Coming into today’s match-up, both teams were 3-0-0, both teams featured a high scoring offense and a stingy defense and both teams featured a Nashville Predators prospect.
Luckily for the fans, there was no stingy defense in this one.
2009 first round pick Ryan Ellis of Canada and 2010 fifth round pick Patric Cehlin of Sweden went head-to-head on New Year’s Eve at the 2011 World Junior Championships in Buffalo, New York. Sweden won the battle (6-5 by way of shootout) and the war (Cehlin had one goal while Ellis was held pointless.)
Sweden earns a bye with the victory while Canada must now play in a quarterfinal game on Sunday.
Team USA, who left Nashville’s 2010 first round pick Austin Watson off their roster, will receive the Group A bye if they can knock off Switzerland in regulation tonight. If they don’t beat the Swiss, Finland will win the group.
Puck drops at 7pm Central and can be seen on NHL Network.