Czech forward Juri Kulich gave his team a 2-1 overtime win over Sweden in the first semifinal of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Halifax on Wednesday.
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The 2022 CH draft favorite Buffalo Sabers rushed into the net at pace, countering two defenders and finishing the job with a good shot that went over the top of the opposing goaltender. Kulich therefore sent his team through to the finals, enabling his country to snag a first medal since 2005 and reach a first final since winning two golds in 2000 and 2001.
The Czechs, trailing 1-0, stepped up their attacks on the net and dominated 14-3 in the third period to try to come from behind.
Czech head coach Radim Rulik gave it his all, getting the keeper out with more than two minutes remaining. Ultimately, it was Columbus Blue Jackets’ David Jiricek who forced overtime with 38 seconds remaining. He fired a powerful shot that slid into the bottom of the net. The Swedish goalkeeper Carl Lindblom could not intervene in time.
The latter, who was one of the best goalies in the tournament, was quietly heading for his third shutout in six games
After an uneventful first period that allowed the two sides to study each other, it was the Swedes who won first. Ludvig Jansson gave his team the lead in the opening moments of the second period. The Florida Panthers rising star scored his fourth goal of the tournament with a sharp shot in the top corner that sped past goaltender Thomas Suchanek.
The Czech masked man needed to stand out in extra time to give his team a chance to win this game when he had been very little targeted in the third half.
The Czech Republic remains the only team unbeaten in regular time. The only defeat came against Sweden with a 3-2 result in overtime in the group stage.
The winner of the match between Canada and the United States meets the Czech Republic in the grand final to be held in Halifax on Friday. The loser meets Sweden for the bronze medal on Thursday.
Austria relegated
Earlier in the day, Austria lost the two-out-of-three relegation streak against Latvia.
Led by head coach Kirk Furey, the side lost 4-2 in Game 2 after losing the first game 5-2.
Austria will find themselves in Division 1 next year, while Latvia are now guaranteed to be at the 2024 World Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Norway will take Austria’s place in the top group of countries and have a chance to take part in the prestigious competition, which will be held during the holiday season. This nation won the Division 1 championship last December.
Back to today’s game, Bogdans Hodass, Girts Silkalns, Dans Lomelis and Sandis Vilmanis put Latvia ahead.
Luca Auer and Finn van EE created hope of a return to Austria in the last five minutes but it was very little too late.