Canada tops pool at world junior hockey championship, meets Czechs in quarterfinal
Canada s Dylan Cozens (22) is stopped by Finland goalie Kari Piiroinen (1) during third period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship action in Edmonton, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson December 31, 2020 - 9:24 PM
EDMONTON - Dylan Cozens applied grit and goals to Canada s 4-1 win over Finland at the world junior men s hockey championship Thursday.
The Canadian co-captain scored twice, including a hard-working empty-net goal.
The host country went unbeaten in four preliminary-round games to top Pool A.
Canada drew the Czech Republic, the No. 4 seed in Pool B, for Saturday s quarterfinals.
WJHC picks and predictions: Czech Republic vs Canada
Jan 1, 2021 |
Photo By - TSN
Canada dominated Finland to finish first in Group A with a 4-0 record in the preliminary round. Up next is the Czech Republic in a knockout round quarterfinal matchup.
Photo By - TSN
Team Canada finished the preliminary round with a perfect 4-0 record and gets to face Group B’s fourth-place team, the Czech Republic, as quarterfinal action kicks off in the 2021 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
The Canadians finished the round-robin with the tournament s most goals scored and least allowed (33:4). The Czechs managed just 14 goals in their four prelim games but collected two shutouts and beat Team Russia 2-0 on Sunday.
A generous schedule helped Canada both find its game legs and win three straight to start the world junior hockey championship in Edmonton.Time's up for the
WJHC picks and predictions: Finland vs Canada
Dec 31, 2020 |
Photo By - TSN
Since 2014, only one other nation has won gold at the World Junior Hockey Championships besides Canada and Finland, who renew their rivalry for first place in Group A.
Photo By - TSN
Team Canada will look to finish on top of Group A’s standings as the 3-0 nation concludes its preliminary round Thursday with its toughest match of the tournament against also-undefeated Team Finland.
Both countries have cruised through Switzerland, Germany and Slovakia but will have to earn the No. 1 seed before the group cross-over and single-elimination quarter-finals begin on Saturday. The winner of this game will likely draw the easiest of the quarter-final matchups versus the Czech Republic with the loser either drawing Team USA, Team Russia or Team Sweden.
Three Stars from Day 6 of WJC: Stuetzle, Amirov shine in historic wins
Germany s Tim Stutzle (8) checks Switzerland s Noah Meier (24) during third period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. (Jason Franson/CP)
The intensity on Day 6 of the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championship was on display with a lot at stake in a couple of high-pressured games.
In arguably the game of the tournament so far, Sweden and Russia needed overtime to crown a winner with top spot in Group B still up for grabs. The stunning win for Russia saw Sweden’s 54-game win streak in the preliminary round come to an end in heartbreaking fashion as they pushed hard to tie the game late but were unable to overcome a late penalty in the extra period.