Canada draws Finland at world juniors
Craig Hartsburg's Canadian junior squad will focus on Finland after ending the preliminary round of the world junior hockey championships Monday with an easy win over Denmark.
Kyle Turris of New Westminster, B.C., scored twice in the4-1 Canada win at Pardubice, Czech Republic.Shawn Matthias had a goal and assist, withJohn Tavares also scoring.
Steve Mason of Oakville, Ont., made 15 saves for his second win of the tournament. Mason enjoyed a shutout streak of more than five periods until Denmark scored midway through the third period.
Canada (3-1) will face Finland in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, with teams now eliminated after a loss. Russia will face the Czech Republic, with the United States and Sweden receiving byes to Friday's semifinals.
Craig Hartsburg will decide Tuesday whether it will be Mason or Jonathan Bernier who will start against the Finns.
"I don't think we can go wrong in whoever we pick," Hartsburg said. "There's going to be one disappointed one for sure."
The Americans and Swedes each went unbeaten in four games in the opening round. Canada dropped a 4-3 decisionto the Swedes on Saturday, the first loss in the tournament for a Canadian team in 21 games, dating back to the 2004 final.
"Certainly after a tough loss, you're not really sure what to expect, but our kids did a great job in a game that's hard to play," said Hartsburg. "It's a game that doesn't mean anything and our kids are used to playing games that mean something.
"They knew the importance to our team and did a great job. We wanted to have a game we could build on."
Danish goaltender Christian Moeller made39 saves and prevented Canada from blowing the game open, particularly in the second.
Denmark's coach, Calgary native Ken Babey, was proud of his team for hanging in with the powerful squad.
"For small Denmark, I thought we did a really good job in some respects," Babey said. "Danish ice hockey has a decision to make and they're going to have to get a national program together for these young guys that are in Denmark."
Canada went 2-for-9 on the power play against Denmark, and opened the scoring with a man advantage.
Matthias,a Detroit Red Wings prospect, backhanded a reboundfrom JoshGodfrey's slapshot into the net to at12:44 of the first period. Steve Stamkos assisted on the play, his fourth of the tournament.
Tavares scored his third of the tourney late in the period, set up by Matthias and Matt Halischuk.
Moller made consecutive saves on one of Canada's three power plays, snaring a Tavares shot with his glove.
Canada did manage to extend the leadwith the sides playing 4-on-4 midway through the middle frame, when Turris and Claude Girouxcombined on a give-and-go. Calgary native Thomas Hickey also assisted.
Canada got into penalty trouble midway through the third, taking successive penalties. Mason was finally beaten as Denmark converted on a 5-on-3 power play. Mikkel Boedker tapped in a rebound near the crease.
Turris replied later in the period on the power play, marking his second two-goal game of the tournament. Turris fired a wristshot from the left wing, taking a pass from Tavares.
Godfrey, of Kingston, Ont., notched his second assist on the play.
The tournamentsemifinals will take place on Friday, with the championship and bronze-medal games the following day.
"We're going to win the gold medal," Tavares declared. "We're going to play hard and do whatever it takes and trust me, we want to win."
Sweden stayed unbeaten on Monday with a 4-2 win over the Czechs. The Americans did likewise with a 5-3 win victory over Finland, while the Russians edged Switzerland 4-3.