Canada vs. Russia: Alexis Lafreniere injured in Canada's worst-ever loss in tournament history

Jackie Spiegel

•
Canada vs. Russia: Alexis Lafreniere injured in Canada's worst-ever loss in tournament history image

Canada not only suffered its worst-ever loss in IIHF World Juniors history on Saturday — a 6-0 defeat at the hands of the Russians — but the team may have also lost its best player.

With the team already trailing 3-0 in the second period, projected 2020 first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere went down with an apparent leg injury. He drove to the net on the power play and as he clipped the pad of Russian netminder Amir Miftakhov with his right skate, he appeared to toe-pick with the left causing his knee to buckle. The 18-year-old left the game without putting any weight on the leg and did not return.

Shortly after Lafreniere left, Russia put the game out of reach as Nikita Alexandrov (St. Louis Blues) made it 4-0; the goal chased netminder Nico Daws who had allowed three goals on 17 shots in the first period. 

From puck-drop, the Russians dominated play as they were able to gain access to not only the Canadian zone but the front of the net with ease. While hindsight is 20/20, the scene-setting first goal less than two minutes into the game by Alexander Khovanov (Minnesota Wild), was actually offside per TSN replays. Canada head coach Dale Hunter did not challenge the call and it stood.

Pavel Dorofeyev (Vegas Golden Knights), Nikita Rtishev, Grigori Denisenko (Florida Panthers) and Cape Breton's (QMJHL) Yegor Sokolov netted the other goals for Russia.

The loss marked the worst-ever defeat at world juniors for Canada, which had previously lost three games by five-goal margins in 1992 (twice) and 1989. In 1997, the team lost to Sweden 4-0. The shutout marked the fifth time Canada has been shut out in tournament history.

Five players, including Lafreniere, were looking for a little redemption in this matchup. Last year, Canada lost its last game of the preliminary round to Russia on New Year's Eve; that 2-1 defeat dropped the Canadians down to No. 2 in the group, leading to a heartbreaking overtime loss in the quarterfinals to the Finns.

The Canadians entered the game after defeating their rival from the south, the United States, on Thursday in the opening game of the 2020 IIHF World Juniors. Every team in Group B — which was, fittingly, nicknamed "The Group of Death" — now has one win and one loss in the tournament. Now, each game is of the utmost importance to ensure progression to the medal rounds. Canada will have Sunday off before facing Germany, who beat the Czech Republic 4-3 earlier on Saturday, on Monday at 9 a.m ET.

Sporting News had all the action as the two teams battled in Game 2 of the tournament.

Canada vs. Russia results, highlights from 2020 World Juniors

(All times are Eastern)

Final score: Russia 6, Canada 0

15:38 p.m. — Liam Foudy named the best player of the game for Canada. Goaltender Amir Miftakhov awarded Russia's player of the game.

Third period: Russia 6, Canada 0

3:25 p.m. — Yegor Sokolov given two and 10 after he cross-checks Ty Smith to the head.

3:23 p.m. — Canadian forward Ty Dellandrea in some distress but cannot get off the ice. Finally gets off an appears to be limping. He took a shot off the side of the leg earlier on the shift.

3:20 p.m. — Late in this game, Edmonton Oilers prospect and Halifax forward Raphael Lavoie getting some chances.

3:07 p.m. — Yegor Zamula, who plays for the Calgary Hitmen, makes a nice move as he skates down from the point and is stopped not once but twice by Joel Hofer.

3:07 p.m. — An update on Alexis Lafreniere.

2:55 p.m. — Third period underway.

Second period: Russia 6, Canada 0

2:37 p.m. — Joe Veleno again takes a penalty, although semi-questionable call. This one with four seconds left in the period.

2:30 p.m. — GOAL. Canada's defense backs in and gives Russia space. Grigori Denisenko (Panthers) was the high-man and he beats Joel Hofer as it goes off his glove and in. Hofer may have been slightly screened on the play. Canada trails 6-0.

2:24 p.m. — GOAL. Yegor Zamula's point shot is deflected in by Cape Breton Eagles' Yegor Sokolov. Ty Smith was on him but didn't tie up the stick in front. Canada trails 5-0.

