Canada vs. Czechia live World Juniors updates: Canada leads 2-0 at intermission

I’ve seen every goal Shane Wright has scored since he became an OHL player and I can’t remember a goal more beautiful or with more leverage for him than the one he just scored in the gold medal game of the Junior World Cup.

The Czech attack seems a little hampered. His one-and-done plays through Kulich and Jiricek or the seam passes with Svozil and Spacek that have worked all tournament didn’t work tonight.

The player who leads Canada in ice time through two is none other than Tyson Hinds. Anaheim’s big squad has been very good defensively.

2-0 after two periods. Shots 22-16 for Canada.

Both goalkeepers, one of whom will surely win goalkeeper of the tournament, played well. A stint between Canada and back-to-back world junior golds.

In a fairly significant change from the rest of the tournament, Shane Wright’s line has clearly been Canada’s best line.

Shane Wright is rewarded, on his birthday, with his World Juniors moment. The Canadian captain scored one of the goals of the tournament, dancing backwards and scoring under the bar.

Canada 2-0. Second point of the night for Guenther and Othmann (also on his birthday), but that was all Wright.

And the audience sings happy birthday!

Tomáš Suchánek stays after a little delay.

Caedan Bankier (Wild) has just run over Tomas Suchanek. The puck went into the net with him, but it won’t be a goal for Canada and Suchanek looks hurt.

Bankier was flying.

Canada 1-0 after 20. Shots 10-6 in favor of Canada too. The Czechs, however, had their moments.

Very impressed by Canadian captain Shane Wright (Kraken) in the first. He was around. He made a few plays in the offensive zone, broke up a couple defensively and seemed to be constantly getting possession back and making a play.

Dylan Guenther (Coyotes), at the end of a long shift, hit another timer on a pass from Brandt Clarke (Kings). Canada is on the board.

Credit to Brennan Othmann (Rangers) for scoring the penalty kick that set up the power play.

Othmann also gets a secondary assist in goal. A three-minute shift for him, give or take.

Canada thought it had scored with Connor Bedard’s stick, but the officials called it offside, and it was.

Really the first chance of the game. And now Gabriel Szturc, an overager from 2023, has come right back and knocked the crossbar. He’s been really good for the Czech Republic this tournament, and should be drafted in as the go-to guy. Moments of tension early. Exactly the way the Czech Republic wants it.

Barring a performance for the ages tonight, which isn’t out of the realm of possibility, Connor Bedard won’t surpass Peter Forsberg’s world junior tournament record 31 points.

Bedard, sitting at 23, has a great chance to set or break Markus Naslund’s second record at 24.

I expect Connor Bedard to be the X-factor, as he has been in every game. There are others who could make the difference, but if Bedard continues to produce, and we have no reason to believe he won’t, Canada starts with a default advantage.

If the Czechs can shut him down, things change.

There would be no better time for a Shane Wright offensive attack day than tonight.

I’m not a fan of the Canadian spelling of favorite, but I’ll allow it given that the US got knocked out.

There is no doubt that the Canadians are the favorites here. If they can stay out of the box, they should dictate 5v5 at their skill level.

But these Czechs have also received the best from their stars and depth players, and goalkeeper Tomas Suchanek could make it a game if he’s at his best. We’ll see if a Czech team of destiny has more.