Each day throughout the World Junior Championship tournament, Second City Hockey will provide updates on how Blackhawks prospects Antti Saarela and Michal Teply are performing. For more coverage on the tournament, visit the World Juniors section.
Czech Republic 4, Russia 3
Teply had three primary assists, no shots on goal and was on ice for one goal against in 21:28 for the Czech Republic. He played at right wing on the top line with Matej Pekar (Sabres) and Jan Jenik (Coyotes).
Teply’s assists weren’t anything special, but he found himself in the right spot at the right time. He also was pretty active on the team’s penalty kill.
Michal Teply (No. 11) with some active play on the penalty kill. #Blackhawks #WJC2020 pic.twitter.com/yDaEGhQQFs
— Brandon (@brandonmcain) December 26, 2019
#Blackhawks prospect Michal Teply with a primary assist on Simon Kubicek’s power-play goal to give the Czech Republic a 1-0 lead against Russia. #WJC2020 pic.twitter.com/3G8WCO7nIX
— Brandon (@brandonmcain) December 26, 2019
#Blackhawks prospect Michal Teply with his second primary assist of the game for the Czech Republic against Russia. #WJC2020
*Misspelled his name earlier pic.twitter.com/ORL4rj5K4N
— Brandon (@brandonmcain) December 26, 2019
Michal Teply with his third primary assist of the game for the Czech Republic. #Blackhawks #WJC2020 pic.twitter.com/w20lWn0WsG
— Brandon (@brandonmcain) December 26, 2019
Teply was a factor in a Russian goal as he closed in on Dmitri Voronkov and left Yegor Zamula open in the slot for an easy goal.
🚨 Yegor Zamula – 2nd of the game
3-3 pic.twitter.com/pvQ4Y9JZtm— Here’s Your Replay ⬇️ (@HeresYourReplay) December 26, 2019
Sweden 4, Finland 3 (OT)
Saarela, who skated at right wing on the third line for Finland, had one shot on goal, was on ice for one goal against and won his only faceoff draw in 14:31.
Antti Saarela with a shorthanded breakaway chance for Finland, but Hugo Alnefelt makes the save. #Blackhawks #GoBolts #WJC2020 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/a2PFC8Xl7F
— Brandon (@brandonmcain) December 26, 2019
Saarela was on the ice for Nils Höglander’s (Canucks) goal, but he wasn’t close to the play.
Nils Höglander (VAN) does The Michigan again! #Canucks #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/QzzhheAycC
— Jokke Nevalainen (@JokkeNevalainen) December 26, 2019
Saarela’s role could increase if Finnish No. 1 center Rasmus Kupari (Kings) is injured after taking a hit from Philip Broberg (Oilers).
If Kupari is injured, Finland will have a huge problem.
Not only do they lose their No. 1 center but they also registered 8 defensemen, so they would only have 11 forwards for the rest of the tournament. #WorldJuniors https://t.co/FVkWo44OHG
— Jokke Nevalainen (@JokkeNevalainen) December 26, 2019
What’s next
Both the Czech Republic and Finland are off Friday before playing Germany and Slovakia, respectively, at 8 a.m. Saturday. Finland against Slovakia will be televised on NHL Network.