Canada vs. Russia: Live score, highlights, updates from 2021 World Juniors semifinals

The road to gold, to back-to-back gold, continues Monday for Canada, and a familiar foe will be across the ice — historically and in recent memory.

Just 364 days ago, Canada and Russia faced off for gold in the Czech Republic, with the Canadians mounting a ferocious three-goal comeback late in the third period to win 4-3 and capture the country’s 18th top prize. Now, the duo will meet in the semifinals of the 2021 edition of the IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton.

Six players return from Canada’s 2020 gold-medal winning squad (Quinton Byfield, Bowen Byram, Dylan Cozens, Jamie Drysdale, Connor McMichael and Dawson Mercer); Russia brings back three from its silver-medal team (Yaroslav Askarov, Vasily Podkolzin and Maxim Groshev). This year’s head coaches — Igor Larionov, aka “The Professor,” and Andre Tourigny — were at Ostravar Arena last year as assistants. 

With a high number of returnees, will there also be emotional carryover?

“One hundred percent I think there will be carryover,” Drysdale said matter-of-factly. “We played each other in the finals last year, so, obviously, we want to maintain where we’re at and we obviously want to come out on top. But in saying that, obviously feel like they’re going to have something to prove because . . . It should be a really exciting, hard-fought game.”

Tourigny is just looking straight ahead.

“I think it’s enough there, we don’t have to add anything. The history between Canada and Russia, it’s well-documented and everybody knows how big of a game that will be and there’s nothing bigger than that at this point. . . . I think it will be a great game,” he said.

The history between these two countries does run deep at the World Juniors. In the last 28 years, since the Soviet Union dissolved, they’ve faced each other 27 times, with Canada holding a 14-12-1 edge. Its overall advantage is 20-19-2 when taking into account the Soviet Union years. These two teams also met in last year’s preliminary round, where the Russians handed the Canadiens their worst loss in tourney history. 

“They’re going to be coming out for revenge this year and we’re going to be up for the task,” McMichael said Sunday. “It’s such a long rivalry between the two of the teams and we’re excited for it and we just can’t wait to get going [Monday].”

Both teams sport players who can bury the puck — Cozens leads the tournament with seven goals and is second to Trevor Zegras of the USA with 13 points. While the Canadians have spread out their scoring across all four lines — every skater has at least a point — the Russians rely heavily on their top six, which includes team points leader and Maple Leafs prospect Rodion Amirov (six). 

The teams also sport two highly skilled netminders. Canada’s Devon Levi, the best goalie in the tournament statistically, has allowed just three goals on 90 shots, with all three goals happening when his squad was short-handed. Askarov, who surprisingly did not start the gold-medal game last year, has stopped 101 of 110 shots. 

The Canadians have noticed a difference between this year’s crop of Russian players and last year’s squad — as if the cerebral style of Larionov, a Hockey Hall of Famer and three-time Stanley Cup winner, has rubbed off on his young charges.

“I’ve noticed they’re more patient with the puck,” said Drysdale, who scored the lone goal in these teams’ exhibition — but not against Askarov. “A lot of regroups, not throwing the puck away, things like that. Not afraid to just take it out of our offensive zone to regroup in the neutral zone.”

“Day and night. It’s totally different style, different philosophy, different objective in their game,” Tourigny noted. “They like to possess the puck, they regroup a lot, they have a good stretch on their breakout. . . . They’re still really stingy defensively, they still defend really well. They are strong on pucks, they’re fast. They’re a good team.”

Alex Newhook’s status for the game is unknown. Listed as day to day by Tourigny on Sunday, the Newfoundland native missed the quarterfinals with an upper-body injury. TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported Monday that Newhook is a game-time decision. His addition to the lineup would be an offensive boost.

His buddies are ready to face their toughest challenge of the tournament, and with a spot in the ultimate game on the line.

“We all know what’s at stake [Monday], we’re all excited,” McMichael said. “You just got to keep control of your nerves. . . . I think if we do that and stick to our systems, we’ll be fine. You just don’t want to overthink about it too much.”

Sporting News has all the action as Canada and Russia go toe-to-toe for a spot in the gold-medal game.

Canada vs. Russia scores, highlights from 2021 World Juniors semifinals

(All times Eastern)

First period

6:13 p.m. — Dylan Holloway backhander has Askarov looking behind him. The Predators’ prospect looking a little shaky off the top.

6:11 p.m. — GOAL! Hold on. That Newhook shot that went off the pipe — it was the back pipe in the net! Just 59 seconds in he gives the Canadians the lead. Canada leads 1-0.

6:10 p.m. — Hmmm. Interesting. Horn in the building sounds while play is going on.

6:10 p.m. — Welcome back Alex Newhook. He rings one off the post on a strong shift where he was a force on the forecheck.

6:09 p.m. — Puck has been dropped. Slightly disappointed in the referee — “Nothing to say about this one.” Sigh. A little bit more oomph would have been nice.

Pregame

5:55 p.m. — Newhook took line rushes.

5:14 p.m. — Lines are here.

2:18 p.m. — Alexis Lafreniere is keeping an eye on things, too. 

2 p.m. — Hmmm, I wonder who Sidney Crosby is rooting for. World Juniors 2021: Latest news

Tournament

USA

Canada