5 Things learned from Day 3 of World Juniors

Wednesday was the third day of the 2017 World Junior Championship, which is being held in Montreal and Toronto. See the full schedule here.
Results
Sweden 4, Switzerland 2
United States 5, Slovakia 2

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Five things we learned

Line juggling pays off for United States

United States coach Bob Motzko had a different look to his forward lines against Slovakia than he had in a 6-1 victory against Latvia on Monday. The moves worked when the U.S. had 50 shots on goal and won 5-2.
One line that had a lot of success was Jack Roslovic (Winnipeg Jets) centering left wing Kieffer Bellows (New York Islanders) and right wing Tage Thompson (St. Louis Blues). Thompson's second period goal that made it 3-1 was assisted by Bellows and Roslovic, who assisted on a goal by defenseman Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins) 6:36 later.
Roslovic was named the United States' player of the game.
"We were questioned for why we switched lines around, but the real question is why we'd have them the first game the way we had them," Motzko said. "You've got to guess a little bit when you get started and find a little continuity. We felt if we made a couple changes, let's look at them and see if there is something there. It's a good time to do it and that [Roslovic] line was pretty good tonight."

Motzko pleased with his goaltending depth

Goalie Joseph Woll (Toronto Maple Leafs) made 18 saves against Slovakia. Even though 20 shots-against aren't a lot, it's more than the 12 Tyler Parsons (Calgary Flames) faced Monday. Motzko said he's happy with how both goalies have played and with the depth he has to work with. Jake Oettinger, a 2017 NHL Draft prospect, is the third goalie and was a healthy scratch the first two games.
"I was impressed with [Woll]," Motzko said. "And to back that up, we just think our goaltending, all three guys, are just darn good goaltenders. All you do is give them a start and see how they perform and I don't think any of them have had a bad performance. … I thought [Woll] was real good [Wednesday] and he was very good in his exhibition games. Parsons will go [against Russia on Thursday] and they just keep rolling."

United States penalty kill needs some work

If there's one negative for the U.S. it was the penalty kill. Slovakia defenseman Marek Fehervary (2018 draft eligible) scored a power-play goal with 1:52 left in the first period that cut the U.S. lead to 2-1. Fehervary was alone at the far post when forward Boris Sadecky found him for the goal.
"One of our USA [Hockey] executives with us said that sometimes this is a runaway freight train and a coach can't change everything, that you just try to keep it on the tracks," Motzko said. "And there is some truth in that. We can't patch all the leaks. We can't fix everything. We just keep guiding the thing down the tracks and they're good, smart hockey players and we'll let them perform."

Eriksson Ek powers Sweden to victory

Joel Eriksson Ek (Minnesota Wild) scored twice to help Sweden to a win against Switzerland and first place in Group A.
Eriksson Ek, Sweden's captain, broke a 2-2 tie with his second goal with 5:08 left in the third period. Eriksson Ek has three goals and one assist through two games.
"I'm playing with good players," Eriksson Ek told the IIHF website. "They set me up and I just try to shoot. [Wednesday] I was lucky and two went in."
This is Eriksson Ek's second appearance in the World Junior Championship. He had one goal and one assist in six games during the 2016 WJC in Finland.

Switzerland goalie van Pottelberghe strong in defeat

Goalie Joren van Pottelberghe (Detroit Red Wings) was the main reason why Switzerland was tied with Sweden until the final five minutes of the third period.
Van Pottelberghe made 42 saves and had Switzerland in position to force overtime until Eriksson Ek and defenseman Lucas Carlsson (Chicago Blackhawks) scored late in the third. In two games, van Pottelberghe has made 78 saves on 85 shots (.918 save percentage).
"It's a great booster when we know we have a guy in the back that can make saves when we need them," Switzerland captain Calvin Thurkauf (Columbus Blue Jackets) told the IIHF website. "Joren has been astonishing over the last two games. We hope we can count on that for the rest of the tournament."

What's next

Thursday
Denmark vs. Czech Republic (1 p.m. ET, Bell Centre, TSN) -- A Czech Republic win in regulation would move them past Sweden for first place in Group A. If Denmark wins in regulation it would match Sweden with six points.
Russia vs. United States (3:30 p.m. ET, Air Canada Centre, NHLN, TSN) -- The United States has lost five straight WJC games against Russia since 2008. A Russia win in regulation would tie them with the U.S. for first place in Group B.
Finland vs. Sweden (5:30 p.m. ET, Bell Centre, NHLN, TSN) -- Sweden can eliminate rival and defending champion Finland from medal contention with a win in regulation. Finland has three goals in two losses to start the tournament.
Latvia vs. Canada (8 p.m. ET, Air Canada Centre, NHLN, TSN) -- Canada has outscored opponents 10-3 in its first two games. Latvia has been outscored 15-2 in two losses.