2:23 p.m. — Canadians controlling the play but not getting many chances. Joe Veleno's one-timer is stopped at one point but Canada can't get one past Amir Miftakhov.

2:20 p.m. — After crashing the net, some pushing and shoving after the whistle. Joe Veleno gets knocked down, gets up and exchanges some words with Danil Misyul.

2:17 p.m. — Canada heads to the power play as Podkolzin is called for tripping. A goal here would be a big boost.

2:05 p.m. — GOAL. Nikita Alexandrov, a St. Louis Blues prospect, drives around Daws and tucks the puck in past the goaltender. The goal chases Daws and Joel Hofer — who is also a Blues prospect — goes in between the pipes. Canada trails 4-0.

2:04 p.m. — Canada does not score on the power play.

MORE:  Canada's Alexis Lafreniere leaves game after scary collision

2:03 p.m. — Lafreniere is being helped off the ice and not putting any weight on the leg.

2:02 p.m. — Alexis Lafreniere is down and in pain. He drove to the net and got his right skate caught in the pad of the netminder as his left leg jams into the ice awkwardly. He immediately grabs his left knee. The crowd is silent at Ostravar Arena.

2:00 p.m. — Canada on the power play as the second period starts.

1:59 p.m. — Russia outshot the Canadians 17-9 in that first period. Attention Canucks fans: Podkolzin had six of them.

1:43 p.m. — Canada will start the second on the power play. The Canadians looked solid Thursday with the man advantage as they netted three goals on five opportunities. They'll need one early here for sure.

First period: Russia 3, Canada 0

1:41 p.m. — Canada with a good chance as they crash the net. Dmitri Voronkov called for roughing as he puts Barrett Hayton in a headlock. Canada power play starts with 10 seconds left in the period.

1:39 p.m. — Back to even strength; Russia had one shot on net with the man advantage.

1:39 p.m. — Liam Foudy with a shorthanded chance but is denied.

1:38 p.m. — Everyone standing on the Canada bench as it's now a 5-on-4.

1:36 p.m. — Canadians go down 5-on-3 for 49 seconds as Jacob Bernard-Docker is called for holding the stick. These referees are seeing everything.

1:34 p.m. — Well that's something you don't see often. Nico Daws — the goaltender — called for tripping. It was a little hook on the skates of a Russian in front as he was being defended. Russia back to the power play.

1:32 p.m. — Canadians missing assignments in their own end as Ivan Morozov (Vegas Golden Knights) gets a rebound chance that Daws stops.

1:31 p.m. — GOAL. Back at even strength. Nico Daws takes a point shot straight off the shoulder and Nikita Rtishev skates through the slot and knocks the rebound in on the backhand. Canada trails 3-0.

1:28 p.m. — Bad penalty — late hit after the puck was long gone — by Joe Veleno gives Russia the first power play of the game.

1:26 p.m. — Friendly reminder: Canada trailed 2-0 to the United States after the first period on Thursday.

1:25 p.m. — GOAL. Quality breakout by Russia. Pavel Dorofeyev is somehow left all alone in front and he buries the backhander over Nico Daws.  Canada trails 2-0.

1:21 p.m. — Canada breaks in 2-on-1. Alexis Lafreniere dangles but opts for the pass to Jared McIsaac that doesn't connect thanks to some good defense by the Russians.

1:19 p.m. — Big hit by Ty Dellandrea. Canada used the body against the United States after trailing by one and it helped turn the tide in that game.

1:12 p.m. — Based on TSN's replay, Khovanov may have been offside but Canada head coach Dale Hunter did not challenge.

1:11 p.m. — GOAL.  Less than two minutes in and another picked-off pass by the Russians. This time they make the Canadians pay. Alexander Khovanov (who plays for Moncton and is a Minnesota Wild prospect) intercepts Jared McIassc's pass inside the Canadian zone and fires the shot off the blocker of Nico Daws. The puck bounces up into the air and falls across the goal line. Unlucky bounce. Canada trails 1-0.

1:09 p.m. — Game on!

Pregame

12:38 p.m. — Warmies.

12:27 p.m. — Same lineup as Thursday's win.

12:10 p.m. — New Jersey Devils prospect Daniil Misyul is in. Amir Miftakhov is in net.

Relevant links

Tournament Canada USA

Jackie Spiegel