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Canada vs. Slovakia: Live score, highlights, updates from 2022 World Juniors

Canada vs. Slovakia: Live score, highlights, updates from 2022 World Juniors

One day after Canada opened its 2022 World Junior Championship with a victory, the host country is back at it with a matchup Thursday night against Slovakia. 

Canada began group play in Edmonton with a 5-2 win over Latvia on Wednesday night. Five different players scored goals, while Connor Bedard, Mason McTavish, William Dufour and Ridly Greig also recording two points each. Sebastian Cossa got the win in net. 

MORE: Watch the 2022 World Juniors live with fuboTV (free trial, U.S. only)

“I think it went much like we thought it would go,” Canada coach Dave Cameron said of the opening win. “It’s early, this is really only our second game so you knew it was going to come in ebbs and flows.”

It’s fair to say it was a much tighter contest than expected, as Latvia has typically been a team that Canada has beaten up on at the World Juniors. But a win is a win, and now the focus shifts to the Slovaks. 

Slovakia comes into the contest with a day of rest. It squared off against Czechia on Tuesday in its first game, falling 5-4. The Slovaks stormed back from down 4-2 in the third period but could not complete the attempt.

Matej Kaslik had two goals for Slovakia, while Servac Petrovsky and Rayen Petrovicky each recorded a goal and an assist. Slovakia goaltender Simon Latkoczy faced 52 shots, turning aside 47, and earned Player of the Game honors. 

The Sporting News will provide live updates and highlights from the Canada-Slovakia matchup at the 2022 World Juniors. 

Canada vs. Slovakia score

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Slovakia00000

Mason McTavish tracker

Each game, TSN will highlight one player on Team Canada to follow along with during the matchup. 

For the Slovakia game, we will follow Mason McTavish. The Canada captain was one of four players to record two points in the team’s opener against Latvia, registering two assists. He centered the top line, flanked by Connor Bedard and Joshua Roy. 

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft by the Ducks, McTavish is a bigger forward who plays a physical game and owns an exceptional shot. He was one of the best players on the ice in Canada’s opener and there’s no reason why he won’t be in the thick of things again. 

1st period

McTavish’s line with himself, Bedard and Roy were the best line for Canada against Germany and they start out hot again. After a couple of chance early in the period, McTavish and Bedard execute and excellent give-and-go in the Slovaks’ zone and Bedard finds the back of the net. Third assist of the tournament for McTavish. 

2nd period

McTavish is getting creative. He attempted to get the puck up on his stick for a Michigan goal shorthanded no less, but couldn’t quite settle the biscuit. 

Moments after his attempt at the lacrosse move, McTavish gets in on a breakaway, with three other Canadians with him, and he beats Tomas Bolo with a shot on the blocker side. He probably could have slowed down and tortured Bolo with some close-range passing, but he keeps it and gets his first goal of the tournament. 

Canada vs. Slovakia live updates, highlights from 2022 World Juniors

2nd period

7:28 p.m. — GOAL! Slovakia finally gets on the board, as Matej Kaslik bangs home his own rebound to make it 6-1 with 5:20 left in the 2nd period. A good, hardworking shift from the Slovaks result in the tally. 

7:22 p.m. — Othmann gets another good look, coming down on a breakaway, but he fumbles the puck once he’s close to Bolo and it rolls off his stick. An impressive game so far from the Rangers 2021 first-rounder after he was scratched against Latvia. 

7:14 p.m. — GOAL! Canada comes down on a 4 on 0 — yes, a 4 on 0 — and McTavish beats Bolo with a shot on the blocker side. He was a bit ahead of everyone else on the rush so he elected to take it himself. 

7:10 p.m. — Slovakia gets its first power play of the night, as Nathan Gaucher is called for roughing. 

7:09 p.m. — Bedard nearly had his second of the night, as he rushes in on the right side with the puck, drags and shoot it off the iron. He’s so dangerous with that shot of his, you constantly have to be on alert when he has the puck on his stick. 

7:05 p.m. — GOAL! This one gets through. Johnson gets the puck by the side of the net, cuts in and shoots. The initial shot is stopped by Bolo, but Stankoven is just waiting on the backdoor for the rebound and he makes no mistake. It’s 5-0 Canada and it’s still 5 on 3 because of the third penalty at the end of the first by Slovakia. 

7:04 p.m. — Two chances right off the bat for Canada. Johnson goes cross-crease to Logan Stankoven who hits the outside of the net, then Johnson rips a one-timer that Bolo is able to keep out. 

7:04 p.m. — Simon Latkoczy’s day is done, Tomas Bolo is in net for Slovakia to start the 2nd. Canada begins with a 5 on 3 for 1:17. 

End 1st period: Canada 4, Slovakia 0

6:45 p.m. — End of the first period and it’s all Canada. It’s evident that Slovakia is getting frustrated and it’s displayed at the end of the period as multiple Slovaks take turns at shoving Bedard in between whistles. It looks like another penalty will be handed to Slovakia as Boris Zabka shoves Bedard as the buzzer sounds to end the period. 

