Canada suffers 1st loss at world juniors in shutout at arms of host Sweden

Alan Letang has seen Canada reply from adversity previously.

The nation misplaced its opener 5-2 to the Czech Republic eventually 12 months’s world junior hockey championship on dwelling soil earlier than bouncing again to win a second consecutive gold medal.

Letang was an assistant on that teaching employees. Now within the huge chair, he’ll have to attract on that have to get this iteration again on observe.

Hugo Havelid made 21 saves Friday in Sweden’s 2-0 victory over Canada in a recreation the place the North Individuals by no means actually acquired going after a good first interval.

“If we thought we weren’t gonna get challenged on this event, and we weren’t going to face this adversity, we would be fairly naive,” Letang mentioned. “The assumption hasn’t modified. It is not wavering.”

He additionally indicated one other gear is required from a few of his gamers.

In contrast to the 2023 occasion in Halifax, nonetheless, Canada would not have the game-breaking ability of Connor Bedard or a number of different eligible NHLers unavailable at this under-20 showcase when issues go sideways.

“We performed an excessive amount of particular person, an excessive amount of ability,” mentioned Canadian goaltender Mathis Rousseau, who did his half with 22 saves, together with one which impressed Corridor of Fame netminder Henrik Lundqvist from the stands. “Numerous issues getting inside as a result of the blokes had been simply attempting to go one-on-one versus all people.”

Tom Willander and Noah Ostlund scored for Sweden, which clinched high spot in Group A with a 3rd consecutive shutout inside a raucous Scandinavium area in Gothenburg, Sweden. Theo Lindstein had two assists.

Canada is second within the pool with six factors from its three video games.

“Incredible,” Willander, a Vancouver Canucks prospect, mentioned of the ambiance. “Nice aura. An amazing workforce we beat, too.”

“Essential video games in entrance of us,” added Havelid, who like Rousseau is undersized and undrafted. “Cannot suppose we’re too good.”

Each goaltenders mentioned it was particular to carry out in entrance of Lundqvist, who’s the newest inductee into Sweden’s Hockey Corridor of Fame after getting the identical nod on the opposite aspect of the Atlantic Ocean in November.

“Watched him as a child,” Havelid mentioned. “Enjoying fairly good hockey in entrance of him, it meant one thing additional.”

About 3,500 Canadians have made the trek to this metropolis on Sweden’s west coast, however the red-clad contingent was a loud minority inside an electrical rink Friday.

“One of many coolest video games I’ve ever been part of,” mentioned Canadian captain Fraser Minten, who performed 4 occasions with the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.

“Goose bumps,” added Letang.

Sweden opened the scoring 1:53 into the second interval after Matthew Poitras, who joined Canada from the Boston Bruins, could not clear the defensive zone. The puck made its method to Willander, and he fired previous Rousseau with defenceman Noah Warren screening his goaltender.

Rousseau did his finest to maintain the Canadians down one with a few large stops, together with one on Jonathan Lekkerimaki.

However the ahead — one other Vancouver draft decide — saved the puck in on the blue line on the identical sequence and took a shot that Rousseau could not squeeze earlier than Ostlund slid the rebound dwelling at 10:39.

Canada, which beat Sweden 5-1 on New Yr’s Eve on the 2023 event, shook up its ahead strains searching for a spark.

Matthew Savoie misplaced the puck on a breakaway earlier than Macklin Celebrini, who entered because the occasion’s scoring chief with six factors, was stopped on a one-timer within the dying seconds.

Willander and the 17-year-old Celebrini, who together with Savoie weren’t made out there to reporters by Hockey Canada, are NCAA teammates at Boston College.

“The scoreboard speaks for itself,” Willander mentioned with a smile when requested if he’d be texting the presumptive No. 1 decide on the 2024 NHL draft.

Canada acquired its first energy play eight minutes into the third, however Celebrini hit the publish earlier than Havelid stopped Minten.

Owen Beck — the one Canadian returnee from final 12 months — was then crunched into the boards by Sweden’s Zeb Forsfjall. The officers initially known as a penalty, however overturned that call following video evaluation.

Additional-man struggles

Canada acquired one other man benefit with underneath six minutes remaining, however the disjointed No. 1 unit once more could not discover the vary.

The Canadians had been subsequently whistled for a botched goalie pull that ended up in a penalty for too many gamers on the ice that sealed Sweden’s win.

A bodily first interval noticed the groups commerce early probabilities, together with a breakaway for Canada’s Carson Rehkopf.

Minten was assessed a double minor for high-sticking, however the penalty kill and Rousseau held agency, together with that excellent skate-blade save at full stretch on Liam Ohgren.

Canada will likely be hoping for a lot of extra because it appears to be like to regroup.

“In case you second-guess otherwise you cease believing, that is once you’re in hassle,” Letang mentioned. “That group nonetheless believes.”

Canada meets Germany in its last round-robin recreation Sunday, whereas Sweden takes on Finland.

U.S. outlasts Czechs in shootout

Isaac Howard opened the scoring and added the shootout winner as america outlasted the Czech Republic 4-3 on Friday.

Howard beat Michael Hrabal within the seventh spherical of the tiebreaker. The Michigan State sophomore scored 1:12 into the sport. At 3-0, the Individuals are tied with Slovakia for the Group B lead with the groups set to satisfy Sunday within the round-robin finale.

Slovakia topped Norway 8-4 on Friday, with Servac Petrovsky and Dalibor Dvorsky every ending with two objectives and two assists.

Additionally, Finland beat Latvia 4-0. Noa Vali made 23 saves for the Finns (1-2).