All games on NHL Network in U.S., TSN and RDS in Canada
Czechia vs. Canada (7 p.m. ET) --
Dylan Garand
(New York Rangers), the backup goalie for Canada at the 2021 WJC, will start the Group A opener. It's been a big few days for Garand, who agreed to an entry-level contract with the Rangers on Thursday. Key for Czechia as it tries to improve on its seventh-place finish from 2021 is its group of defensemen, including top 2022 draft prospect David Jiricek, who plays for Plzen in Czech Extraliga, the top pro league in Czechia.
United States vs. Slovakia (9:30 p.m. ET) -- The United States has six players back from its 2021 championship as it starts play in Group B, topped by forward
Matty Beniers
(Seattle Kraken) and defenseman
Jake Sanderson
(Senators).
Drew Commesso
(Chicago Blackhawks) is expected to replace Spencer Knight (Florida Panthers) as the starting goalie. Keep an eye on Slovakia forward Juraj Slafkovsky (6-foot-3, 218 pounds), a 2022 draft prospect playing with TPS in Liiga, the top league in Finland.
