Canada Avoids Swiss Comeback in Overtime

The final pre-tournament game of the World Juniors saw Canada and Switzerland play all the way to overtime, with Canada taking the 4-3 victory at the Air Canada Centre on Friday night.

Canada only needed 1:35 to beat Joren Van Pottelberghe for the 1-0 lead. Just after the puck was dropped on the power-play, Dillon Strome took a pass from Matt Barzal and fired a hard wrist shot between the legs of Van Pottelberghe for the ice-breaker early in the contest, just five seconds into the man advantage.

Canada didn’t wait that long for their second goal. At 3:40, Jake Bean’s shot from the point was blocked in front by Blake Speers. Fortunately for Canada, the puck bounced right out to Dillon Dube in front, who tapped in the shot in close to make it 2-0 Canada.

At the seven-minute mark, Canada scored once again. This time, NCAA defenseman Dante Fabbro, who was one of the biggest stars at the 2015 World Junior A Challenge in Cobourg, Ontario, took the puck at the left faceoff circle and skated back just inside the zone, firing a wrister past Van Pottelberghe for the 3-0 lead.

For the first time in three pre-tournament games this year, Canada allowed a goal against. Nico Hischier, considered to be the top draft prospect in the tournament, broke in with the puck after Dominik Diem sent it out and beat Carter Hart on the breakaway, putting Switzerland on the board.

Canadian fans were hoping Hischier’s goal would just end up being a fluke, but it wasn’t. At 13:31, Loic In Albon made a tremendous spin-deke to send the puck out to Hischier in the slot, who beat Hart blocker side to make it 3-2.

The third period started in a shocking fashion for Canada. At 1:20 in the first, In Albon sent the puck out to Dominik Diem in the high slot. Diem wouldn’t get stopped like he was on the breakaway in the first, firing a shot between Hart’s legs and in to tie it up 3-3 on a goal the Canadian net. To the surprise of most people, the tie wouldn't be broken after 60 minutes, forcing the game into a 3-on-3 overtime. With 1:42 left in overtime, after a bunch of great chances, Nicholas Roy picked up a rebound on the end boards and beat Van Pottelberghe, giving Canada the 4-3 victory on Friday.

With the win, Canada will turn their focus to the main tournament, with a 8:00 PM EST start against Russia at the Air Canada Centre.

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