World Juniors: Levi's Big Birthday; Lundell Scores Again

Devon Levi couldn't have wished for a better present.
Celebrating his 19th birthday, the Florida Panthers prospect turned aside 17 of 18 shots -- including several difficult stops through heavy traffic -- to help lift Canada to a 3-1 win over Slovakia in the preliminary round of the 2021 IIHF World Juniors Championship on Sunday.

"It was a great birthday gift, for sure," an exuberant Levi told reporters after the game. "Just being here is all I could ask for, but the win is definitely the cherry on top."
As an added bonus, Levi also received a special message from his parents before the game.

Climbing the depth chart faster than he moves from one post to the other, Levi's ascension has been undoubtedly one of biggest stories throughout the early stages of the annual tournament.
Taken by the Panthers in the seventh-round (212th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, the Montreal native wasn't even invited to Canada's virtual summer camp despite posting an absurd 34-2-1 record with a .941 save percentage in 37 contests with the CCHL's Carleton Place Canadians.
For his efforts, he was named the MVP of the CCHL and the CJHL's top rookie in 2019-20.
"Almost every family in Canada watches the World Juniors," Levi said prior to heading to Canada's pre-tournament camp earlier this month. "It was a big thing growing up every single year with my family. To have the opportunity to possibly take part in that and represent my country is a dream come true. I was just so happy to get the invite and that sort of recognition."
From longshot to Canada's leading man in net, Levi's dream has quickly become a reality.
Making a splash in his first game of the tournament on Dec. 26, he made eight saves over two periods before taking a breather in the final frame as Canada overwhelmed Germany in a 16-2 route. But even in a game dominated by offense, a save from Levi was one of the top highlights.
Facing down Germany's star forward Tim Stuetzle, who was taken third overall by the Ottawa Senators in this year's draft, Levi stretched out make a stunning pad save right on the doorstep.

With his next start likely coming on Tuesday against Switzerland, Levi currently owns a 2-0-0 record with a shiny 1.20 goals-against average and .926 save percentage at the tournament.

LUNDELL LIGHTING IT UP

Entering the tournament with high expectations, Anton Lundell has been living up to the hype.
Scooped up by the Panthers with the 12th overall pick in this year's draft, the 19-year-old center has lit the lamp in each of his first two games at the tournament. In addition to sitting tied for first on Finland's roster in goals (2), he's also been showing great leadership as the team's captain.
Leading the charge on offense, Lundell has netted Finland's first goal during each of the team's first two games, including a crucial score during Sunday's 4-1 win over Switzerland. A mere 36 seconds after the Swiss went up 1-0, he buried a feed through the crease to tie the game 1-1.

One of the hottest players coming into the tournament, Lundell's success comes as no surprise to those of us that were watching his Liiga games this season. At the time he took off for the World Juniors, he'd already registered 12 goals and eight assists through 17 games with HIFK.
"I can create chances for myself and my linemates," Lundell said at the draft. "At the same time, I think I can play a really good two-way game. I want to be a trusted player who the coach can trust on the ice in every situation."
Helping Finland to a 2-0-0 record with three points (two goals, one assist) through two games thus far, he's certainly been looking like that sort of player on the big stage of the World Juniors.
Lundell's next game is expected to come on Wednesday against Slovakia.

OTHER PANTHERS AT THE WORLD JUNIORS

F Emil Heineman (Sweden)
Heineman, a 2020 second-round pick (43rd overall), scored a shorthanded goal in Sweden's 7-1 win over the Czech Republic on Saturday.
D Kasper Puutio (Finland)
Puutio, a 2020 fifth-round pick (153rd overall), owns a +2 rating through two games.
G Spencer Knight (USA)
Knight, the 13th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, surrendered four goals in a 5-3 loss to Russia on Friday.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

With all games of the tournament broadcast on NHL Network in the United States and TSN and RDS in Canada, here's where you can catch Panthers prospects at the World Juniors this week.
Monday, Dec. 28
Sweden (Heineman) vs. Austria, 6 p.m. ET
Germany vs. Slovakia, 9:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Dec. 29
Czech Republic vs. United States (Knight), 2 p.m. ET
Switzerland vs. Canada (Levi), 6 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Dec. 30
Slovakia vs. Finland (Lundell), 2 p.m. ET
Sweden (Heineman) vs. Russia, 9:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, Dec. 31
Finland (Lundell) vs. Canada (Levi), 6 p.m. ET
United States (Knight) vs. Sweden (Heineman), 9:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, Jan. 2
Quarterfinal 1, 12 p.m. ET
Quarterfinal 2, 3:30 p.m. ET
Quarterfinal 3, 7 p.m. ET
Quarterfinal 4, 10:30 p.m. ET
\Photo courtesy of Andrea Leigh Cardin*