Led by Oliver Kapanen, who had a goal and an assist in the second period, Finland defeated Slovakia 5-2 in a preliminary round game at the World Junior Hockey Championship on Tuesday at Moncton.
• Read also: Junior hockey: Czech Republic surprises Canada
• Read also: Junior hockey: the Swiss cause surprise
The winners thus redeemed their 3-2 defeat in extra time suffered the day before at the hands of Switzerland.
Hope of the Montreal Canadiens, Kapanen was named player of the meeting for his people. He scored the game-winning goal eight minutes into the middle period when he pulled past a rival to round the net and stun goalkeeper Patrik Andrisik. Subsequently, the Habs’ second-round pick in the 2021 draft assisted on Jani Nyman’s goal.
Part of the Nashville Predators, Joakim Kemell also hit the mark in a winning cause, as did Brad Lambert and Sami Paivarinta. In front of the Finnish cage, Jani Lampinen repelled 22 pucks.
On the losing side, Peter Repcik scored twice. Another hockey player from the Habs organization, Filip Mesar, was in action. However, the Slovak was kept in check. Andrisik and Matej Marinov faced 23 shots.
Sweden win goalkeeper duel
CH prospect Adam Engstrom was the lone scorer in a resolutely defensive game that saw Sweden beat Germany 1-0 in Halifax.
The day after an 11-0 massacre at the expense of the Austrians, the Swedes this time struggled to find the back of the net. It is not for lack of having tried, however: the young Nikita Quapp stood up like a wall in front of 43 of the 44 opposing attempts.
Only Engstrom, third-round selection of the Habs in the last draft, was able to deceive his vigilance. With 22 seconds left in the first period, his snappy wrist shot from the blue line surprised Quapp, and the puck slowly made its way into the German net.
The German porter, hope of the Carolina Hurricanes, has never let his guard down against the powerful Swedish strike force. He closed the door on four massive attacks and even prevented the talented Fabian Lysell from doubling his lead on a penalty shot in the second period.
Casually, in the shadow of his vis-à-vis, the Swedish masked man Carl Lindbom signed a second consecutive shutout. He made 28 parries in the victory and still hasn’t flinched in 120 minutes of play and 41 attempts.
Germany will only be entitled to 24 hours of rest before crossing swords with Canada. Sweden, meanwhile, will return to action on Thursday against Czechia.