Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced during the first intermission of his teams game against the Buffalo Sabres that the Bruins will make David Pastrnak available to the checks once the NHL roster freeze ends on December 28.
“We are going to make him available to them at that particular time, unless we have injuries that would dictate otherwise,” said the Bruins GM.
“David’s played two games since being out for seven weeks. Obviously the injury took longer and it was in his best interest to make sure he was fully healthy. “He is fully healthy and now we need to get him back to where he would impact our lineup,” Sweeney added.
He continued “If indeed he does join the [Czech] team on the 28th over in Finland, we think that based on last year, his experience there in the tournament, the confidence that he had, that he’ll come back to the full level that he really had gotten to last year, impacting our lineup,”
This will be Pastrnak’s third World Junior Championships.
It was once again an emotional game as the two rivals battled for bragging rights in North America.
The two teams battled a defensive first period almost to perfection as the two sides combined for just 9 shots – 5-4 in favor of Canada – in the opening frame.
The American’s had the first opportunity if the game when Dylan Strome was called for slashing Louis Belpedio just 1:34 into the game but couldn’t capitalize.
Canada’s best opportunity came off a Brendan Perlini shot. American goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic slid across his crease and while going down on his belly brought his blocker up and made a “blind save” in behind him with the back of his blocker. Perlini, thinking he had scored raised his arms in the air.
With 2:40 remaining in the period, Travis Konecny threw a check on Alex DeBrincat in front of the Canadian bench. DeBrincat responded with a spear to Konecny’s mid section and was assessed a 5 minute major and a game misconduct. Under IIHF rules, a spear that makes contact is an automatic major, while an attempted spear (that misses) is an automatic minor.
The Canadians could not capitalize in the first half of the powerplay and credit to the Americans who kept the Canadians mostly to the outside.
The second period opened up with the major to DeBrincat having 2:20 remaining and it was not to be for the Canadians – and it would cost them in the long run.
Canada opened the scoring at the 5:06 mark of the period. Julien Gauthier blocked a shot and had a two on one break with Rourke Chartier. Gauthier sent a pass over to Chartier who could not convert. Gauthier got the puck back and on one knee sent a perfect pass to the oncoming Matthew Barzal who made no mistake.
The Americans would tie it at 16:33 off of a faceoff. A Sonny Milano shot went off the end boards and came out the other side right to Colin White who tied the game at 1. The shots were also even with 10 shots each in the period.
In the third, the Americans would capitalize on the powerplay when Zach Werenski fired a perfectly places shot passed a screened Mason MacDonald at 7:22 of the period.
Just 2:13 later, Werenski took a slashing penalty (call it a make up call) and the Canadians made him pay when Strome fired a perfect shot of his own.
Belpedio fired the winner with 3:18 remaining. Belpedio’s shot went off Canadian defender Joe Hicketts’ stick and under MacDonald’s glove.
Auston Mathews would seal the deal as he knocked home a loose puck behind MacDonald.
Leaf fans and fans of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, are holding their collective breath’s as they await the verdict on William Nylander’s injury.
It appeared from the get-go that the Swiss wanted to play a physical and intimidating game but they seemed to forget that there was a hockey game to be played.
For the Swiss, both defenceman Fabian Heldner and forward Chris Egli were both penalized in the first period for hits to the head (Egli on Nylander and Heldner on Adrian Kempe). Supplemental discipline is almost a given to both at this point.
Following the game Swedish coach Rikard Gronborg accused the Swiss of head-hunting. Swiss captain Timo Meier responded, “We wanted to play physical. Obviously those two hits that happened weren’t on purpose.”
Dmytro Timashov led the way for the Swedes with two goals, while William Nylander, Oscar Lindblom, Rasmus Asplund, Jakob Forbacka Karlsson, Jacob Larsson, and Adam Ollas Mattsson had a goal apiece. Alexander Nylander contributed three assists.
Already missing two top defencemen in Sebastian Aho and Gustav Forsling, losing Nylander for any length of time would be a huge blow for Tre Kronor.
