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Barzal, Strome prove explosive as Canada beats Russia at World Juniors

Canada v Russia - 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 26: Dylan Strome #19 of Team Canada celebrates a goal against Team Russia during a game at the the 2017 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships at the Air Canada Centre on December 26, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

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Dylan Strome would prefer to play for the Arizona Coyotes in the NHL right now, but he’ll have to settle for putting up big numbers for Canada at the 2017 World Juniors. So far, he’s doing just that.

Strome (third overall in 2015) and Mathew Barzal (16th pick by the New York Islanders in that same year) were big factors in Canada’s WJC-opening 5-3 win against Russia on Monday.

Strome scored two goals while Barzal was named the player of the game, collecting the game-winner as well as two assists.

Canada’s other two standouts were Tyson Jost, who enjoyed a strong first period, and the team’s power play, which generated three of their five tallies. Jost justified at least some wishful thinking among Colorado Avalanche devotees as the 10th pick of the 2016 NHL Draft.

The Canadians carried much of the play early on in particular, hogging the puck and carrying a 3-1 lead into the third period.

The final frame saw the two countries trade goals with Canada ultimately coming through with that 5-3 win.

Canada might have to worry a bit about goaltending (Philadelphia Flyers prospect/48th pick from 2016 Carter Hart allowed those three goals despite just 17 shots on goal), but overall, it was a strong showing for the perennial contender.

Also, the country’s goaltending is basically meme fuel anyway.

Other games

Sweden 6, Denmark 1

Czech Republic 2, Finland 1

U.S. 6, Latvia 1. More on that game here.

Also, if you want to read up on the Flyers’ bounty of World Juniors invitees, check this post.