USA vs Russia: 2021 World Juniors live scores, highlights, updates

Dear Santa,

2020 has been tough, to say the least, but you’ve left the best gift until last. A night capper of Russia against the United States. The best preliminary game. The day of Christmas. Thank you my friend. You are the best.

Love, hockey fans everywhere.

It’s been 16 years since the World Junior Championships started on Christmas Day – where the same two teams competed at the time – and like any good meeting between two big rivals (i.e. Miracle on Ice) , this Russia-USA competition is expected. to be a flawless grill burner.

Two of the tournament’s top three teams come together on the opening day of the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship with the winner taking, predictably, control of Group B and therefore an easier path to gold. As well as being a director for the next 12 days, this is also a key opportunity for a number of players to show what they plan to bring to the tournament.

American Cole Caufield has put this date in his calendar since the day last year’s tournament ended in disappointment for the United States. He was determined to prove last year was a fluke, and a big game in the team’s biggest round robin game will prove it’s a new year.

But it won’t be easy for Caufield and his cohorts as they face a dynamic puck scorer on the other end of Yaroslav Askarov. The Russian goalkeeper at just 18 has ignited competition in the KHL this season and is also on a redemption tour after a poor performance in 2020.

So grab the eggnog, the fruit cake and the Chinese food as Sporting News has all the thrilling action between these two powers in the first game of the tournament.

(All Eastern hours.)

USA vs Russia, 2021 World Juniors preliminary game highlights

First period

9:52 p.m. – The Americans are picking things up now and have a good chunk of the attacking time with Mathew Boldy and Cole Caufield looking good. USA finally with hits on the net.

9:49 p.m. – GOAL. Russia controls the puck with a discharge and Hurricanes prospect Vasiliy Ponomarev with a masterful deflection that puts the puck past Knight. Russia leads 1-0.

9:44 p.m. – The power play ends as the Americans struggled to get into the area and couldn’t get into place. They don’t register a shot on the net – and in fact, with over six minutes gone, they don’t have a single shot in the game. Russia has three.

9:42 p.m. – The United States gets a power play as Alex Turcotte is knocked out while driving towards the net. Not a good start for the Russians because the Americans have some firepower.

9:40 p.m. – Both teams have been looking to set the pace, but so far there has been a lot of top-down hockey with neither team coming under pressure.

9:40 p.m. – The US is lucky because they had too many men but didn’t get caught.

9:38 p.m. – “Great day for hockey.” The puck has been dropped.

Before the match

9:22 p.m. – It will be Askarov versus Knight. Buckle up your belt.

9:10 p.m. – If you missed this earlier today, you should definitely watch it now.

8:50 p.m. – How the Russians will be.

8:23 p.m. – This top-6.

7:12 p.m. – Prepare.

World Juniors 2021: Latest news

Tournament

United States

Canada