CANADA CRUISING
Juniors trounce Slovakia
CANADA 6, SLOVAKIA 1
It’s a good thing Alexis Lafreniere came back in time.
He wouldn’t want to miss a world junior rematch with Finland.
The NHL’S top prospect soared in his return from a left knee injury, scoring once and setting up Barrett Hayton’s opening tally as Team Canada clobbered Slovakia 6-1 before 7,074 fans on Thursday at Ostravar Arena.
Next up, the Canadians can exorcise some Vancouver ghosts against the defending champion Finns, who gutted out a 1-0 victory over the United States in their quarter-final at Trinec.
It’s the 20th time Canada has reached the final four in the past 22 years.
Lafreniere, feared to be done when he left the ice in agony six days ago against Russia, hit everything in his path and displayed his usual high-end energy and skill.
“It’s fun to be back,” the 18-year-old Rimouski star said. “It was scary a little bit (earlier in the week). A couple of days ago, I felt way better, and when I went on the ice (Wednesday for practice), I felt good.”
Lafreniere has recorded two goals and six points in little more than seven periods of hockey. If he hadn’t missed two and-a-half games, the tourney MVP conversation would be a short chat.
“He’s good enough to play and obviously still a little bit hurt, (but) he’s still the best player out there,” Canadian defenceman Jacob Bernard-docker said. “It’s really nice to have him back in the lineup.”
The Quebec league star finished with a solid 16 minutes, 43 seconds of ice time.
“His point totals and the way he played physical, he was awesome,” Canadian forward Connor Mcmichael said.
Did the team figure he would come back all along?
“It was a day-to-day thing,” coach Dale Hunter said. “It just kept getting better and better, so much quicker than anybody anticipated.”
On Lafreniere’s first shift, hard-shooting linemate Nolan Foote was ejected for an alleged “check to the head or neck area” just 53 seconds into the contest. The first-round selection of the Tampa Bay Lightning drilled
Slovak Kristian Kovacik hard along the boards, but video replays suggest the first point of contact wasn’t anywhere near the head.
The IIHF, who suspended Joe Veleno one game for a questionable head butt call, will allow Foote to play in the semifinal.
Kovacik remained on the ice for a spell, then was helped to the bench by team staff. He later retreated to the dressing room, but returned to play the rest of the game.
Canada killed off the five-minute major, allowing five shots in the process.
“(Team Canada goalie Joel) Hofer made some nice saves,” Hunter said.
The beauty of coaching a deep Canadian roster is that, if a top scorer must be replaced, there are plenty of talented options.
Mcmichael got that chance when Lafreniere was out. This time, Hunter tapped Dylan Cozens and it paid off in a hurry.
“It’s a feel thing,” Hunter said with a laugh. “There’s no exact science.”
Cozens has racked up six points in his last two games. He had been chatting with Lafreniere and got the sense that the team might get their best player back.
“You’re happy to see that,” the Buffalo Sabres’ first-round selection said. “They didn’t want to rush it. We clicked pretty well.
“I think anyone can play with anyone here. But I think we had some chemistry.”
Meanwhile, Lafreniere and four other returnees are already one step further along the road to gold than last year’s quarter-final heartbreaker.
Canada hasn’t won a medal on European ice in 12 years.