OTTAWA -- Undisciplined play and an inability to finish despite creating chances led to Team Canada dropping their final game of the World Junior Hockey Championship round robin on Tuesday night.
Canada gave the United States seven power plays on the night and the U.S. would score on three of them, going on to a 4-1 victory to close out the preliminary round in Ottawa.
Canada finished with a 2-1-0-1 record and in third place in their pool and will now face Czechia in the quarter-final on Thursday. The U.S. will finish first at 3-0-1-0 and take on Switzerland in their first playoff game.
Saskatchewan’s five skaters took the ice with the same line combinations as the win over Germany.
Saskatoon’s Brayden Yager (WHL Lethbridge) and Prince Albert’s Tanner Howe (WHL Calgary) played on the second line alongside Bradly Nadeau (AHL Chicago) while Saskatoon’s Berkly Catton (WHL Spokane) centred the third line with Gavin McKenna (WHL Medicine Hat) and Luca Pinelli (OHL Ottawa).
Saskatoon product Caden Price (WHL Kelowna) played on the third defensive pairing with Mynio, with Saskatoon Blades defenceman Tanner Molendyk on the top pairing alongside Andrew Gibson (OHL Sault Ste. Marie).
The U.S. opened scoring with 6:58 to play in the opening period, and it was the product of a solid individual effort from Cole Huston. Huston intercepted a Canada clearing attempt, evaded a defender along the boards, broke into the high slot and put home a shot to give his team the early lead.
Canada received their second power play of the game to start the third period and they’d capitalize.
Yager -- the former Moose Jaw Warriors standout -- would figure into the proceedings, finding Nadeau with a great pass across the zone for the one-timer from the left face-off circle 1:58 into the frame.
We. Are. Tied! 🚨
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada)
Le 🇨🇦 parvient à niveler la marque! 🚨 |
The continued undisciplined play by Canada finally caught up to them again when the U.S. took advantage of their fifth power play of the game to retake the lead. Danny Nelson gave his team a 2-1 edge with their second power play goal of the game.
Two more Team Canada penalties later, the United States made it a two-goal game.
Cole Eiserman got off a shot from the top of the right face-off circle and through traffic top shelf blocker side for the 3-1 lead with 6:39 to play.
Ryan Leonard would then finish off scoring for the U.S. with an empty net goal with 1:02 remaining.
Carter George faced 28 shots in Canada’s net, Trey Augustine faced 39 for the U.S.
Canada will now gear up for the quarter-final against Czechia, with puck drop for that contest at 6:30 p.m.
