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2013 / 2014 World Junior Championship

Derrico

By Derrico
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26CornerBlitz First Liner

26CornerBlitz

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News: 2014 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP DAY 2

 

By Kris Baker - SabresProspects.com

 

Rasmus Ristolainen returned to action as Finland downed Norway 5-1

 

Rasmus Ristolainen returned to work Friday, logging three shots on goal and an even rating as Finland kicked off the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship with a 5-1 victory over Norway. Saku Mäenalanen (NSH) paced the Finnish offense, scoring twice and adding an assist to earn the club’s player of the game honor.

 

Thankful for the NHL experience gained but excited to represent Finland alongside his junior-aged peers, Ristolainen was smooth and confident in his execution on the Finnish blue line while paired with former TPS Turku teammate Mikko Lehtonen. The right-hander showed poise in transition, smarts in front of his net, and was strong on both the power play and penalty killing units. The steady performance was encouraging given how it was Ristolainen’s first game action since suffering an upper body injury Nov. 29 while playing with the AHL’s Rochester Americans.

 

FINLAND/NORWAY GAME SUMMARY

 

Ristolainen, whose only hiccup came when he was beat to a corner puck on the lone Norwegian goal, will look to build upon the performance when Finland renews their rivalry with host Sweden on Saturday. Norway, who falls to 0-2 in the tournament, will get a day off before battling the Swedes on Sunday.

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26CornerBlitz First Liner

26CornerBlitz

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News: WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP DAY 3

 

Ristolainen and Grigorenko each score goals; Canada stunned by Czechs

 

By Kris Baker - SabresProspects.com

 

Rasmus Ristolainen scored his first goal of the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship on Saturday, but Finland was unable to overcome a brilliant effort by Sweden en route to suffering a 4-2 defeat.

 

With the teams deadlocked 1-1 at the first intermission, Ristolainen and the Finns endured a bumpy ride for the entire middle frame as Sweden dominated the play in all three zones of the ice.

Ristolainen, who earlier in the period took a delay of game penalty to put the Finns down two men, couldn't chip a puck out from deep in his zone to allow the Swedes to capitalize with an Andreas Johnson (TOR) tally in the 34th minute to take a 2-1 lead.

 

After Sweden went ahead 3-1 at the end of two periods, Ristolainen gave Finland a boost in the early stages of the third when he filled a lane and followed up on his initial shot attempt to make it a one-goal game. Instincts allowed Ristolainen to jump into the four-on-four play, and athleticism allowed him to leap over a sprawling defender and bury the second chance for the highlight reel goal.

 

The 19-year-old defender logged major minutes in the defeat, rounding out his effort with a minus-one rating and four shots on goal. Finland gets back to work Monday when they take on Russia.

 

FINLAND/SWEDEN GAME SUMMARY

 

Russia will enter their meeting with the Finns looking to remaining undefeated in pool play after capturing their second win in as many tries.

 

Mikhail Grigorenko scored his second goal of the tournament, and Nikita Zadorov pocketed one official assist as the Russians smoked Switzerland 7-1.

 

Grigorenko was all over the ice in the Russian triumph, displaying his hands and vision on several occasions en route to firing a total of four shots on goal. He finally connected midway through the third period when he parked at the side of the crease on the power play and buried a Pavel Buchnevich (NYR) feed for the final Russian marker of the evening. Through two games, Grigorenko has four points (2+2) while winning 18 of 32 faceoffs.

 

Zadorov, who earned a secondary helper on Grigorenko’s tally, continued to impress on the back end with his long reach and crisp passing out of the zone. The towering defender was initially credited with the second Russian goal when he adjusted to a pass at his feet and fired a shot through traffic that ended up in the back of the Swiss net. The goal was later given to defensive partner Andrei Mironov while Zadorov’s work was left off the official score sheet. Still, Zadorov three points (2+1) are tied with USA’s Will Butcher (COL) for tops among tourney defenders through two games.

 

RUSSIA/SWITZERLAND GAME SUMMARY

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WildCard Hall of Famer

WildCard

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I come here for a mix of the conversation and the info, and neither are ever any better than on here when it comes to the Sabres.

 

26CB: You take the cake in making the info available, love coming in after a long night in the hockey world and finding nice, summaries of the prospects, coaching reports, line-combos, etc. Bottom line, it's nice to come somewhere where I can get good, concise info about exactly what I need. Thanks

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26CornerBlitz First Liner

26CornerBlitz

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Kudos #26. Your posts have been enlightening.

