Dose: The World Juniors: Day 1

The NHL is off for a few days for the Christmas break and with teams not allowed to practice until Saturday there has not been a lot of news the last few days.

There are 12 games on Saturday and we will update you as to who the starting goalies are throughout the day.

Since there is no action on Friday, I thought that we’d look at the World Junior Tournament which got underway in Toronto and Montreal on Friday.

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RUSSIA 3 DENMARK 2 (Shootout)

The Danes almost upset the Russians in this one as they took a 2-0 lead in the first period on power play goals from Oliver Bjorkstrand and Nikolaj Ehlers.

If you are a fan of the Winnipeg Jets you have to love the play of Ehlers who the Jets took with the ninth overall pick in the 2014 Draft.

Georg Sorensen was solid in the Danish net with 37 saves but he could not stop the Russians in the shootout as Nikolay Goldobin (first round, 27^th overall by San Jose in 2014) and Sergei Tolchinsky scored to seal the win.

Goldobin scored in regulation time as did Maxim Mamin while Ilya Sorokin (3^rd round, 78^th overall in 2014 by the Islanders) stopped 24 shots for the win,

UNITED STATES 2 FINLAND 1 (SHOOTOUT)

Finland is the defending champions but the Americans were the favorites heading into this game and it took a goal by Chase De Leo (4^th round, 99^th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2014) in the third round of the shootout to win it for the United States.

You had to be awfully impressed with the shootout goal scored by Jack Eichel who is expected to go top two in the 2015 Draft. He showed a top notch NHL shot and set up the only goal in regulation by the Americans as Alex Tuch (1^st round, 18^th overall in 2014 by Minnesota) scored on the power play.

Mikko Rantanen scored the opening goal of the game as American goalie Thatcher Demko (2^nd round, 36^th overall by Vancouver in 2014) stopped 28 of 29 shots in regulation and overtime, and two of three in the shootout.

The Finns got great goaltending from Ville Husso (4^th round, 94^th overall by St. Louis in 2014) who stopped 36 shots in 65 minutes but could not stop the American attack in the shootout. Husso is not even considered Finland’s top goalie as Juuse Saros (4^th round, 99^th overall by Nashville in the 2013 Draft) backstopped the Finns to the Gold last year and sat on the bench Thursday.

SWEDEN 5 CZECH REPUBLIC 2

Adrian Kempe (1^st round, 20^th overall by Los Angeles in 2014) scored twice to lead Sweden to an opening night win over the Czech Republic Friday.

After Kempe opened the scoring, Jens Looke made it 2-0 for Sweden before Jakub Vrana (1^st round, 13^th overall by Washington in 2014) who plays in the Swedish Elite League, scored twice to tie the game up in the second stanza.

But William Nylander (1^st round, eighth overall by Toronto in 2014) scored just 27 seconds later to give Sweden a lead they would never relinquish. Kempe with his second, and Jacob de la Rose (2^nd round, 34^th overall by Montreal in 2013) scored in the third for the win.

Linus Soderstrom (4^th round, 95^th overall by the Islanders in 2014) stopped 27 shots for the win while Czech Republic netminder Vitek Vanecek (2^nd round, 39^th overall to Washington in 2014) gave up all five goals on only 27 shots for the loss.

Washington fans will note that their top two picks in 2014 Vrana and Vanecek, are on the Czech squad.

CANADA 8 SLOVAKIA 0

Canada got goals from seven different players with none coming from their top line as they shellacked the Slovakians 8-0 Friday.

Robby Fabbri (1^st round, 21^st overall by St. Louis in 2014) had two goals and two assists to lead Canada to the win while linemate Nic Petan (2^nd round, 43^rd overall to Winnipeg in 2013) chipped in with a goal and two helpers.

Jake Virtanen (1^st round, sixth overall to Vancouver in 2014) Brayden Point (3^rd round, 79^th overall to Tampa Bay in 2014), Anthony Duclair (3^rd round, 80^th overall to the Rangers in 2013) and Max Domi (1^st round, 12^th overall to Arizona in 2013) each had a goal and an assist while Nick Paul (4^th round, 101^st overall to Dallas in 2013) also scored.

Zachary Fucale (2^nd round, 36^th overall to Montreal in 2013) needed to stop only 12 shots for the shutout.

Dennis Godla stopped only 18 of 23 shots before being replaced by David Okolicany who gave up three goals on 11 shots.

Eric Comrie (2^nd round 59^th overall by Winnipeg in 2013) is expected to get the start in goal for Canada on Saturday when they face Germany.