worked the puck down low to Turcotte. He was able to locate Kaliyev tapping his stick in the high slot area. The local kid did the rest. What a great snapshot he fired over the glove of Piiroinen with 1:16 to go in the game. Here’s how it sounded on NHL Network.
It was a goalscorer’s goal. That release was lightning quick. Kaliyev had enough room between two Finnish defenders to get it off. He put it top shelf. Where Mama hides the cookies. To quote Sabres play-by-play legend Rick Jeanneret.
With Finland pulling Piiroinen for an extra attacker, it came down to Heinola looking to force overtime with less than 14 seconds left. But a diving Boldy blocked his shot out of play. A gritty play by a hardworking player, who the Wild should be excited to have. After one last defensive draw and clear, a screaming USA bench exploded over the boards to celebrate the great win over the team that eliminated them a year ago.
Now, they draw one of the most dominant teams the World Juniors have seen in quite some time. Canada is looking to repeat. They’re loaded. Team USA knows what a gold medal game means against their North American rival.
It will all be at stake on Tuesday night at 9:30 EST/7:30 local time. Finland will play Russia for the bronze medal at 5:30 PM. Both games can be seen on NHL Network. They’ve done a great job covering the prestigious tournament. Maybe it’s not quite TSN because nothing is. But I’ll take the hard work they’ve put in. A thanks to everyone involved. Especially Jill Savage for being in the bubble doing the interviews.
With it all up for grabs, we’ll see if Team USA has one more miracle in them against powerful Canada. I hope it’s a good game and fun. It’s a great rivalry. One that should be enjoyed by all fans from each side. Don’t forget these are kids. See you later.
Hockey Prospects Plus 