Owen Tippett, the Florida Panthers first-rounder in 2017, scored Canada’s second and seventh goal in a 14-0 mauling of Denmark in opening day action from the 2019 World Junior Championship in Vancouver.
Tippett logged 13:43 of ice time and finished the tilt with a +2 rating and a game-high six shots (tied with teammate Maxime Comtois) on goal.
Canada will take on Switzerland, who lost 2-1 in overtime to the Czech Republic, tonight at 8 p.m.
Fellow 2017 draftee Aleksi Heponiemi didn’t figure in the scoring or register a shot on goal in Finland’s 2-1 loss to rival Sweden in Victoria.
Heponiemi played 22:22 of the game, which was the second-highest total among Finland’s forwards. He was not on the ice for either of Vegas Golden Knights prospect Erik Brannstrom’s power-play goals, finishing with an even rating.
The Finns get right back at it today with a match against Kazakhstan at 10:30 p.m.
Florida’s first round pick in 2018, Grigori Denisenko and Russia will open with Denmark today at 4 p.m. in Vancouver.
In the other game yesterday, the United States edged Slovakia 2-1 thanks to third period goals from Mikey Anderson and Evan Barratt. Potential number one pick in the 2019 draft, Jack Hughes set up Anderson’s marker and goaltender Kyle Keyser stopped 13 of 14 shots.
Wednesday’s Results
Czech Republic 2, Switzerland 1 (OT)
United States 2, Slovakia 1
Canada 14, Denmark 0
Sweden 2, Finland 1
Thursday’s games
Russia (Denisenko) vs. Denmark (4 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN)
Slovakia vs. Sweden (6:30 p.m. ET; TSN) (replay Dec. 28, 8 a.m. ET; NHLN)
Switzerland vs. Canada (Tippett) (8 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN)
Finland (Heponiemi) vs. Kazakhstan (10:30 p.m. ET, NHLN, TSN)
***
While the NHL returns to action tonight with a robust 13 games on tap, the Panthers will not play. The Cats face the Montreal Canadiens on Friday in a key game with serious wild card implications, at least for December. Florida will have an 11 a.m. practice this morning at the Florida Panthers IceDen