The fourth day of the 2023 World Juniors was headlined by an overtime thriller between Sweden and Czechia with Sweden emerging victorious. Here’s what you need to know:
- In Sweden’s 3-2 overtime win, projected 2023 top-5 pick Leo Carlsson didn’t dress due to an illness. Boston first-round pick Fabian Lysell left early due to injury. David Jiricek (CBJ) was named player of the game for Czechia, and Ludvig Jansson (FLA) for Sweden.
- Finland defeated Latvia 3-0. Tampa prospect and seventh-round pick Niko Huuhtanen was Finland’s top player, continuing a strong tournament.
- USA beat Switzerland 5-1.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
USA gets team effort in convincing win over Switzerland
The US was rolling on all cylinders today. The top line of Logan Cooley (ARI), Cutter Gauthier (PHI) and Jimmy Snuggerud (STL) had their best game and their No. 1 defenseman Luke Hughes (NJ) also had his best game of the tournament alongside his new D pair partner Sean Behrens (COL). Cooley was named player of the game and between him and Snuggerud they combined for three goals. Hughes scored too, while also making an impact in transition and his blue line work due to his elite skating.
USA’s bottom six did good work too. Tyler Boucher (OTT) continued his strong tournament and their fourth line again had a lot of puck possession when on the ice. USA’s goalie Trey Augustine made the save he needed to make. The one thing the US still needs is getting the second line of Chaz Lucius (WPG), Rutger McGroarty (WPG) and Jackson Blake (CAR) going more consistently. — Pronman
Panthers prospect Ludvig Jansson comes up big for Sweden
In a game that Blue Jackets star prospect David Jiricek nearly wanted a win out of for the Czechs, creating both of their goals and almost ending it (more than once) in overtime, it was Jansson, Sweden’s only returnee on the blueline, who did. the same for Sweden, scoring twice. On the first, he placed a shot from the point through to the net’s top corner short-side.
On the second, he beat Golden Knights prospect Jakub Brbenec wide and tucked past Tomas Suchanek for a brilliant individual effort to help keep the Swedes undefeated. Jansson, a 2022 fourth-round pick who turned 19 just two days ago, now leads Sweden in scoring with five points through three games. — Wheeler
Multiple quarterfinal scenarios still in play
Because both Sweden and Czechia picked up points in their game, they remain atop the Group A standings with eight and seven points, respectively, through three games. Canada, with its six, is now unlikely to win the group. Even if they were to beat Sweden in regulation on New Year’s Eve, Czechia could secure first with a win against Germany (which appears likely).
In Group B, the New Year’s Eve matchup between Finland (seven points through three games) and USA (six points through three games) should decide first place, but second place could be for Slovakia’s taking if they were to defeat both Latvia and Switzerland ( a real possibility but not a sure thing) and leapfrog the loser of Finland and USA.
I actually think this Latvian team is stronger than the one that finished seventh in Edmonton in the summer but they’ll be tough to make the quarterfinals in back-to-back tournaments. I like their odds in a potential best-of-three against Austria for relegation, though. Latvia has never stayed in the top flight at the World Juniors for three consecutive tournaments, so that would be big.
Here’s what’s on deck for Dec. 30:
- Slovakia vs. Latvia at 11 am ET in Moncton
- Germany vs. Austria at 4:30 pm ET in Halifax
(Photo: Dale Preston/Getty Images)
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