2018 World Junior Championships: Scoring depth and goaltending carries Canada

Michael Augello

2018 World Junior Championships: Scoring depth and goaltending carries Canada image

Unlike recent years when their fortunes were inexorably tied to future superstars Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares and Connor McDavid generating offense, Team Canada hopes that a balanced scoring attack, solid special teams and upper-echelon goaltending enables them to win gold at the 2018 World Junior Championships.

So far, so good.

Through the first two days of the tournament, the Canadians have 10 goals in wins over Finland and Slovakia, with each of their forward lines contributing at least a goal.

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"It shows our depth, (that) we have four lines that can score," winger Taylor Raddysh said. "We are all fairly fast and the chemistry is starting to come along and when you have things like that, you're going to have success and we have to just keep building off that.

"We don't want to call anyone a superstar, we just have to go about our business, just play our game and get better as the tournament goes on."

 

In their 6-0 win on Wednesday, Canada registered 54 shots on goal, scored three times on the power play and used their ample speed advantage to shut down Slovakia’s offense. 

"If we are able to outskate teams, I think we have a really good chance (to win). We have good skaters on this team," defenseman Victor Mete said  "A lot of the European teams are used to the bigger ice. If we can use our speed to burn (the opposition), we'll take that and use it to our advantage." 

While Team Canada scored ten goals, so far, the Canadians take care of their own net, as well, allowing two goals through two games. 

Despite a 20-save shutout performance from Colton Point on Wednesday, Carter Hart is expected to get most of the work between the pipes for Canada during the tournament. Hart stopped 29 of 31 shots in Tuesday's win over Finland.

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The Philadelphia Flyers prospect matured since losing the starting job to Connor Ingram at the 2017 World Juniors 12 months ago and has an impressive 13-3-1 record,1.32 GAA and .961 save percentage with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips this season. 

"As the year goes by, you're going to grow not only as a goaltender, but as a person." Hart said after the 4-2 win over Finland on Tuesday.  “Having gone through the whole (World Juniors) experience before definitely helps coming into this tournament. Just experiences like that, even going to the American Hockey League after (Everett's) season for about a month for our playoff run definitely helps you grow as a player."

Canada will have to bring all their weapons to bear against Team USA in the first outdoor World Junior game at New Era Field on Friday, the first meeting of the archrivals since Canada's 5-4 shootout loss in the gold medal game last January. The schedule could be to Canada’s advantage going into the contest, as they will check out the ice and surroundings in Orchard Park, NY and get some rest on Thursday, while Team USA plays Slovakia at 8pm.

“It was our second game in two days (Wednesday) and I thought we had more energy than we did (Tuesday),” said Team Canada head coach Dominique Decharme. “I think (Team USA) are used to playing back-to-back games, so I don’t it’s that big of an issue.”  

Michael Augello