Dahlin impresses for Sweden at World Junior Summer Showcase

PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- Sweden defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who could be the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, had a strong first game at the 2017 World Junior Summer Showcase at USA Hockey Arena on Saturday.
Dahlin (6-foot-2, 181 pounds) had an assist and three shots on goal, and was plus-1 in Sweden's 4-3 victory against USA Blue.

He also made a game-saving defensive play, racing the length of the ice and jumping into his net to block a shot by USA Blue's Timothy Gettinger (New York Rangers) with 1:12 left in the third period with the score 3-3.

Dahlin, 17, is the youngest player for Sweden at the camp, but he held up well against physical play from fellow top 2018 draft prospect Brady Tkachuk (6-2, 194) and left wing Kieffer Bellows (New York Islanders).
"I get hyped-up for this," Dahlin said. "I like it very much when there's hitting in the game. This is a tough game, so it doesn't bother me."
Tkachuk, the son of U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member Keith Tkachuk and brother of Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk, was impressed by Dahlin.
"This was my first time [against him]," he said. "He's got a lot of hype behind him and he's a very good player. We had some 1-on-1 battles. … Whenever you'd try to hit him, he'd duck or move out of the way so he's smart."
Sweden coach Tomas Monten liked the way Dahlin stuck up for himself throughout the game.
"He's more mature and he's been through it," Monten said. "Everyone knows who he is and I think he's going to have a tougher time this time around. Every team is going to pinpoint him as an important player so I think it'll be a good experience for him now coming here and playing here in precamp."
Here are four other things learned on the first day of games at the World Junior Summer Showcase:

Casey Mittelstadt steals show for USA White

Casey Mittelstadt (Buffalo Sabres) had a goal and an assist in USA White's 4-2 victory against Finland. The forward helped open the scoring at 1:05 of the first period with a backhand pass through the crease to Evan Barratt (Chicago Blackhawks).

After Barratt created a turnover in the third period, Mittelstadt jumped on a loose puck and beat goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Sabres) with a backhand under the crossbar.
"His feet were going and he makes some big-time plays," United States coach Bob Motzko said. "You want to see big-time plays out of players that have the ability to do that. Casey did that today."
Mittelstadt was cut from camp last year. He looked like a player out to stay longer this time.
"If you're an athlete and you're competitive and it was taken away from you a year ago, this is his chance, this is his year," Motzko said. "He stood up today and made some noise."
Barratt and Maxwell Gerlach (2018 draft eligible) each had a goal and an assist. Jack Badini (Anaheim Ducks) also scored for USA White. Goalie Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars) started for USA White and made 10 saves on 11 shots in 31:01 of ice time. Dylan St. Cyr (2018 draft eligible) made 18 saves on 19 shots in 28:59 of ice time in relief.
USA White was missing defenseman Ryan Lindgren (Boston Bruins) because of an injury and forward Max Jones (Ducks) because of personal reasons.
Kasper Kotkansalo (Detroit Red Wings) and Janne Kuokkanen (Carolina Hurricanes) scored for Finland. Luukkonen made 18 saves on 22 shots.

Timothy Liljegren healthy, productive for Sweden

Liljegren (Toronto Maple Leafs) missed a chance to play at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship because of the lingering effects of mononucleosis. But the defenseman is pushing hard for a spot at the 2018 tournament, and had a goal and an assist in Sweden's victory.

He scored in the third period on a slap shot from the point that tied the game 3-3. He also had an assist on the first of two goals by Jesper Bratt (New Jersey Devils).
"I'm healthy, feel good," Liljegren said. "Been on the ice now for a couple weeks and it feels good. Just looking forward to next season."
Fredrik Karlstrom (Dallas Stars) scored the winning goal with 9.7 seconds left in the third period, beating goalie Keith Petruzzelli (Red Wings) through a screen. Sweden goalie Filip Gustavsson (Penguins) made 20 saves on 23 shots.
Tkachuk (2018 draft eligible), Sean Dhooghe (2018 draft eligible) and Logan Cockerill (New York Islanders) scored for USA Blue. Joseph Woll (Maple Leafs) stopped 12 of 13 shots in 29:41 of ice time. Petruzzelli stopped 18 of 21 shots in 30:19 of ice time.

Joseph Woll returns for United States

Woll is the only goalie of the four playing for the United States here to have played in a game at the 2017 WJC.
Woll helped defeat Slovakia and Canada in the preliminary round. Oettinger made the team but was the third goalie and didn't play.
Woll did well against Sweden on Saturday, and a good camp and a strong start to his sophomore season at Boston College could lead to more playing time at the 2018 World Junior Championship. Tyler Parsons (Flames), who started the gold-medal game for the U.S. against Canada at the 2017 WJC, has aged out of the under-20 tournament.
"I'm a little more comfortable coming into this year since I know what to kind of expect from the camp and how intense it gets," Woll said. "Last year I was a little nervous being one of the younger guys and coming in with older players. The pace of hockey at camp is still similar [to the 2017 WJC] but I'm a lot more comfortable and feel I could be a leader out there."

Matthew Tkachuk impressed by Brady

Matthew Tkachuk enjoyed watching his brother score for USA Blue against Sweden.
"I expect a lot out of him," Matthew said of Brady. "He's a good player. He looks really good this summer. Excited to see how he plays."
Matthew, selected by Calgary with the No. 6 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, and was sixth among rookies with 48 points (13 goals, 35 assists) in 76 games last season. But he said Brady could be ahead of where he was in his draft season.
"He's way bigger and stronger than I am," said Matthew, who was 6-1, 202 pounds when he was drafted. "Around the net we're pretty similar. He's a lot faster than I am. He's more of a threat in all areas of the game than I was. I was a little more offensive-minded where he provides everything. He's tougher than I am, he's more physical than I am. From what I've seen he looks like he could be a step ahead of me."