Canada 7 Czech Republic 2
BUFFALO, N.Y. — It was a big game for Brayden Schenn but a nasty and possibly costly night overall as Canada trounced the Czech Republic, losing three players along the way
Schenn scored a goal and assisted on four more and team captain Ryan Ellis had a goal and three helpers as Canada won 7-2 before a chanting red-and-white clad throng of 17,919 for their second straight victory at the world junior hockey championship on Tuesday night.
Jaden Schwartz, one of Canada’s best wingers, and defenceman Calvin de Haan, did not finish the game due to injuries, while rugged Zack Kassian earned an ejection and at least a one-game suspension for a vicious open-ice hit that sent Czech forward Petr Senkerik off on a stretcher.
The Czechs also had forward Martin Frk ejected for spearing Erik Gudbranson and even goaltender Filip Novotny took a penalty for an ugly slash to Marcus Foligno’s ankle.
”Toward the end, the game got a little chippy,” was Canadian winger Louis Leblanc’s understatement. ”I guess they got frustrated.
”We were rolling four lines, finishing our hits like we want to do every game. It’s unfortunate, but it’s part of the game.”
Leblanc, Schwartz, Cody Eakin, Tyson Barrie and Jared Cowen also scored for Canada, which outshot the Czechs 39-19.
Antonin Honejsek scored on the first shot on Olivier Roy, who was sharp the rest of the way. Captain Jacob Jerabek added a late power-play goal for the Czechs (1-1).
Coach Dave Cameron gave no updates on the injuries to Schwartz or de Haan or any word on whether they will be able to play Wednesday night against Norway or their final round robin game Friday against Sweden.
Kassian, who lined up Senkerik as he crossed through the neutral zone with his head down and nailed him with a shoulder to the chest and jaw, was given a five-minute match penalty for a hit to the head, which will be reviewed for further discipline by supervisor of officials Dan Marouelli.
”I’m not too worried,” said Kassian, a Windsor Spitfire and a Buffalo Sabres prospect who was suspended 20 games by the OHL last season for a hit on Matt McKinley of the Barrie Colts. ”My main concern is the player.
”I’ve heard he’s fine. Now it’s out of my hands. Hopefully I can just move on after this.”
Czech assistant coach Jiri Fischer said Senkerik was communicating. He was to go to hospital after the game for further evaluation.
A hush went through the crowd as 19-year-old Senkerik lay on the ice for several minutes, but he looked to be moving as he was wheeled off.
“Petr is awake so we’re happy for that,” said Fischer. “It was a scary moment.”
Canada led 2-1 when Kassian went off and may have clinched the game when Roy made a huge save during the Czech power play before Schenn got the puck out and fed Leblanc for a goal on a short-handed 2-on-1 at 9:20 of the second frame.
”That shorty was a turning point for us,” said Leblanc.
The Kassian hit came fewer than three minutes after de Haan left apparently favouring his left leg after a clean hit into the boards by Michal Hlinka. Schwartz left later in the game with an unknown ailment.
Canada came into the tournament with its second-biggest team ever and taking the body has been key to a team short on slick playmakers.
Another strength is their power play.
After going 3-for-5 on the power play in a tournament-opening 6-3 win over Russia on Sunday, the Canadians were 4-for-7.
And while Roy has allowed one bad goal in each game, he has rebounded both times with strong play. Mark Visentin is expected to start against Norway.
As in the game against Russia, Canada surrendered the first goal as Honejsek took the puck from Ellis in the neutral zone and fired a wrist shot to the far post that fooled Roy only 49 seconds in.
”It was just a good shot by him,” said Roy. ”I was a little too aggressive on my blocker side and he took advantage of that, so that’s something I need to work on.”
And also like the last game, Canada tied it on a power play as Ryan Johansen fed Schenn on the left side for a shot over Novotny’s glove at 14:43. Less than two minutes later, Ellis sent Schwartz in on the left side for the go-ahead goal.
After Leblanc scored, Ellis got one at 13:09 and Eakin roofed a goal in from close range with 17 seconds left in the period. Barrie and Cowen scored on 5-on-3 advantages in the third.
Novotny got the start ahead of Marek Mazanec, who had a 21-save shutout in a 2-0 win over Norway on Monday.
The Czechs have never beaten Canada as a full Czech team at the world junior tournament and are 0-11-2 since a combined Czech/Slovak squad beat Canada 7-4 in 1993. Canada has outscored them 61-20 in those games.
In another game, Joni Ortio made 15 saves for the shutout as Finland downed Switzerland 4-0, leaving both teams with 1-1 records.