Tino Kessler scored twice and Noah Rod had the other goal for Switzerland. Linus Soderstrom picked up the victory for the Swedes.
Brown played his Midget hockey for the Indiana Jr Ice. During the 2013-2014 season he scored 19 goals and added 12 assists in 19 games. Last season was his rookie season in the Ontario Hockey League and he didn’t disappoint. He played in 56 games for the Spitfires and scored 17 goals while assisting on 26 others. His 43 points were good enough for 5th in rookie scoring but his points per game were second only to Alex DeBrincat of the Erie Otters.
Logan Brown of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
While I’m not one to make comparisons, there are those that find similarities to Joe Thornton and Ryan Getzlaf.
The size. Oh that size. At 6’6” and 218 pounds, that alone has to focus your attention on Brown. The NHL is transitioning to smaller, faster skilled players, but scouts will find it difficult to ignore a player with Brown’s massive size, vision, playmaking abilities and soft hands.
Brown’s skating is very good. He is deceptively quick and agile for a player of his size, especially with the puck on his stick. He is extremely strong on his skates and virtually impossible to knock him off of the puck. Combine his skating and his strength, he can hold onto the puck for what seems like an eternity, allowing teammates to get open and into position.
Brown’s vision and playmaking abilities can now take over. After buying his mates time, he sees the ice so well he knows where everyone is. He can find the seams with relative ease, but he can also make a pass through legs and sticks that few could see.
Brown is not just a playmaker. He possesses a powerful shot with deadly accuracy and velocity. With his size and strength he could be a fixture in front of the opposition net that few defenders could handle. His defensive awareness is also very good.
Rating players on potential and how they eventually pan out requires a crystal ball, and last time I checked, none of the 30 NHL teams have purchased one. That said, most players have their warts and Brown isn’t immune to that.
There are those that point to Brown’s exclusion from Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial as a warning. Not so in my opinion. You cannot put that much stock into a tournament held in August, whether a player makes the squad or not.
I won’t argue with those that believe he needs to play with more consistency or that sometimes he looks “lazy” out there. There are times that he won’t pursue the puck when dumped and use his big body and consider that a knock on him. Personally, I think that he reads the game so well, and sees the plays developing before they actually do, that he knows when it’s safe to attack and when the best option is to think defence first.
Of course, not everyone can be right. The book on Brown is still wide open.
Because the International Ice Hockey Federations (IIHF) uses a 3,2,1 point system (3 points for a regulation win, 2 points for overtime/shootout win and 1 point for a overtime/shootout loss) this result could have major consequences in the standings.
It was kind of a boring, feeling out first period where the teams managed just 6 shots apiece. For the most part, the Czech’s held the advantage in puck possession time but were unable to capitalize.
The Russians had the best opportunity in the first when Jakub Zboril was called for a match penalty for boarding – a weak call that should not see supplemental discipline. But the opportunity went wayside as Sergei Boikov broke his stick on a shot from the point and as he chased down the Czech’s going up ice and taking a holding penalty.
The period would end scoreless.
Michael Spacek would get the checks on the board in the second when he ripped a shot passed Russian goaltender Alexander Georgiev. Sadly for Czech fans, the goal was called back as David Kase was called for a crease violation.
Spacek would get another opportunity a minute later as he was sent in alone on Georgiev. But a hard slash by Russian defender Alexander Mikulovich caused him to miss the net and was awarded a penalty shot. Spacek moved in on Georgiev, moved to his right and showed tremendous patience waiting for the goaltender and roofed the puck to give the Czechs the lead.
The Czech’s would take that lead to the dressing room having outshot the Russians 17 to 12 through two frames.
The Czechs seemed to take the foot off the peddle in the third as the Russians came on and held the advantage in possession. Midway through the third, Radel Fazleyev kept the puck in at the blue line and moved towards the Czech net. He threw the puck in front of the goal where a couple of Russians banged away before Artur Lauta banged it home to tie the game.
