World Junior Championship pocket book: USA avoids scare, Slovakia retains Kazakhstan at bay

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The Germans put an early scare into USA and had a second interval surge, however the People managed to place one within the win column. In the meantime, Slovakia held on for a slim victory over Kazakhstan.Oliver Wahlstrom|Kevin Mild/Getty ImagesZegras the difference-maker as USA tops GermanyIt was removed from fairly, however the USA secured its first win of the match with a 6-Three victory over Germany.
For the fourth time within the match, the People surrendered a power-play aim towards. This time, 2020 draft prospects Tim Stutzle and John-Jason Peterka linked up with the person benefit, with Peterka connecting on the one-timer to ship Germany to an early lead. It was the Germans’ first aim towards the USA since Dec. 26, 2008, with the People outscoring Germany 26-Zero within the 4 conferences over that span. However 5 minutes after Germany acquired out to the lead, USA’s Jordan Harris blasted a puck by visitors and beat Tobias Ancicka, knotting the sport at one. Zac Jones scored one other within the dying minutes to offer USA the 2-1 lead after 20.
Halfway by the second interval, nevertheless, the People surprisingly discovered themselves behind. Peterka scored one other power-play marker lower than three minutes into the second, which was adopted lower than six minutes later by Dominik Bokk placing Germany forward. Thankfully for the People, the Trevor Zegras Present took over late within the interval. After recording two assists early, he arrange Shane Pinto for his third aim of the match, and Zegras discovered Curtis Corridor with 1:29 left within the second to place USA again within the driver’s seat.
The Germans didn’t have the tempo to maintain up within the third interval, and a pair of American objectives sealed the deal. At 47:18, Bobby Brink scored on the person benefit and Oliver Wahlstrom added one other three minutes later. It was sufficient to safe the comeback victory for USA, who moved to 1-1 after an unspectacular begin to the match.
Kazakhs supply up a battle, however Slovaks maintain on for winLast 12 months, Slovakia prevented relegation by crushing Kazakhstan 11-2. This 12 months, it was a special story, however the identical consequence: the Slovaks solely narrowly defeated the Kazakhs, eking out a Three-1 win.
Particular groups made the distinction, a lot because it did within the victories for Canada and the Czech Republic Thursday. Slovakia’s Oliver Okuliar scored with the person benefit at 24:49 after 2020 draft prospect Samuel Knazko set him up for a one-timer close to the online. Then, 5 minutes later, Maxim Musorov – Kazakhstan’s high participant within the outing – was rewarded when he utilized the additional area on the 5-on-Four to skate with the puck earlier than sending a laser wrister previous Slovakia’s Samuel Hlavaj.
However Kazakhstan’s incapacity to attain on two late energy performs proved expensive. After Slovakia killed off each penalties, Daniel Vladimir Tkac deposited a Michal Mrazik feed together with the online to offer Slovakia the 2-1 lead. Robert Dzugan scored an empty netter to seal the deal for Slovakia.
Kazakhstan’s hopes to make the quarterfinal seem to over, assuming it doesn’t take a surprising victory over Sweden or Finland to shut out the round-robin. Slovakia will try and take down Finland in early match-up that may kick off Saturday’s motion in Trinec.
Draft WatchGerman ahead Tim Stutzle is predicted to go within the high 10 of the 2020 draft, and he confirmed precisely why with a incredible feed to arrange John-Jason Peterka on the person benefit to open the scoring towards USA. Stutzle showcased his smarts with the puck, permitting him to make the appropriate passes and never simply the simple ones, and he dangled himself out of bother on just a few events early. Since Germany has the weakest scoring crop in Group B, Stutzle might be relied on to place factors on the board usually.
Three Stars
Trevor Zegras, USA (0G, 4G, 4P) – Zegras, taking part in on USA’s fourth line, had all of the strikes, posting 4 assists in a mere Four:44 of ice time throughout the primary two intervals. Possibly, simply perhaps, he ought to play a bit extra.
John-Jason Peterka, Germany (2G, 0A, 2P) – Two power-play objectives helped the Germans strike concern in USA.
Maxim Musorov, Kazakhstan (1G, 0A, 1P) – It didn’t matter in the long run, however Musorov gave Kazakhstan a preventing likelihood. He now has three of Kazakhstan’s 4 objectives within the match.
On Faucet
Saturday — Dec. 28, 2019Kazakhstan vs. Slovakia, 9 a.m. ETU.S. vs. Germany, 1 p.m. ET
Sunday – Dec. 20, 2019Slovakia vs. Finland, 9 a.m. ETCzech Republic vs. Germany, 9 a.m. ETCanada vs. Russia, 1 p.m. ETSwitzerland vs. Sweden, 1 p.m. ET
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Tags: world junior championshipConnect: Concerning the AuthorSteven EllisSteven Ellis is a Digital Content material Producer for The Hockey Information. He spends his free time listening to music you would not like and watches obnoxiously-long motor races.