6:42 p.m. — Another Slovakia penalty seconds after play resumed as Adam Sykora is called for slashing. Canada will have a 5 on 3 for 1:49. 

6:40 p.m. — GOAL! After review, it’s deemed a good goal. A close play, but it was the right call as the puck had just entered the zone before Johnson’s skate comes off the blue line. It’s Zellweger’s second of the tournament and with Canada already up 4-0, they go to the power play because of the failed coach’s challenge. 

6:38 p.m. — With 43 seconds left in the first, Olen Zellweger collects a loose puck in the slot and fires it off the post and in. However, Slovakia is challenging the play for offsides, it looks like it might have been off in real time with Kent Johnson entering the zone a split second too early. 

6:32 p.m. — GOAL! David Spacek tries to clear it out of his own zone from behind his net, but it’s picked off by Cuylle, who waits before sliding the puck over to Brennan Othmann who slams it home. No chance for Latkoczy on the one-timer from below the dot. It’s 3-0 Canada with about four minutes left in the opening frame. 

6:27 p.m. — GOAL! Just as the Greig penalty expires, Will Cuylle gets in all alone on Latkoczy and beats him five-hole. A bad step up from Rayen Petrovicky allowed Greig to slide the puck to Cuylle coming through the neutral zone, sending him on the breakaway. 

6:23 p.m. — Slovakia finally gets some shortened offensive zone pressure thanks to a couple of Canada turnovers in their own zone, but nothing doing. After the initial rush from Canada, Slovakia is settling in and getting their chances and now will go to the power play as Ridly Greig is called for a trip. 

6:20 p.m. — Slovakia’s Maros Jedlicka gets behind the Canada defense for a breakaway. His five-hole attempt is turned aside as he is forced to rush a shot with Ridly Greig closing in on him on the back check. 

6:18 p.m. — GOAL! What a passing sequence by Bedard and McTavish, and it ends up in the back of the net. They get the Slovak defenders chasing and puck watching at the top of the zone as the two execute a perfect give-and-go, ending with Bedard potting his second of the tournament. Those two are a dangerous duo together. 

6:16 p.m. — Excellent chance for Kent Johnson early on in the period. He gets a drop pass from Logan Stankoven, takes it to the net and tries to get it by Latkoczy with the backhand, but is unsuccessful. Like the Germany game, the chances are abundant for Canada, it’s going to be about finishing them. 

6:11 p.m. — The first line for Canada gets off to a hot start. Multiple chances for Connor Bedard and Mason McTavish in the opening 75 seconds, but Simon Latkoczy keeps the puck out. An excellent start so far for Canada. 

Pregame

5 p.m. — Lineups for each side ahead of the game. Carson Lambos and Riley Kidney both are scratched, while Ethan del Mastro and Brennan Othmann draw in for Canada. Othmann played in the team’s exhibition game but was scratched after a couple of penalties. De Mastro was a late replacement on the roster for the injured Daemon Hunt, so he has been playing catch-up with the team. Dylan Garand is expected to get the start in net. 

What channel is Canada vs. Slovakia on today?

  • Canada: TSN 3/4
  • United States: NHL Network

TSN has all the World Juniors action in Canada. In the United States, viewers can find the games on the NHL Network.

Gord Miller and Mike Johnson will be on the call live in Edmonton. James Duthie and Bob McKenzie will provide analysis during intermissions.  

How to live stream World Juniors hockey games

Fans in Canada can stream all World Juniors games on TSN.ca or the TSN app. U.S. fans can stream the tournament on fuboTV (which offers a free trial), NHL.tv or the NHL app.

Canada vs. Slovakia start time

  • Time: 6 p.m. ET (4 p.m. MT)

The puck drops at 6 p.m. ET from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alta., home of the NHL’s Oilers and WHL’s Oil Kings.

MORE: Team Canada 2022 World Juniors roster, results

It is the second game for both clubs at the 2022 World Juniors. 

Canada vs. Slovakia odds

  • Canada: -5.5 (-114)
  • Slovakia: +5.5 (-116)

Canada is a 5.5-goal favorite against Slovakia at the World Juniors, according to Sports Interaction. 

Canada World Juniors schedule 2022

(All times Eastern)

Date Opponent Result TV info
Aug. 10LatviaW, 5-26 p.m. (TSN, NHLN)
Aug. 11Slovakia—6 p.m. (TSN, NHLN)
Aug. 13Czechia—6 p.m. (TSN, NHLN)
Aug. 15Finland—6 p.m. (TSN, NHLN)
Aug. 17Quarterfinals—TBD (TSN, NHLN)
Aug. 19Semifinals—TBD (TSN, NHLN)
Aug. 20Bronze/Gold—TBD (TSN, NHLN)

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