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WJC: Makar makes history in loss

WJC: Makar makes history in lossCale Makar scored the first ever outdoor goal of the World Juniors, but Canada fell in a shootout against their archrivals from the US.

The group stage of the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship continued with two games today. Russia played against the tournament’s outsiders from Belarus, while Canada, along with Avalanche prospects Cale Makar and Conor Timmins, squared off against their archrival from the United States in the first ever outdoor game of the World Juniors.

Canada – United States 3:4 after SO (2:0, 1:1, 0:2, 0:0, 0:1)

5. Makar (Thomas), 16. Dube (Steel), 38. Katchouk (Bean) – 37. Bellows (Mittelstadt, Oettinger), 47. Perunovich (Mittelstadt), 47. Tkachuk (Mittelstadt), 65. Bellows

Canada and the US squared off in the first ever outdoor game of the World Juniors at New Era Field, home of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. Canada had a strong start to the game, jumping on an early power-play in the third minute. With less than 30 seconds left on Dylan Samberg’s penalty, Cale Makar fired a shot on goal, which beat Jake Oettinger five-hole for his first international goal and the very first outdoor goal of the World Juniors. The Canadians doubled their lead with less than five minutes remaining in the period, taking a 2-0 advantage into the first intermission. The weather conditions got gradually worse during the second period, as the snowing in Buffalo intensified and snow had to be repeatedly cleared of the ice during each stoppage of play. Kieffer Bellows cut Canada’s lead to one with a power-play goal on a two-man advantage, but Boris Katchouk answered right back to make it a two goal game yet again. The momentum changed in the third period and the US mounted a comeback with Scott Perunovich’s power-play goal six minutes into the final period of regulation. Brady Tkachuk ultimately tied the game less than 30 seconds later to erase Canada’s second lead of the game and force overtime. Since no goals were scored in the extra period, the game had to be decided by a shootout. Bellows and Tkachuk both scored for the US, while Oettinger stood tall to deny all four Canadian shooters to give the Americans the win and the extra point.

Despite his opening goal, Makar was back in the role of Canada’s seventh defenseman, as Kyle Clague returned to the lineup after sitting out the game against Slovakia. Makar only played 9 and a half minutes in total, recording two shots in the opening period along the way, while seeing some time on the man-advantage as well. Conor Timmins had a rather quiet game, logging a TOI of 20:30, while recording one shot on goal and seeing extended time on the penalty kill. Timmins was also on the ice for the US’ first goal during a 5-on-3 power-play. The Canadians will play their last game of the group stage tomorrow against Denmark.


Michal Hezely, Slovakia, hezely@eurolanche.com
30/12/2017 - 01:30
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