Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Canada Holds On

Piestany, Slovakia- The match up of the day was between Canada and Sweden. It lived up to the billing as the Canadians held onto the 4-3 victory. Garrett Mitchell of the Regina Pats had a goal and an assist. His goal was the game winner with 2:24 left in the contest. Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi also had a goal and a helper for Sweden in the losing effort.

In the first stanza, Canada got on the score sheet first. Taylor Hall (Windsor Spitfires, OHL, 2010) got the tally. The assists went to Matt Duchene (Brampton Battalion, OHL, 2009) and Louis LeBlanc (Omaha Lancers, USHL, Harvard (2009), 2009). Sweden would tie the game back up with 2:57 remaining in the first. Patrik Cehlin of Djurgerden got the goal with Tim Erixon and Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi setting the goal up.

Canada would stretch the lead to 3-1 by the end of 40 minutes of play. Casey Cizikas (Mississauga St. Michaels Majors, OHL, 2009) got the goal to get the Canada lead back at 2-1. It was an unassisted effort at the 14:23 mark of the second period. Cody Eakin (Swift Current Broncos, WHL, 2009) would give the Canucks a 3-1 lead with under two minutes in the period. Garrett Mitchell of the Regina Pats got the lone helper.

The third period was quite until potential first rounder Jacob Josefson of Djurgerden got the Swedes back to one, just past the halfway mark of the period. Djurgerden's teammate Patrik Cehlin and Simon Bertilsson got the play started. Canada would respond with a goal from Garrett Mitchell with Stefan Elliott (Saskatoon Blades, WHL, 2009) getting the assist. It came with 2:24 remaining in the game. 58 seconds later, Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi would get the goal right back for Sweden. Anton Lander who's Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi's teammate with Timra got one assist and Oliver Ekman-Larsson got the other. Canada would hold onto the 4-3 victory.

Nathan Lieuwen (Westside, BCHL, 2009) made twenty saves in the win. Robin Lehner was also stellar as he made 46 saves. There were no powerplay goals in the game.

That's My Take

(Nathan also is a writer for MVN.com. He's the writer for the Asylum which covers the Lewiston Maineiacs of the QMJHL. He's also a regular contributor to the NHL Source also at MVN.com. He can be reached at fbbhgfan@aol.com)

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