Canucks prospects on the World Juniors: Elias Pettersson promoted in win over Germany

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It’s a particular version of the prospects tracker, the place we tally the efforts of the Vancouver Canucks’ prospects enjoying on the world junior match:

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Elias Pettersson

Belief is earned — and it took just one sport for Elias Pettersson to earn that of his head coach.

After beginning the match on the third defensive pairing — but main the workforce in ice time towards Latvia on Tuesday — Pettersson was given a plum first-pairing task towards a plucky German facet on Thursday and calibrated his sport accordingly, going a plus-1 in a whopping 23:12 of ice time to assist host Sweden earn a 5-0 win at a packed Scandinavium Area in Gothenburg on Thursday.

Pettersson, the bodily chief on the Swedish again finish, supplanted offensive dynamo Axel Sandin Pellikka on the primary pair in a shock transfer from head coach Magnus Havelid.

The Canucks’ 2022 third-round decide was a minutes monster, enjoying virtually 4 extra minutes than the subsequent Swedish D-man, which occurred to be fellow Canucks prospect Tom Willander.

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Pettersson, nevertheless, had an early scare within the sport, hobbling off the ice with an undetermined lower-body ailment within the first interval, however didn’t miss a shift.

Pettersson was on the ice for Sweden’s first purpose, a top-shelf snipe by ahead Otto Stenberg late within the first interval after a compelled turnover by David Edstrom.

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Within the second interval, Pettersson was on the ice for Germany’s greatest probability of the sport — a point-blank shot blockered away by Swedish goaltender Melker Thelin.

Pettersson, 19, then had one other scare late within the second interval, getting his legs taken out from behind by a German ahead attempting to remain onside on the blue-line. Pettersson stayed down for a second however collected himself off the ice.

Within the third, Pettersson and the Swedes shut down the Germans defensively and distanced themselves on the scoreboard.

Pettersson’s promotion didn’t are available a vacuum, with the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Vasteras product enjoying admirably eventually 12 months’s showcase occasion as an 18-year-old. Pettersson went a plus-4 and had three assists in seven video games eventually 12 months’s match.

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This 12 months, his sport seems much more full, with only a few shaky moments defending the entrance of his web.

The primary true take a look at for the Swedish defence, nevertheless, comes on Friday, in a first-place Group A showdown towards the explosive Canadians.

Jonathan Lekkerimaki

His title wasn’t on the scoreboard this time round, however you didn’t need to look too far to note his sport.

Jonathan Lekkerimaki had a powerful, heads-up effort towards the Germans, asserting himself defensively and being a catalyst within the offensive zone.

The Canucks’ Fifteenth-overall decide in 2022 had his head on a swivel early, weaving his method by the German defence with some slick palms and organising a Noah Ostlund shot within the slot, which clanged off the crossbar.

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Lekkerimaki, 19, then had a fast steal at his personal blue-line, however was stopped by Bittner on a glove facet shot. The 5-foot-11, 172-pound right-shot ahead adopted that up with one other stick-lift steal after the faceoff, resulting in lengthy stretch of offensive zone strain.

Early within the second interval, Lekkerimaki slipped an outstanding cross to Ostlund for a partial breakaway, however the Buffalo Sabres’ 2022 first-rounder was stopped by a sprawling Bittner.

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Within the third, Lekkerimaki began letting his elite shot fly, whipping one off the crossbar 5 minutes in then getting stopped on a low shot on the identical shift.

Quickly after, it was Stenberg — the hometown child who performs for Frolunda of the SHL — scoring his second with the second energy play unit to place Sweden up 3-0 and take full management of the sport.

Stenberg, an 18-year-old drafted by St. Louis late within the first spherical this previous summer season, scored his third halfway by the third for a commanding 4-0 lead.

Lekkerimaki, in the meantime, saved firing away on a late energy play, having his sizzling shot shouldered away by Bittner.

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And with 5 minutes left within the sport, Lekkerimaki triggered one other turnover then received a puck battle to feed Ostlund for the 5-0 purpose.

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The underlying stats collected by eliteprospects.com matched the attention take a look at for Lekkerimaki, who has created essentially the most benefits of any participant this match with 13, amongst different notable statistics — together with board-to-middle pucks, which ought to assist him shed the perimeter participant label.

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Lekkerimaki completed the sport with seven shot makes an attempt, three photographs on purpose, an help and a plus-1 ranking.

He has two objectives, one help and a plus-3 ranking in two video games this match.

Tom Willander

Typically, no information will be excellent news for younger, budding defencemen in high-pressure conditions.

Tom Willander, the Canucks’ 2023 first-rounder, performed rather a lot towards Germany — skating for 19:32 of ice time, a plus-2 mark and serving as a reduction valve a lot of the time, making mincemeat of the German assault together with his fast stick, robust higher physique and good positioning and persistently moved the puck out of probably harmful conditions.

Additionally that includes on the penalty kill, Willander had a very good level shot blockered away by Bittner halfway the primary interval. And it was Willander’s robust play behind his personal web early within the first interval which led to Ostlund’s shot placing iron.

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The 18-year-old’s slick breakout passing was evident within the second interval, with Willander hitting a pair forwards in stride within the impartial zone. There was additionally a second interval sequence the place Willander ate the puck within the nook below strain, then used his energy to shuffle it to an open teammate to alleviate the scenario.

The strapping 6-foot-1, 179-pound right-shot defenceman now has a plus-4 mark in two video games this match.

Editor’s notice: We’ll be again with one other Canucks prospects tracker on Sunday for the ultimate Group A sport between Sweden and rival Finland.

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