The quarter finals of the 2016 World Junior Championship have been played and saw one of favourites for Gold fall and see another nearly take an early exit.
There was also one relegation game that took place which will be recapped following the quarterfinal recaps.
Russia 4 – Denmark 3
It was considered a big achievement for the Danes to make it to this point in the tournament and for a while it looked like they would take the next step to the semi finals.
Whilst the Russians took an early lead from Yegor Korshkov’s goal in the first period it was the Danes who would grab their first lead of the game scoring two goals in less than ten minutes to take a 2-1 lead by the end of the second period.
Russia’s first goal scorer, Yegor Korshkov would receive a game misconduct for a check to the head just over half way through the game.
The third period was a wild affair for the last ten minutes as Russia tied up the game at 2-2 only for Emil Christensen to grab the lead for the Danes once again.
With less than two minutes left Russia pulled their goalie for the extra attacker setting the stage for Vladislav Kamenev to break Danish hearts.
With less than a minute left he would tie the game and would follow this up with the game winner in overtime. It was a narrow victory for the Russians and they’ll advance to face their Cold War foe in the semi finals.
Sweden 6 – Slovakia 0
The Swedes, who have yet to lose a game at the 2016 WJC steamrolled over their quarterfinal opposition. The Swedes put six goals past Slovakia’s goaltender, Adam Huska.
Despite the six goals Huska made 50 saves in the game.
There might have been fears in Swedish minds considering that last year Slovakia beat Sweden to win the Bronze medal 4-2.
Joel Ek Eriksson, Oskar Lindblom, Christoffer Ehn and Alexander Nylander were among the Swedes would scored as they advanced to the semi finals.
Linus Soderstrom got his second shutout of the tournament and only needed to make 17 saves.
Finland 6 Canada 5
This was a matchup that was always going to see a giant fall and in this case it was Canada that was Goliath.
Canada looked like they were in control in the first period, grabbing a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Travis Konecny and Dylan Strome. However Patrik Laine, who has made a big impact for the Finns, would get Finland on the board with 11 seconds left in the first period.
Antti Kalapudas would tie up the game for the Finns scoring just over six minutes into the second period.
Lawson Crouse’s goal less than a minute later would cause the Finns to make a goalie change, swapping out Veini Vehvilainen for Kaapo Kahkonen.
A Finnish powerplay goal, scored by Aleksi Saarela, followed by an equal strength goal by Julius Nattinen would put the Finns in the lead for the first time late in the second period.
However this lead was short lived as Mikko Rantanen’s interference penalty lead to Mitch Marner scoring on the powerplay and tying the game up.
Once again the Finns would retake the lead only to let Canada equalise by giving away a penalty which lead to a powerplay goal.
However the Finns would finally get the lead, and keep it, through their own powerplay. Patrik Laine, who started off the Finn’s scoring, would finish it off.
Jesse Puljujarvi, expected to go within the top five of the 2016 NHL Draft, finished the game with three assists.
With their win against Canada the Finns will now face their Nordic neighbours in the semi finals.
Roope Hintz would finish without a point in this game and have only a single shot on goal.
USA 7 – Czech Republic 0
The United States continued their high scoring ways, putting a total of seven goals past the Czech goaltenders on their way to a 7-0 win.
Nick Schmaltz and Christian Dvorak gave the Americans a 2-0 lead during the first period, forcing the Czech coach to decide to switch goalies in the intermission.
Despite the switch in goal the Americans continued to score, getting an even strength goal, a powerplay goal and a shorthanded goal in the second period.
Top 2016 NHL Draft prospect Auston Matthews made it 3-0 before scoring again on the powerplay to make it 4-0.
Scott Eansor would get an unassisted goal on the shorthanded effort just before the end of the second period.
Auston Matthews would make it a hattrick with a powerplay goal less than thirty seconds into the third period.
Alex DeBrincat would make it 7-0 with less than ten minutes left.
It was the second consecutive drubbing that the Americans had handed out this tournament. They’ll advance to the semi finals were they will face Russia.
Switzerland 5 – Belarus 1
In the first of two relegation games the Swiss got the upperhand with a 5-1 win.
Timo Meier and Denis Malgin scored a goal each to help Switzerland get the win in the first game.
In the second period the Swiss peppered the Belarusian goalie with 20 shots and by the end of the period the Swiss held a 2-0 lead.
A wild third period saw the Swiss extend their lead to 5-1 heading into the concluding game tomorrow. The Swiss also had three goals disallowed, two after video reviews showed the puck was kicked in and the third because a player was in the crease when the goal was scored.
Whats on tomorrow?
Belarus verus Switzerland 4am