WJC Daily Review S70 #3

[Mr_Hatter 1,608]

 

 

The Round Robin of the World Junior Championship has come and gone, and you can count on VSN to cover the recent set of games that have shaken the standings a bit since our last review. Stick around and follow us as VSN is here to be the media outlet for you and your entertainment!

 

Team Canada
(5-1-1-1, 18 points)
 
As we have seen unfold throughout the course of the round-robin, we end up with Team Canada on top of the standings, defying some predictions prior to the beginning of the tournament. Going back to those predictions, let’s see where it stands. Certainly, their strength was correct; their goaltending has been top-class. Jaxx Hextall has been performing admirably, with a .936 SV% across six games, while Jacques Lafontaine has also done incredibly well, with a .938 SV% posted in his two starts. Their defence has truly carried them thus far, however, as while they have the lowest goals against at 21, they also have the fewest goals for at just 23. Winger Erik Killinger is their only skater in the top ten for points, as he has six goals and six assists; while past that only Daldo and Kristopher McDagg join him in the top 20. While there is no question about their ability to win games, it’s almost difficult to see just how they are winning, outside of spectacular goaltending. We will see if that continues to the next round as they face the winner of the Team World and Team Asia game. 
 
Team Europe
(2-2-2-2, 12 points)
 
Team Europe finished their round-robin games strong, handing Team Canada one of their only two losses this tournament in a 3-2 overtime thriller. Odin Omdahl scored once and assisted twice, having a hand in all three goals to lead them to their revenge against the Canadians. Special shoutout to Markus Nygren for his 11 hits, really laying into Team Canada to give his boys the upper hand. They finished off their games with a 3-1 win over Team World where Joakim Bruden’s 21 saves on 22 shots secured them the victory (Nygren again showed his physicality, dropping the gloves in the second period to support his teammate Will Clarke after Clarke was taken out on the play. Mikko Lahtinen will seek to improve on his goals tally as he is currently tied for a top goalscorer, having found the back of the net on seven separate occasions. Looking ahead to the next round, Team Europe will face the United States, where they will seek to improve upon their last performance against the Americans, where they lost in a shootout after the game ended at 5-5. 
 
Team United States
(3-1-0-4, 11 points)
 
Speaking of the United States, let’s take a look at just how they ended their round-robin games. Short answer? Not well. Last time we took a look at them, they were second in the standings. Now, despite being just one slot lower at third, they come away from the last 4 games with three losses and one win, with their one win coming against Team Asia. That game though, was a masterclass performance from American goaltender Samuel Ross as he made 45 saves on 46 shots for a fantastic .978 SV% performance. Certainly, the Americans will need more of this Ross if they want to push on, as he failed to reach .900 for the next two games, getting a .913 on his final match against Asia. Team USA is a group of young men that favours offence over defence, as they have both the most goals scored as well as the most conceded, with 28 and 30 respectively. They are a top-heavy team; their top line of Thomas Landry II, Nate Wright, and Jaxon Walker are 8th, 2nd, and 1st on the scoring charts across all teams, with first-pairing defenceman Shawn Glade Jr joining them at 7th on that list, the second-rated defenceman by points. Add in Glade’s partner in Gert T. Frobe and you have numbers 3-7 on the rankings for +/- throughout the round-robin. Let’s see if this group can carry their team to the finals, or if they will need a little help from their other teammates. 
 
 
Team Asia
(3-0-2-3, 11 points)
 
Asia is an interesting team to consider this WJC. Going off goal differential alone, they seem to be the worst of all the teams despite being tied for 4th on points alone, as they have the second-worst goals against as well as second-worst goals for. That being said, they ended their round-robin very strongly, losing just once to Team USA before going for three straight victories. They have the grit necessary to win games, but consistency is still an issue. Uhtred remains their only skater in the top ten for points. Derek Eriksson has been a bright spot; having created eight assists throughout eight games, but really stands out with his fundamentals, and has the highest +/- rating in the tournament at +7, showing just how to lock it down while still producing; particularly impressive considering his place on the first line, and the strength of other team’s first lines. Goaltender Bennet Dahl has been tricky to categorize; he is prone to bad games here and there, but also showcases talent, with a few good games taken off of Team World to end the round-robin. Next time Team Asia takes the ice is against Team World in the play-in game, where Team Asia will look to continue their streak if they want to stay alive in this WJC. 
 
 
Team World
(2-1-0-5, 8 points)
 
And last but not least, we have Team World. If Asia is an interesting team this tournament, then Team World is an enigma. Let me read off a couple of stats for you: 27 goals for, 23 goals against. The first and third defencemen on the scoring chart, Andrej Petrovich, and Edwin THE Encarnacion. The second-best starter by SV% and best by goals allowed, Nicolas Fomba. You might think that sounds like a good team, one that should be on top of the standings; well you are half-right. They are certainly a good team, but somehow, despite these numbers, the best goal difference in the round-robin, and some spectacular performances, Team World has finished the round-robin in the last place, with just eight points after eight matches. Thing is, when Team World wins, they demolish. They dismantle. They took down Team USA early on by a score of 6-1. They beat Team Canada (Canada’s only true loss) in a 6-0 shutout. Yes, you read that right, number one ranked Canada, beaten six goals to zero. Nicolas Fomba kept all 37 shots out of the back of the net, while Petrovich went for two goals and two assists. A great two-goal performance from Iangenere Risteneen, as well as the team going 62% from the faceoff circle sealed the deal on this game. So, World can win. But they also know how to lose, as evidenced by their three-game slide to end the tournament, losing all three games in regulation. The question is then; which Team World will show up to the play-in game? If they bring their A-game and fix their mentality, then they will win this tournament. Not one team can beat them the way they played in their marquee wins, but on the flip side, if they are off, they will lose. Only time will tell, but I for one am keeping my eye on this group. 
 

 

That’s it for now- stay tuned for more WJC coverage!
 

 

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VSN Writer Mr_Hatter

 

[Enorama 2,039]

2 minutes ago, Mr_Hatter said:

Derek Eriksson has been a bright spot; having created eight assists throughout eight games, but really stands out with his fundamentals, and has the highest +/- rating in the tournament at +7, showing just how to lock it down while still producing; particularly impressive considering his place on the first line, and the strength of other team’s first lines.

 

 

 

@DirtyDerek

[Mr_Hatter 1,608]

Just now, Enorama said:

 

 

 

@DirtyDerek

no joke, that was one of the really interesting "anomalies" when it came to the base level statistics on the index. Despite playing on what I would argue is the worst team this WJC, against a bunch of top, top first liners, dude has a +7? Seriously good.