Canada defeats Czechs, meets Swedes in semis
Unbeaten Americans to face Russia in Wednesday’s semifinals after passing stiff test
The United States still has yet to trail at the world junior hockey championship, just getting past a feisty Switzerland squad by a 3-2 final in Monday’s quarter-final at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Jordan Greenway scored the go-ahead goal and eventual game-winner six-plus minutes into the third period after the Swiss rallied from a 2-0 first-period deficit.
Jeremy Bracco added a goal and assist and Tyler Parsons made 19 saves for the Americans, who will face Russia in a Wednesday semifinal at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
A projected top-10 pick at the 2017 NHL draft, Nico Hischier scored both goals for Switzerland, who held the U.S. to just two second period shots while outshooting them 21-17 overall.
The Americans are looking for their first gold medal at the event since 2013, when a squad brimming with future NHLers, including Johnny Gaudreau and Alex Galchenyuk, edged past Sweden in Ufa, Russia.
Though the Americans had the territorial advantage for the better part of the first 20 minutes, Switzerland had chances to get on the board, but the 19-year-old Parsons stopped them all in the first.
Russia 4 Denmark 0
Kirill Kaprizov scored twice as Russia defeated Denmark 4-0 in the quarter-finals in Toronto.
Russia will face the United States in Wednesday’s semifinals at Montreal’s Bell Centre.
The Russians have medals at six consecutive world junior tournaments, but just one gold medal in that span (2011).
Kaprizov’s two goals saw the 19-year-old Minnesota Wild prospect pass Sweden’s Alex Nylander for the tournament lead in points (10) at the under-20 tournament.
Alexander Polunin and Pavel Karnaukhov had the other Russian goals while Washington Capitals prospect Ilya Samsonov turned aside 14 shots for his second shutout of the tournament. Philadelphia Flyers draft pick Mikhail Vorobyov had two assists in the win and now leads the tournament with eight assists.
Danish starter Lasse Petersen allowed two goals on nine shots in the first period and was relieved by Kasper Krog to start the second.
Sweden 8 Slovakia 3
Tim Soderlund and Joel Eriksson Ek each scored twice as Sweden defeated Slovakia in their quarter-final contest in Montreal.
Sweden will face Canada in semifinal action on Wednesday after the host nation defeated the Czech Republic 5-3 in their quarter-final match.
Carl Grundstrom, Alexander Nylander, Fredrik Karlstrom and Lias Andersson also scored as Sweden outshot Slovakia 50-18.
Goalie Felix Sandstrom made 15 saves for his fourth win of the tournament.