3 things learned at Day 5 of World Juniors
Gajan sparks Slovakia; Sweden prepares for Canada; Behrens, Hughes reunite for U.S.
© Ron Ward/AP
Slovakia 3, Latvia 0
Germany 4, Austria
It's been quite a month for Slovakia goalie Adam Gajan (2023 draft eligible).
Gajan, who had success at the start of the season with Chippewa of the North American Hockey League, committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth on Dec. 2. He was acquired by Green Bay of the United States Hockey League on Dec. 6 and was told Dec. 17, via a text message, to get on a plane to join Slovakia at the World Juniors.
In two starts since his arrival in Moncton, he has two wins with a 1.50 goals-against average and .953 save percentage. He made 33 saves in a 6-3 victory against the United States on Wednesday, a victory he said was the biggest of his hockey career.
The 18-year-old (6-foot-2, 167 pounds) followed that Friday when he made 28 saves in a 3-0 win against Latvia.
"I played two games in USHL and after a shutout in my second game, the goalie coach texted me and I flew to Moncton the next morning. ... It all happened in like 24 hours," Gajan said. "I was confident. I knew that I could play here, so I didn't feel nervous. I feel great on the ice, felt like every other game."
Gajan said he visited St. Cloud State, Ohio State, Colorado College and the University of Wisconsin before deciding on Minnesota-Duluth.
"It was maybe like two years ago ... the United States won the World Juniors and I saw that like every player is playing college hockey," Gajan said. "So, I was thinking and decided like two years ago that I want to go play college hockey."
Sweden, buoyed by its 3-2 overtime win against Czechia on Thursday, is hoping for a similar effort against Canada in the final game for each team in preliminary-round play.
Sweden will earn the top seed in Group A with a win.
"I hope we're ready for Canada," Sweden coach Magnus Havelid said. "Czechia was a good test for us. If Czechia can beat Canada (5-2 on Monday), hopefully, we can beat Canada. It's more a mental part as well. When I look at our defense, we took a step forward. But, I think we need to be improved before Saturday against Canada."
Sweden forwards Leo Carlsson, a projected first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, and Fabian Lysell (Boston Bruins) each has an undisclosed illness and are questionable to play. Lysell had 4:18 of ice time against Czechia before exiting the game. Carlsson told Havelid that he was not "100 percent to go" during warmups.
"We'll have to play quicker out of our offensive zone and when we get the puck deep, get on the forecheck but we'll work on those things to be more compact as a team and be tougher to play against when we face Canada," said Sweden forward Isak Rosen (Buffalo Sabres). "I think we'll have a really good game."
Sean Behrens (Colorado Avalanche) and Luke Hughes (New Jersey Devils), the top defense pair for the United States, look to maintain the businesslike approach and chemistry in their New Year's Eve matchup with Finland.
Behrens and Hughes started and finished as a pairing for the first time in this year's tournament during a 5-1 win against Switzerland on Thursday.
"I played with Luke a lot with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team (in 2020-21)," Behrens said. "He's an easy guy to play with how good he is, how good he skates. I think it's just knowing that he's kind of always open. He's always moving. He's always getting into the right spots for me to get the puck to him, and vice versa.
"I think just playing with him, it's simple for me. We're looking to build off of that chemistry as this tournament goes on."
The United States needs a win in either regulation or overtime to ensure they are seeded higher than Finland in Group B.
"It's going to be really exciting," Hughes said. "I think everyone on our team is excited to play on New Year's Eve against one of our rivals. They're a good team, we're a good team, so it'll be a fun matchup."
All games on NHL Network in U.S., TSN in Canada
Switzerland vs. Slovakia (11 a.m. ET) --Slovakia (2-0-0-1) needs a regulation win and a loss by Finland to secure the top seed in pool play for the first time in its WJC history. Forward Peter Repcik (2023 draft eligible) leads Slovakia with five points (three goals, two assists) and defenseman Simon Nemec (New Jersey Devils) has four points (one goal, three assists). Switzerland (0-2-0-1) could move as high as second in Group B with a regulation win and a loss by Finland. Attilio Biasca (2023 draft eligible), who plays for Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, leads Switzerland with three points (two goals, one assist).
Czechia vs. Germany (1:30 p.m. ET) -- Czechia is coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to Sweden but can still take the top spot in Group A with a regulation win and a regulation loss by Sweden. Goalie Tomas Suchanek (2023 draft eligible) has two wins in three starts with a 1.65 goals-against average, .929 save percentage and one shutout for Czechia (2-0-1-0). Germany (1-0-0-2) earned the fourth seed after a 4-2 win against Austria on Friday.
United States vs. Finland (4 p.m. ET) -- The United States (2-0-0-1) has won three of the past five games against Finland at the World Juniors, including a 4-3 victory in the semifinal of the 2021 WJC. The U.S. won 5-1 against Switzerland on Thursday following a 6-3 loss to Slovakia on Wednesday. Finland (2-0-1-0) will look to clinch the top seed in Group B with a win. Goalie Jani Lampinen (2023 draft eligible) has two wins with a 1.00 GAA, .964 save percentage and one shutout.
Canada vs. Sweden (6:30 p.m. ET) -- Canada (2-0-0-1) leads the tournament in power-play goals (11) and power-play percentage (68.75). Connor Bedard, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, has either scored or assisted on 13 of the past 22 goals (five goals, eight assists) and leads the tournament in goals (six), assists (eight), and points (14). Goalie Carl Lindbom (Vegas Golden Knight) has won each of his three starts and has a 0.66 GAA, .974 save percentage and two shutouts for Sweden (2-1-0-0), which is 10-for-10 on the penalty kill.
World Junior Championship predictions
Group A preview
Group B preview
World Juniors Championship rosters
Tournament schedule
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