The score would remain even at the end of regulation as did the shots at 22 apiece.
The Czechs held a small advantage in overtime outshooting the Russians 3 – 0 but it solved nothing and the two teams would head to a shootout.
Maxim Lazarev would shoot first for Russia. As he moved in on Czech goaltender Vitek Vanecek he made a subtle move to get Vanecek to open up the 5 hole and slid the puck in for the only goal of the shootout and the Russian victory.
As for the Czechs, they either know something we don’t are are just hoping for help for the team that could struggle to score goals. They’ve left a roster spot open and are hoping – or know – help is on the way as the NHL’s Boston Bruins consider loaning David Pastrnak to the squad once the NHL roster freeze is lifted on December 28.
Pastrnak has missed 7 weeks of NHL action with a broken foot but has played in 2 AHL games since. If he’s in any kind f decent shape, he bolster the Czech offense.
Goaltenders:
Gauthier Descloux, Genève-Servette
Joren van Pottelberghe, Linköpings HC (SWE)
Ludovic Waeber, Fribourg-Gottéron
Defencemen:
Marco Forrer, EV Zug
Andrea Glauser, Fribourg-Gottéron
Edson Harlacher, Kloten Flyers
Fabian Heldner, HC Davos
Roger Karrer, GCK Lions Zurich
Simon Kindschi, HC Davos
Jonas Siegenthaler, ZSC Lions Zurich
Forwards:
Chris Egli, HC Davos
Nico Hischier, SC Bern
Auguste Impose, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Tino Kessler, HC Davos
Denis Malgin, ZSC Lions Zurich
Timo Meier, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Dario Meyer, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Julien Privet, SC Bern
Damien Riat, Geneva-Servette
Noah Rod, Geneva-Servette
Kris Schmidli, GCK Lions Zurich
Pius Suter, ZSC Lions Zurich
Calvin Thürkauf, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Goaltenders:
Ales Stezka, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
Vitek Vanecek, South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL)
Daniel Vladar, Chicago Steel (USHL)
Defencemen:
Filip Hronek, Hradec Kralove Dominik Masin, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Ondrej Miklis, Sparta Prague
Alex Rasner, HC Olomouc
Jan Scotka, Dynamo Pardubice
David Sklenicka, Skoda Plzen
Jakub Zboril, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Forwards:
Filip Chlapik, Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)
David Kase, Pirati Chomutov
Dominik Lakatos, Bili Tygri Liberec
Jan Ordos, Bili Tygri Liberec
Jiri Smejkal, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Tomas Soustal, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Michael Spacek, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Simon Stransky, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
David Tomasek, Dynamo Pardubice
Radek Vesely, Pirati Chomutov
Daniel Vozenilek, Dynamo Pardubice Pavel Zacha, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
David Hrenak, Dukla Trencin (SVK)
Adam Huska, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Stanislav Skorvanek, MsHKM Zilina (SVK)
Defencemen: Erik Cernak, Erie Otters (OHL)
Christian Jaros, Lulea HF (SWE)
Patrik Koch, Slovakia U20 (SVK)
Patrik Maier, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Matej Moravcik, MHk 32 Liptovsky Mikulas (SVK)
Ladislav Romancik, Sodertalje SK (SWE)
Adrian Sloboda, HK 36 Skalica (SVK)
Forwards:
Radovan Bondra, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Dominik Briestensky, Dukla Trencin (SVK)
Lukas Hrusik, MsHKM Zilina (SVK)
Jozef Huna, HC Benatky nad Jizerou (CZE)
Filip Lestan, HV71 Jonkoping (SWE)
Juraj Mily, PHK Presov (SVK)
Matej Palocko, Bili Tygri Liberec (CZE)
Kristian Pospisil, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
Boris Sadecky, Dukla Trencin (SVK)
Juraj Siska, HC Nitra (SVK)
Matus Sukel, MHk 32 Liptovsky Mikulas (SVK)
Maros Surovy, HC ‘05 Banská Bystrica (SVK)
OHL Writers 