In its most important game of the 2015 world juniors thus far, Team Canada held on for a 5-3 win over rival United States Wednesday to wrap up first place in Group A. Here are 11 thoughts from Canada’s crucial victory.
1) Jake Virtanen has been playing with attitude — he’s on course for a tournament record in face washes and post-whistle shoves. It’s nice to have an edge and maybe it’s a function of being relegated to a spare part early on in Montreal, but if he doesn’t show a little more self-control he’s going to have his team killing a wholly unnecessary penalty at some point in Toronto.
2) I loved it when Max Domi skated out for the player-of-the-game honours with a fresh cut on his chin. He took a hit from Larkin and chirped the U.S. bench in a way that evoked … I can’t think of the name, but I’ll let you know when I come up with it.
3) Thatcher Demko was at his best in the scoreless first period, doing the splits to make a kick save on a chance that Sam Reinhart had on a wrap-around four minutes in. His rebound control was also impressive.
4) In the faceoff circle Reinhart was an amazing 18-of-23 and Connor McDavid 8-of-11 versus 3-of-17 for Jack Eichel.
5) I didn’t know much about Madison Bowey before this tournament, but I’ve been impressed a little more each game. Outside of the sublime Darnell Nurse, he might have been the Canadians’ best defenceman against the U.S. — at the very least the most reliable.
6) I wrote about Shea Theodore, Nurse’s partner, after the game against Finland. His game Wednesday was a bit more of a struggle against the Americans. Still, lots to like.
7) I’m still thinking of the guy’s name.
8) Zach Fucale should have played this game and should be playing the rest of the way. Eric Comrie, you now have one high-pressure international game under your belt. It’s the other guy’s time.
9) Robby Fabbri as a point man on the power play looks funny — he doesn’t exactly fit the profile of a forward you’d play there. But his pass to Josh Morrissey on the second Canadian goal was perfectly teed up.
10) Nick Ritchie is going to get a penalty for looking at someone funny. Not that he’s undisciplined, just that he can gently massage someone along the boards and it will look like a charge to a European ref.
11) Said a scouting director: “I thought the U.S.’s best player this whole tournament has been Dylan Larkin. I think he has a chance to be one of the top two-way forwards in the league in a few years. Really game and smart.”
