Canada vs. Czech Republic final score: Canadians dominate, finish atop Group B at 2020 World Juniors

Jackie Spiegel

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Canada vs. Czech Republic final score: Canadians dominate, finish atop Group B at 2020 World Juniors image

The Canadians entered Tuesday's contest needing a win on New Year's Eve — and they did not drop the ball. With a dominating 7-2 performance over the Czech Republic, Canada will ring in the new year as the No. 1 seed in Group B and will face Group A's fourth-ranked team, Slovakia, in the quarterfinals.

Assistant captain Joe Veleno (Detroit Red Wings) returned from his one-game suspension and began the festivities with a power-play goal. His tally set off a barrage of four goals for the Canadians with the man advantage before the end of the first period. Nolan Foote (Tampa Bay Lightning), Barrett Hayton (Arizona Coyotes) — whose goal needed more than seven minutes of review to confirm — and Connor McMichael (Washington Capitals) all scored.

In the second, the revelers were in a tizzy as the two teams netted three goals in a tournament-record 24 seconds: two by the Czechs to make it a two-goal game and then Liam Foudy (Columbus Blue Jackets) jumped on a weird carom and finished into an open net to quash any comeback. Canada then added two more goals against a depleted Czech team. In the game, head coach Vaclav Varada's squad lost its goalie, Lukas Parik (Los Angeles Kings), to injury and Otakar Sik was tossed for slashing. They entered the game with an already injury-riddled squad and will now face undefeated Sweden in the medal round.

MORE: Keep tabs on Team Canada's schedule, scores

For Canada, old acquaintances will need to be forgot as it will meet the Slovaks in the quarterfinals. Slovakia won one game in the preliminary round and netted just eight goals to 22 allowed. The big question for Canada heading into this one is whether phenom Alexis Lafreniere will suit up. He did not play against the Czech Republic and his status is still unknown for the medal rounds. 

Sporting News had all the action as Canada defeated the Czech Republic to close out the preliminary stage at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Canada vs. Czech Republic results, highlights from 2020 World Juniors

(All times Eastern)

Final score: Canada 7, Czech Republic 2

3:44 p.m. — Jan Mysak, a 2020 draft prospect, selected as the player of the game for the Czechs. With a goal and two assists, Dylan Cozens gets the honor for Canada.

3:43 p.m. — So it'll be Canada vs. Slovakia on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Third period: Canada 7, Czech Republic 2

3:23 p.m. — GOAL. Jared McIsaac walks the blue line and goes against the grain with the wrister. Canada leads 7-2.

3:16 p.m. — Quinton Byfield gets two for tripping but the Czech Republic did not score.

3:10 p.m. — Back to 5-on-5 hockey.

3:08 p.m. — Two-man advantage is over. Canada now has 47 seconds of a 5-on-4.

3:08 p.m. — Third period. Canada starts on 5-on-3.

Second period: Canada 6, Czech Republic 2

2:50 p.m. — Canadians will start the third period with a 45-second two-man advantage.

2:48 p.m. — Canada now with a one minute and 10 second 5-on-3 as Joe Veleno gets an accidental stick to the face. Only 24 seconds left in the period.

2:45 p.m. — Now Canada will get another power-play chance.

2:41 p.m. — Jared McIsaac will head to the sin bin. Czech's scored on their last power play. They did not score this time.

2:34 p.m. — PP GOAL. Make that five power-play goals for Canada. Credit this one to Dylan Cozens who deflected in the Calen Addison point shot. Canada leads 6-2.

2:33 p.m. — The three goals between the two teams set a new tournament record.

2:32 p.m. — It's a good goal and the Czechs must now kill a two-minute minor.

2:31 p.m. —  The goal is being reviewed to see if it was offside.

2:30 p.m. GOAL. So . . .10 seconds later, off a dump-in, Malik goes to play the puck behind the net but it doesn't even get to him. The puck caroms out to in front and Liam Foudy finishes. Canada leads 5-2.

2:29 p.m. — GOAL. Woah. 14 seconds later its the trailer Libor Zabransky who snaps the puck past Joel Hofer. Canada leads 4-2.

2:27 p.m. — PP GOAL. Vojtech Strondala — who was added to the Czech roster this morning with all the injury woes — buries the rebound. Canada leads 4-1.

2:24 p.m. — Czechs with 2-on-1 down low but Jaromir Pytlik crashing the net misses the puck and Joe Veleno is called for slashing him. The host country heads to the power play.

2:23 p.m. — Ty Smith with a chance that Malik blockers away.

2:22 p.m. — Czech Republic comes close to getting on the board with Adam Raska (Rimouski Oceanic) missing the puck with an open net. Fans chanting, "We want a goal." 

2:11 p.m. —  The second period is underway.

2:10 p.m. — Somehow, the shots on net were only nine for Canada and four for the Czech Republic in that first period.

First period: Canada 4, Czech Republic 0

1:53 p.m. — Canada's four power-play goals ties tournament record for most in a period.

1:46 p.m. — By the way: Canada still has more than two minutes left on the power play.

1:44 p.m. — Czech netminder Lukas Parik is hurt and not putting any weight on his leg as he is helped off. Nick Malik, the Czech's backup, and third-string, goalie goes in the net. His dad is former NHL defenseman Marek Malik who famously scored this between-the-legs goal. Lukas Dostal, who was scheduled to be the starter for the tournament, is out hurt too.

1:43 p.m. — PP GOAL.  New Year's Eve fireworks at Ostravar Arena. Connor McMichael puts home the loose puck. Canada leads 4-0.

1:42 p.m. — The power play is back to a 5-on-4.

1:41 p.m. — PP GOAL. After seven-plus minutes of review: officially official. Barrett Hayton nets his third of the tourney.  Canada leads 3-0.

1:38 p.m. — Play still being checked but very hard to tell from the replays; however, Canadians in attendance definitely think it's a goal.

1:37 p.m. — In the meantime, Libor Zabransky (Moose Jaw) was called for a penalty at the whistle and Canada will have a two-man advantage.

1:35 p.m. — Standby. The play is being reviewed to see if the puck crossed the line as it actually hit Parik's shoulder and rolled up his body — possibly over the goal line.

1:34 p.m. — Lukas Parik, a Kings prospect, with a big-time diving save as the Canadians go across the crease with the pass and Barrett Hayton finishes with the quick release.

1:32 p.m. — Canada back to the power play as Otakar Sik is called for (what's nicely-being called) slashing and given a five-minute major and a game misconduct. 

1:26 p.m. — PP GOAL. Nolan Foote with a rocket of a shot — a one-timer — from the top of the right circle. Canada leads 2-0.

1:23 p.m. — Canada back to the power play; already 1-for-1 on the day.

1:16 p.m. — PP GOAL.  A blocked shot goes right to Joe Veleno who buries it for his first goal of the tourney. Canada leads 1-0.

1:15 p.m. — Now it'll be Canada's turn with the man advantage. Entering the game, Canada has four power-play goals in 12 chances.

1:13 p.m. —  Solid kill by Canada as they don't allow the Czech's to get a shot on net.

1:10 p.m. — Canada will be shorthanded as Nolan Foote is called for tripping. Czech's have netted two power-play goals in every game.

1:08 p.m. — Puck has been dropped. Game on!

Pregame

12:31 p.m. — Full lineups for both squads. It'll be Joel Hofer vs. Lukas Parik between the pipes.

12:19 p.m. — Canada's lineup for the tilt with the Czechs.

Relevant links

Tournament Canada USA

Jackie Spiegel