The 2022 World Juniors started off with some explosive games, but largely expected results with most of the favored teams finding a way to get in the win column.
Matthew Knies, Mackie Samoskevich, and Landon Slaggert scored as the United States beat Slovakia 3-2 in both nations' first preliminary-round game at the World Junior Championship on Sunday.Knies and Samoskevich tallied in the first period, and Slaggert added another in the second.Slovakia ralled in the final frame. Martin Chromiak tallied early in the third, and Dalibor Dvorsky thought he'd added one later in the final frame, but the latter marker was disallowed due to a high stick. Chromiak then scored again with under three minutes to go.The U.S. outshot Slovakia 42-25 - including a 23-2 margin in the second period - as Slovakian goaltender Simon Latkoczy made 39 saves. American netminder Drew Commesso turned aside 23 shots for the win.USA's next game is against Switzerland on Tuesday, while Slovakia gets right back at it against Sweden on Monday.Got the dub! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/9ACphY5OvO USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 27, 2021
The 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship will go in Red Deer and Edmonton this season and is set for its traditional Boxing Day start. Here's a look at each team's strength, weakness and X-Factor for the tournament.
Fargo, ND, USA / 740 The FAN
May 15, 2021 | 5:33 AM
GENEVA, ILLINOIS (Chicago Steel) The Chicago Steel were held without a goal for the first time since April 6, 2018 as the Fargo Force took a 3-0 victory in Game 1 of the best-of-five Clark Cup Final at Fox Valley Ice Arena on Friday night.
Force netminder Andrew Miller posted his second consecutive shutout in the postseason, a 20-save performance, as Kyle Smolen, Jack Peart and Aaron Huglen tallied goals for Fargo.
Despite 23 saves from Chicago netminder Simon Latkoczy, the Steel were held off the scoreboard as the loss snapped a 12-game Steel win streak dating back to the regular season.
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Mario Zimmerman scored a power-play goal four minutes into overtime, lifting Germany to a 4-3 win over Slovakia on Monday night in the world junior hockey championships.
Tim Stutzle scored twice and the Ottawa Senators’ prospect helped set up Zimmerman’s goal that gave Germany its first win in the tournament.
Florian Elias also scored for Germany and Simon Gnyp had three assists.
Michal Mrazik had two goals for Slovakia, and Oleksiy Mykluka also scored.
Despite dressing just five defensemen and nine forwards, Germany finished with a 32-25 edge on shots.
It’s been a difficult tournament for Germany. Nine players tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Edmonton, preventing the team from running a real practice until Christmas Day and leaving the squad short-handed for preliminary round games.