Canada will play for the bronze medal

Vincent Larue
Canada will play for the bronze medal
Credit: screenshot

Canada faced the Czech Republic in the semifinals of the World Junior Championship. Last year, the Czech Republic eliminated ÉCJ in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

No changes for the Canadiens. Canada's coach has put his faith in goalkeeper Jack Ivankovic for a second straight game.

Here is the ÉCJ line-up:

Here's the Czech lineup with Michal Orsulak in front of the net:

The first period was hotly contested. Canada was the first to open the scoring late in the period. With minutes to go, ÉCJ took advantage of a power play to beat the Czech goalie.

Tij Iginla accepted Michael Misa's pass before depositing it into an open net.

Bad news for ÉCJ, as Brady Martin was the victim of a solid body check and will leave the game afterwards.

Unfortunately for Canadiens fans, the Czech Republic equalized less than two minutes later.

Maxmilian Curran took advantage of a defensive blunder to slip the puck past the Canadiens goalie.

After 20 minutes of play, it was tied 1-1.

In the opening moments of the second period, the pressure exerted by the Czechs in the offensive zone created confusion for the Canadiens' defense.

Adam Titlbach took advantage of this to give his team the lead for the first time in the game. Titlbach found himself alone in the slot and unleashed a perfect shot into the top corner.

Canada took advantage of a two-man power play to bring everyone back to square one.

Defenseman Zayne Parekh took advantage of confusion in front of the net, following a beautiful passing sequence, to beat the opposing goalie.

Honorable mention to the Czech goalkeeper, who made several spectacular saves before allowing the goal.

Michael Hage was fortunate to have not one, but two penalty shots. On the first, he was hooked by the goalie, which gave him a second shot.

Hage tried the same deke twice, but with the same result. No goal for the Canadiens' prospect.

With less than a minute to go in the second period, Czech forward Adam Benak gave his team back the lead.

He unleashed a powerful shot on a 2-on-1 breakaway.

After the second period, the score was 3-2 in favor of the Czech Republic.

In the third period, Canada came from behind again to tie the game.

Cole Reschny made quite a play, thwarting the goalie as he cut in front of the net. All he had to do was drop the puck into an open net.

Moments later, the Czech Republic regained the lead for the third time in the game.

Vojtech Cihar broke through the Canadiens' defense before foiling the goalie by sending the puck into the top corner.

With less than three minutes to go, captain Porter Martone lifted the crowd with a goal. He collected a return in front of the net before putting the puck in the back of the net.

The Czechs take advantage of a lucky skate to regain the lead. Tomas Polotin saw the puck hit his skate before seeing it cross the goal line.

Cihar gave away the insurance goal in an empty net.

Final score: 6-4 in favor of the Czech Republic

Canada will face Finland for bronze on Monday.


overtime

– The loss of Brady Martin at the end of the first period was a major blow to the Canadiens, who were down a forward for the rest of the game.

– Good offensive game for Michael Hage. It was also bad luck for him. He hit the post three times and missed two penalty shots. However, Hage was complicit in both his team's second and third goals.

– The Czech Republic will face Sweden in the WJC final. Sweden won 4-3 in a shootout against Finland. Anton Frondell gave his team the victory.

A more difficult match for québécois Caleb Desnoyers, who was unable to get his name on the scoresheet.

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