Ryan Johansen and Nino Niederreiter are friends in Portland but enemies in Buffalo.
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- There’s no love lost when teammates become enemies.
Portland Winterhawks forwards Ryan Johansen and Nino Niederreiter knew there was a chance they would face each other in the world juniors. Johansen, a Canadian and Niederreiter, Switzerland’s captain nearly came to blows in the third period.
Niederreiter stepped in with Johansen taking liberties on Swiss goaltender Benjamin Conz. Johansen was swiping away at Conz’s pad, trying to pry the puck loose when Niederreiter skated in to deliver an elbow.
It was a stern message from the captain. Niederreiter, who would otherwise join in with Johansen, stepped in and the message was clear: "Not while I’m around."
The two looked at each other, but cooler heads prevailed.
"I kind of looked at him and I think we both knew it was that time of the game where you didn’t want to take a stupid penalty, so I kind of just smiled and skated off," Johansen said.
Meanwhile, Niederreiter wasn’t willing to let any player take liberties on his goaltender, regardless of whether he’s a friend off the ice.
"I think just because he’s Ryan Johansen he shouldn’t do that," Niederreiter explained. "I don’t care if he’s doing it when he’s on my team, but when I’m playing against him he shouldn’t do that."
Johansen’s Canadians got the upper hand in this all-or-nothing game. The Canadian forward scored his team’s first goal of the game en route to a 4-1 win and a spot in Monday’s semifinal against the tournament-host Americans.
Niederreiter’s stat line was less impressive. It included four shots and 10 minutes in penalties, but no points.
The Swiss forward even gave the appearance of playing goal, but would have a terrible save percentage. With Conz on the bench for an extra attacker, Niederreiter took the stance of a goaltender, but left the short side open for Zack Kassian, who iced the game with the fourth goal.
Niederreiter, who later claimed he was trying to flip the puck forward after retrieving it from the net, ended up putting the puck into the crowd. The refs gave him a 10-minute misconduct penalty. Niederreiter could do nothing more than watch the final minutes expire, as his former teammate earned the coveted semifinal berth.
Although their encounters on the ice were few and far between, Johansen was pivotal to the Canadian win. He had a game-high nine shots on goal and was Canada’s player of the game. Many of his shots came in prime positions, but he was unable to beat Conz a second time.
"He had way more chances than he’s used to getting in Portland," Niederreiter said. "He played good (Sunday) and he was a key to the Canadian team."
Johansen was willing to give credit where credit was due, but he couldn’t help but wonder how many of those shots would have found the net, had a different goaltender been in net.
"I had a few chances after that one squeezed through for me that I probably should have buried," Johansen said. "I’m just going to say to myself that he’s a tremendous goalie and any other goalie, it would have went in."
Niederreiter and Johansen are looking forward to resuming their roles as teammates, on one of the Canadian Hockey League’s top lines. Niederreiter expressed disappointment on Friday that he hadn’t heard from Johansen since the tournament started, after they had previously discussed going to dinner in Buffalo.
Johansen finally sent Niederreiter a text before the game, but didn’t mean the well-wishes he was giving him.
"I said ‘good lucky, buddy.’ Sarcastically," Johansen said.
Niederreiter isn’t expecting a warm welcome from Johansen when they can resume their role as teammates. Regardless of how Canada and Johansen perform in the remainder of the tournament, the Canadian will have the upper hand.
And Niederreiter anticipates hearing about it.
"When we’re going to be back in Portland he’s going to be chirping me that he beat us, but at the end it’s just the way it is," Niederreiter said.
"For sure I’ll say a few things," Johansen said wryly.
But the two won’t soon forget the chance to play against each other. The world junior hockey championship gave them the unique opportunity to understand just how difficult each other can be to play against.
But that doesn’t mean they’re about to gain a newfound respect for a Western Hockey League opposition that has to defend not one, but both of them on a nightly basis.
"On the ice we’re not going to be friends (when we play against each other)," Niederreiter said. "The game is over and we’re going to be friends (again)."
