The top highlights from Day 3 at the World Juniors
Canada unleashed their firepower against Slovakia to remain undefeated after two games at the World Juniors.
The Canadian squad continued their strong play at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championships by winning a lopsided 11-1 game versus the Slovaks on Thursday, with Mason McTavish (Anaheim Ducks) leading the charge, registering six points (four goals, two assists) on the night. McTavish joins the likes of Mario Lemieux (1983), Simon Gagne (1999), Brayden Schenn (2010) and fellow teammate Connor Bedard as the only Canadian players to net four goals in one game at the World Juniors.
Finland also continued their undefeated status with a 4-3 win over Team Czechia on Day 3, but needed a shootout to determine the outcome. Jan Mysak (Montreal Canadiens) and Jiri Kulich (Buffalo Sabres) the Czechs both had solid games with one goal and one assist a piece — but when the game went into shootout, it was Kasper Simontaival (Los Angeles Kings) of Finland who had a cheeky goal to end it.
Team USA also continued its winning ways with a 7-1 win over Switzerland, powered by three points (two goals, one assist) from Carter Mazur, selected in the third round (No. 70) of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. Luke Hughes (New Jersey Devils) had three helpers in the affair.
Here’s a look at the plays that captivated FCHockey scouts from Day 3 at the World Juniors:
Roni Hirvonen – Finland
Roni Hirvonen showed some smarts the whole way around on this play, knocking down a high rim from fellow Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Topi Niemela before slipping a backhand into the low slot for Aatu Raty (New York Islanders) to hammer home behind Jan Bednar (Detroit Red Wings). The goal came at a critical time, too, breaking a tie midway through the third period.
“Hirvonen continues to impress with his playmaking,” FCHockey scout Rasmus Tornqvist said. “Great poise to draw the defending player closer to him and wait for Raty to be in the right position. Good finish by Raty too, perfectly placed shot just above the pad.”
Aatu Raty breaks the tie in the 3rd! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/BkFNyTuqmB
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2022
MACKIE SAMOSKEVICH – TEAM USA
Mazur opened the scoring for Team USA against Switzerland on Wednesday’s action at the World Juniors, but it might’ve been Mackie Samoskevich (Florida Panthers) who gets the most credit for the connection. Samoskevich tossed a no-look backhand pass from behind the net and into the slot to Mazur, who corralled a slick feed before firing a low shot into the net.
Beauty pick up from Carter Mazur on the #powerplay gives @usahockey the first goal of the game! pic.twitter.com/dTKGVnTNJs
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 12, 2022
MASON McTAVISH – CANADA
Does four goals in a single game count as a highlight? McTavish would think so. His four goals and two assists helped propel the Canadian side against Team Slovakia in a decisive 11-1 victory. The Anaheim Duck prospect showed why he is one of the best power forwards at the tournament with some nice hands in close and a wicked shot that was on display with his fourth goal where he corralled a pass in the slot, then released a hard and accurate shot to beat Simon Latkoczy high, stick side.
🚨 MASON MCTAVISH ties the @HockeyCanada record for most goals in 1 game at the #WorldJuniors! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/zJ129owWfy
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 12, 2022
KASPER SIMONTAIVAL – FINLAND
Simontaival may not have scored a goal during regular play, but he definitely did not disappoint when the game needed to be determined by a shootout. The third round pick (No. 66) of the Kings in 2020 slowed down when he approached the net and faked the shot glove side, where Bednar committed, and Simontaival made a spectacular move to his backhand and roof it for the goal. A nice display of hands by the young Finn for sure.
“Slick move by Simontaival,” Tornqvist said. “He opens up the forehand just enough for the goalie to bite, and is able to slide it past the pad and right by the post.”
FInland @leijonat is unbeaten through two games at the 2022 #WorldJuniors, edging Czechia 4-3 thanks to a shootout goal from Kasper Simontaival. pic.twitter.com/y0WCSdEqwJ
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 11, 2022
DAY 1: THE TOP HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 1 AT THE WORLD JUNIORS
DAY 2: THE TOP HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 2 AT THE WORLD JUNIORS
Day 3: THE TOP HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 3 AT THE WORLD JUNIORS