Thanks Man. :thumbsup:

 

26CornerBlitz for poster of the year.

Wanted? :lol: Seriously, Thanks for the kind sentiment.

 

I come here for a mix of the conversation and the info, and neither are ever any better than on here when it comes to the Sabres.

 

26CB: You take the cake in making the info available, love coming in after a long night in the hockey world and finding nice, summaries of the prospects, coaching reports, line-combos, etc. Bottom line, it's nice to come somewhere where I can get good, concise info about exactly what I need. Thanks

Thank You very much for the acknowledgement. I enjoy making a contribution to such a great place.

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26CornerBlitz First Liner

26CornerBlitz

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2014 WJC Video: Rasmus Ristolainen, Finland

 

Finland began the 2014 World Junior Championship tournament with a solid win over Norwayon Friday, defeating that country 5-1. But their usual nemesis, Sweden, defeated Finland on the third day of the tournament, taking a 4-2 decision from the Finns.

 

The Finns are icing a more inexperienced squad at this year's WJC than was the case last year in Russia, but there is still a few players from last year's club competing at this tournament in Malmo, Sweden. One of those returning players is defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, a Buffalo Sabres prospect who is currently on loan to Finland from the AHL's Rochester Americans.

 

Ristolainen is appearing in his third U-20 WJC, and he comes to this year's tourney with some professional experience under his belt. The Turku native suited up with the Sabres for 19 games, notching his first (and only to this point) NHL goal during that stint. After the organizational shake-up in Buffalo, Ristolainen was sent down to the Americans, where he has scored two goals and added two assists in five games.

 

The 6'3”, 207-pound Ristolainen has picked up one point so far in this tournament, a goal against arch-rival Sweden.

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26CornerBlitz

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News: WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP DAY 4

 

By Kris Baker - SabresProspects.com

 

Day four of the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship saw two well-oiled machines post blowout victories on the eve of tougher tests for each.

 

In the day’s early game, the United States continued their mastery with the man advantage en route to getting points from 14 different players in an 8-0 drubbing of Germany.

 

USA/GERMANY GAME SUMMARY

 

 

After Hudson Fasching (LAK) opened the scoring with an even-strength marker at 8:09 of the first period, the Americans rang up six straight power play goals to put the game away. Nicolas Kerdiles (ANA), Will Butcher (COL), Vince Hinostroza (CHI), Riley Barber (WSH), Matt Grzelcyk (BOS) and Steven Santini (NJD) all connected with German skaters in the penalty box, giving the defending gold medalists a tournament-best 11 power play goals on 18 opportunities (61%) through the first three games.

 

Hinostroza capped the scoring with his second of the game and third of the tournament with 6:14 to play in the third period. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz (PHI) saw his first action of the week, stopping all 15 shots sent his way to earn the shutout.

 

Top 2014 draft prospect Leon Draisaitl continued to have a tough time in a German sweater. The big-bodied forward was sent to the dressing room with a game misconduct just 10 seconds into the middle frame after getting whistled for a checking from behind penalty. Through three tourney tilts, the 51-point scorer in the WHL has recorded just two assists.

 

The lopsided victory puts undefeated Team USA in firm control of Pool A heading into their New Year’s Eve matchup with rival Canada (11:30 a.m. ET, NHL Network, NHL.com). The Canadians, who feature 19 NHL draft picks and three others expected to go very high in 2014 and 2015, could be hungry after suffering a shootout loss to the Czech Republic on Saturday. Before the Tuesday showdown with the Americans, Canada must first deal with Slovakia on Monday.

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FolignosJock Third Liner

FolignosJock

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Reinhardt looks special out there. Doesnt really wow me in any sense but does everything right. Mcdavid has looked really special all tournament. Really uses his body well to shield the puck and is easily the best passer in the tournament. The canadians have had a real problem finsihing. Mcdavid set up about 4 point blank chances in front including one where he skated around his man and while on his back hand right in front he passed to a wide open man in the slot who blew it. I have liked Ekblads offensive game a lot but he hasnt been noticeable on the defensive end. Not that that is a bad thing but I would want to see more out of him. Reinhardt to me seems very Druryish. Would love to have him on this team especially if we get Callahan. It would definitely make for the hardest team in hockey to come back and we would be very very hard to play against.

 

McDavid would put us over the top. Make us a force to be reckoned with especially if even 1/3rd of the guys in the pipeline work out.

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