Team Canada rebounded from a tentative outing against Switzerland on Wednesday with a dominant 6-1 victory over Slovakia in a world junior pre-tournament contest at Save-On-Food Memorial Centre in Victoria on Friday.
Coach Tim Hunter said he was pleased with the composed effort of his team throughout the game, and he praised the calm performance of goaltender Ian Scott.
“It was good from start to finish,” said Hunter. “Ian Scott played really well and real calm in net. When he had to make a stop he made a stop.”
Scott stopped 23 shots while Cody Glass led Canada’s offence with a goal and two assists.
Scott, who plays for Prince Albert in the Western Hockey League, said he is a naturally calm person, a trait he credited to his mother Catherine.
Maxime Comtois, Jack Studnicka, Nick Suzuki, Ty Smith and Shane Bowers also scored for Team Canada, which notched its second consecutive exhibition victory ahead of the championship that starts Boxing Day. Canada downed Switzerland 5-3 on Wednesday.
Canada’s final pre-tournament game is Sunday in Vancouver against Finland.
Photos from the second period between #TeamCanada and #Slovakia in #victoria at the #worldjuniors @iihf_wjc @hockeycanada #yyj pic.twitter.com/oeYmbWAPjG
— Victoria News (@VictoriaNews) December 22, 2018
Patrik Hrehorcak ended Scott’s shutout bid with Slovakia’s lone goal in the third period.
Samuel Hlavaj made 39 saves in the loss.
Hunter said he has yet to decide who will start in goal Sunday, Scott or Michael DiPietro, who was in net against the Swiss.
DiPietro faced 17 shots Wednesday and said he started to feel comfortable in the third period.
Hunter said the two goalies may each play part of Sunday’s game.
“They both have to get used to playing in Vancouver, in front of that crowd, the building, the boards,” he said.
Glass, who also scored Wednesday, said the team played consistently and at high speed for the entirety of Friday’s game.
“I felt we managed the puck a lot better than Wednesday,” he said. “We were moving pucks quick and the defence did a great job of moving the puck up. It’s going to be a lot of fun with this team.”
Canada notched two power-play goals.
Defenceman Evan Bouchard, who assisted on Glass’ power-play maker, said Team Canada will be strong with the man advantage.
“Everyone out there is a threat and that’s what makes the power play most dangerous,” he said. “You can’t just cover one guy because all five guys on the ice have the ability to score.”
Canada opens the tournament against Denmark in Vancouver at Rogers Arena on Dec. 26.
Canada won the gold medal at last year’s championship in Buffalo.
Canada and the Slovaks traded third-period goals, with Smith scoring on a wrist shot from the point and Hrehorcak replying for Slovakia with five minutes left in the contest.
Glass’ power-play goal, with assists from Bouchard and Studnicka, was the only one of the second period.
The Canadians, who outshot the Slovaks 45-23, were threats to score throuhout the game, moving the puck effectively in the Slovak end.
Owen Tippett and Joe Veleno put on several slick stick-handling displays, eluding Slovak players and setting up scoring chances.
Canada dominated the first period, opening a 4-0 lead and outshooting the Slovaks 19-7.
Comtois continued to make his presence felt on the score sheet and all over the ice with several thunderous bodychecks.
Comtois, the only returning player from last year’s gold medal winning team, had two goals and two assists in Wednesday’s pre-tournament win over Switzerland.
Studnicka, who also scored Wednesday against the Swiss, scored on the power play Friday on a goalmouth scramble that hit his right skate and beat Hlavaj.
The game started at a furious pace with both teams making sustained end-to-end rushes without a whistle for the first seven minutes.
Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press
