Switzerland 4 – 0 Denmark
The last four matchups between these two nations have all been decided by one goal, there is never much to split these two teams at the World Junior Championships.
Nine minutes into the first period, Swiss standout Philipp Kurashev scored his first of the night on a one-timer.
Phillipp Kurashev gives Switzerland a 1-0 lead after a big stop by Luca Hollenstein at the other end. Tough for the Danes, who had multiple good scoring chances. #WJC2019 pic.twitter.com/QyCJ4T0x6j
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) December 29, 2018
With less than a minute left in the period, Kurashev would score his second of the night and fourth of the tournament with a wicked wrister from the high slot to give Switzerland a 2-0 lead.
Philipp Kurashev has four goals at the #WJC2019, giving Switzerland a 2-0 lead now with a hard wrist shot. He has the last four goals scored for Switzerland, actually. #WJC2019 pic.twitter.com/ReXV06xFlP
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) December 29, 2018
Just past the halfway mark of the second period Swiss defenceman Simon Le Coultre scored his first of the tournament to extend his team’s lead to three. Kurashev added one more in the third to complete the hat trick and the scoreline at 4-0.
Philipp Kurashev (CHI) completes the hat-trick, his 5th of the tournament and it's 4-0 Switzerland in the 3rd #DENvsSUI #WJC2019
— Brandon Holmes (@BHolmes_Hockey) December 29, 2018
With this Win, Switzerland booked their ticket to the quarter-finals along with Canada and Russia. Denmark, barring an upset against the Czech Republic, looks like they are headed directly to the relegation round, they have yet to score a goal in any of their three round-robin games.
WHL Notables
Denmark
- Mads Soegaard (Medicine Hat) – 22 saves on 26 shots
- Phillip Schultz (Victoria) – 1 SOG – minus 1 – 22:25 time on ice
Canada 5 – 1 Czech Republic
In Canada’s first two games they scored inside the first five minutes, but they would just miss the mark this time.
Canadian Captain Maxime Comtois lit the lamp at the 6:03 mark after Owen Tippett sent him a beautiful no look pass.
Owen Tippett uses his speed to blow past the Czech defence and he blindly passed it in front. Maxime Comtois, who started the play, makes it 1-0 after coming in as the trailing player. What a play. #WJC2019 pic.twitter.com/ipiXW0R6Pp
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) December 30, 2018
Not 40 seconds later the Czechs would tie the game through the stick of Ondrej Machala when he finished a 2-on-1.
Jan Jenik, playing in his first game of the tournament, sets up Ondrej Machala in front on the odd-man rush and they tie the game up at one apiece. #WJC2019 pic.twitter.com/9UUDGNNHTg
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) December 30, 2018
That would be as close as the Czechs got to tasting a lead in this one. Canada scored twice more in the first period including a deflection from Prince Albert Raider Brett Leason to finish the first up 3-1.
Ty Smith's wrist shot from the point gets tipped by Brett Leason in front and it's 2-1 Canada. Morgan Frost with an assist, too. #WJC2019 pic.twitter.com/D3Dxh5ohLh
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) December 30, 2018
In each of the remaining periods, Canada added one to their lead to close out the game by a score of 5-1.
WHL Notables
Canada
- Cody Glass (Portland) – 12/21 faceoffs – 1 SOG – 18:18 time on ice
- Brett Leason (Prince Albert) – 1 Goal – 2 SOG – 13:52 time on ice
- Jaret Anderson-Dolan (Spokane) – 6/12 faceoffs – 2 SOG – minus 1 – 16:21 time on ice
- Ty Smith (Spokane) – 2 Assists – 2 SOG – 14:36 time on ice
- Josh Brook (Moose Jaw) – 1 Assist – 1 SOG – +1 – 16:27 time on ice
- Ian Scott (Prince Albert) – Did not play
Czech Republic
- Krystof Hrabik (Tri-City) – 4/6 faceoffs – 1 SOG – minus 1 – 17:22 time on ice
- Filip Kral (Spokane) – minus 2 – 17:00 time on ice
- Jiri Patera (Brandon) – 16 saves on 20 shots, pulled after the 2nd period.
