TORONTO, CANADA – JANUARY 4: Sweden’s Lucas Wallmark #23 looks on as Russian players celebrate after taking a 2-0 lead during semifinal action at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)
By the end of day eight of the 2015 IIHF World Juniors we got to learn who was in the gold medal game and who would be playing for bronze. The starting game of the two on the day saw the high scoring Sweden team taking on the hard hitting team from Russia. In the second game the highly favored dominating team Canada took on the surprise team of Slovakia. The losers of both games would go to the bronze medal game while the winners would go on to play for the gold.
Russia 4, Sweden 1
The Swedes came into the game unbeaten throughout tournament play and showed little signs of slowing up. Sweden beat defending champions Finland 6-3, which knocked Finland out of medaling chances. Russia came in on a high after a big 3-2 win against the United States. These two teams play very different hockey and that was seen throughout the game.
A scoreless first period saw Russia use their hard hitting play to make the Swedes feel out of place. Russia out shot Sweden 12-6 but tallied 12 minutes in penalties. Maxim Mamin crunched defenceman William Lagesson from behind in the corner and was assessed a two-minute minor and a misconduct.
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Russia started the scoring in the second after a Alexander Sharov shot went in halfway through the period. Later in the period on a Russian power pay Ziat Paigin added another goal for the Russians making it 2-0 at the end of two periods.
In the third it was go time for the Swedes who only had 13 shots through two periods to try and get some scoring done. Sharov added another goal for the day putting his team up 3-0. Finally at 8:30 Sweden got their first goal thanks to Lucas Wallmark. However that would be the lone goal for the Swedes. Russia went on to add another goal late by Mamin to go on to win 4-1. Russia will be playing the Canada and Slovakia winner in the gold medal game, while Sweden will take on the loser of that same game.
Canada5, Slovakia 1
This game for Canada may have just been another game. Yet for Slovakia it was a chance at payback. These two teams played in the opening game of the preliminary round. Canada won 8-0 and the team strolled their way to the finals round undefeated.
In the first a lone goal scored by Nic Petan gave Canada a 1-0 lead. The first period of this game was one of the worst for team Canada this whole tournament. Slovakia however played much better in this game then they did in the first and looked to be keeping up with Canada.
In the second Canada found their scoring stride as they added two more goals from Petan and Theodore making it 3-0. Yet Slovakia made it interesting after a turnover by Canada led to a David Sholtez goal making it 3-1 with 3.4 seconds to go in the 2nd period.
In the third however Canada put their foot on the gas and never let up. Goals from Anthony Duclair and Petan, which gave him a hat trick, as the Canadians went on to win 5-1. Connor McDavid and Curtis Lazar both had three assists on the night, all assisted to Petan’s hat trick. Canada is now 6-0 in the tournament.
What the finals look like
Bronze medal game: Sweden vs Slovakia 4pm
Gold medal game: Russia vs Canada 8pm
Predictions
Sweden will be looking to rebound after their defeat to the Russians. William Nylander who was held to no points will more than likely want to redeem himself. I think that Sweden is the better team, however Slovakia has shown they can play with some of the best. In the end I see this being a close game but the Swedes taking it 3-2.
As for the Russia and Canada game, lets just say, this may be the best game of the tournament even better than when the USA and Canada played. These two teams are dangerous in their own ways. Canada can score like it is no ones business. While Russia gets the goals they need, but beats you up in their tough style of play. It will be interesting to see Canada’s Max Domi get under the skin of some of the Russian players and if they can be disciplined enough to not take silly penalties. In the end, I take Canada 4-2 because they have good goaltending and have shown better discipline than Russia. Either way, this should be a very good gold medal game.