Sunday, December 21, 2014

12/21 Recap: Reinhart, Compher strike in pre-tourney tilts

Sam Reinhart scored his first goal of World Junior pre-tournament competition Sunday as Canada cruised to a 5-2 victory over Sweden. Reinhart capped the Canadian scoring at 10:08 of the third period when he finished off a pretty give-and-go with Joe Hicketts (DET) while on a power play.



Although he didn't earn a point on the play, Reinhart was also instrumental in Canada’s first goal when he set up the power play and fired the initial shot before Max Domi (ARZ) buried a rebound. Canada will close their pre-tourney schedule Tuesday versus Switzerland.

Victor Olofsson was blanked for Sweden while skating on a line with Axel Holmstrom (DET) and University of Minnesota forward Leon Bristedt. Goaltender Jonas Johansson did not play as Samuel Ward allowed five goals on 23 shots to take the loss. Sweden gets another tune-up in on Tuesday versus the United States.

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In Kingston, J.T. Compher broke in down the left side and cut towards the crease to score the game's first goal as USA defeated Germany 5-2. The marker was the second in as many games for Compher as the Team USA brass evaluated the skaters before announcing final cuts.

Hudson Fasching picked up an assist in the victory on a Tyler Motte (CHI) marker after sitting out the Americans' 5-2 win over Boston University on Friday.

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In other World Junior happenings, Vaclav Karabacek was released by the Czech Republic on Saturday. Karabacek was held without a point while taking a boarding minor in a 2-1 overtime loss to Finland the night before. The 18-year-old winger will head back to Gatineau of the QMJHL, where he has collected 10 goals and 23 points in 29 games.