Team Canada looking to play 'hard hockey' in NYE clash against Americans on TSN

Team Canada's confidence is unshaken despite facing adversity in the preliminary round of the World Juniors.

"We're happy with ourselves here," insisted centre Jett Luchanko. "We're not worried about anything. We think if we just play our game then there's no one that can beat us."

What's Canada's game?

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"Hard hockey," said Luchanko, who started the season in the NHL where he played four games with the Philadelphia Flyers. "If we play fast and everyone goes out there and plays their best games then there's no one that can beat us."

Not much has come easy for Canada since their Boxing Day win over Finland. A shocking upset loss to Latvia on Friday was followed by a tighter-than-expected win over Germany on Sunday. And yet they arrive at the New Year's Eve showdown against the United States right where they wanted to be. A win will give Canada top spot in the group and an easier path, at least on paper, in the knockout stage.

A capacity crowd will ring in the new year with an old rivalry.

"It just doesn't get better than this," said Luchanko. "It's going to be an honour to be a part of. It's going to be really cool especially in front of the home crowd."

This will be the 50th meeting between Canada and the United States at the World Juniors.

"Everyone talks about this game," said defenceman Tanner Molendyk. "It's a huge rivalry. Everyone watches U.S. and Canada, it's always one of the biggest moments of the year."

And it's always a feisty affair.

"Always scrappy," said Molendyk. "I mean, every time they would just be going at it. I don't think it's going to change tonight. There's going to be a lot of chirping, a lot of body contact, and we're excited."

"It's like a playoff game," said winger Tanner Howe. "If you have a bad turnover or something it's going to cost you. So, we're playing safe and playing hard ... Our family always watched this World Junior game so to be in here and playing the States on New Year's Eve, there's nothing more special than that."

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Canada feels like it has an advantage in net. Carter George has stopped all 56 shots faced in his two starts. 

"It definitely instills some confidence in the defencemen and your whole team to be able to play a little more free," said former Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook, who is part of Hockey Canada's management group. "You still gotta play defence and still gotta help him out but when a goalie is seeing pucks the way he's seeing them and playing the way he's playing, it's fun to play in front of a goalie like that."

George is as calm as can be in the crease and even tried to score a goal into an empty net late in Sunday's game. Although apparently it's possible to get him off his game during the warm-up routine when the players kick around a soccer ball. 

"We get chirping pretty good to each other so that's probably the only time I've ever seen him get rattled," Molendyk said with a grin. "But once his helmet's on he's a whole different person underneath there. I've never seen a goalie like him."

George's puck-handling ability – he scored a goal in the OHL this season – is a game changer for Team Canada. 

"He's so mature with the puck," Molendyk gushed. "He helps us out. When a goalie can do what he does with it, it makes our life easy."

"He can collect rims and collect dump-ins from the other team," Luchanko said. "You never want to play against a goalie like that. It just makes it that much harder. It's almost like another d-man. We're happy to have him."

Luchanko roomed with George at the recent under-18 World Championship in Finland. 

"He was a great roommate, actually," Luchanko said. "His side of the room was always nice and clean and he was going to bed early so he was a good roommate."

An even better goaltender. The Los Angeles Kings prospect backstopped Canada to a gold medal, including a stellar performance in the final against the United States.

"He was our best player," said Luchanko. "And we know that he has that in him."

Coming into the tournament, goaltending was supposed to be an advantage for the United States. Trey Augustine led them to a gold medal last year and is back for a third World Juniors. But he has an ugly .878 save percentage in two games. 

"I need to step up," he told reporters after Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to Finland. He called the winning goal "one I'd like to have back." 

Augustine has not allowed more than three goals in a NCAA game with Michigan State yet this year, but has allowed four in both starts in Ottawa. 

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Canada is struggling to produce offence with just four even-strength goals in three games. Molendyk, who has yet to hit the scoresheet in Ottawa, feels like he can do more to help.

"Getting my shots through," the Nashville Predators prospect, who has 21 points in 21 games with the Saskatoon Blades this season, said of a necessary adjustment. "Last few games I've kind of been getting a few blocked."

Molendyk didn't land a shot on net despite playing a team high 22 minutes and 42 seconds against Germany. It's been an up and down tournament for the smooth-skating blueliner from McBride, B.C.

"It was getting better and then last game it was a little quiet," Molendyk admitted. "When I'm moving my feet and getting up ice, that's when you see the best in me ... Hopefully tonight I can get up there."

Molendyk has leaned on Seabrook for advice. 

"We've had a few good conversations," he said. "Every once in a while I kind of go up to him and see what he's seeing and what I can do better."

The message?

"'Take over the game,'" Molendyk said. "With my skating I have the ability to get up ice and get in the rush. But it's just managing that, getting up when I need to, getting up when I feel it's right, and I think it's getting better."

If it's going well for Molendyk, he has a tell. 

"I'll have a smile on my face," he said. "That's when you know I'm having a good game."

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Medicine Hat Tigers winger Gavin McKenna grew up watching Patrick Kane a lot and trying to mimic his playmaking ability. 

"I watched a lot of Patrick Kane too," said Seabrook with a grin.

Seabrook did more than watch. He helped Kane and the Blackhawks win three Stanley Cups.

"I think a guy like Patrick Kane changed the game in so many ways with his size and what he was able to do as a smaller player," Seabrook noted. "He was sort of the first guy that had his mouth guard sticking out of his mouth and every kid does that now so I say, 'Ah, that's the Patrick Kane effect.'"

Does he see any similarities between Kane and McKenna? 

"He's a special talent. You watch what he does and how he facilitates the puck, moves the puck, and gets to the net and shoots the puck. Shot selection is always different. That's a big thing in his game and that's something you see in Patrick's game as well."

Team USA centre James Hagens, who is a contender to go first overall in 2025, also idolized Kane. 

Slowing down the line of Hagens between Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault will be key for Canada on Tuesday.

"It's just playing them hard," said Molendyk. "A lot of skill on that line, a lot of speed, but you can't play those guys any differently. You got to respect them for what they can do, but you gotta treat it like any other line."

"You gotta play physical on them," said Howe. "Take their ice away and not let them have any odd-men rushes."

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Team Latvia clinched a quarterfinal spot with a win over Germany on Monday. This is the first time the country has recorded two wins in the preliminary round at the World Juniors. In fact, they have now doubled their previous win total at this level. 

"We are a small country, but we can do big things," said goalie Linards Feldbergs. "We are really proud of ourselves."

"Phones exploding because we found a way how to win," said head coach Artis Abols. "Twice here in Canada, Latvian anthem, but we want more."

The group got a boost from Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzļikins, a native of Riga, Latvia, who arranged for the team to go for a meal at his favourite restaurant (Giovanni's) in Ottawa on Sunday. 

"He paid for the restaurant, " said Saint John Sea Dogs winger Eriks Mateiko, who scored the shootout winner against Canada and the overtime winner against Germany. "It was really nice of him. We really enjoyed it."

"That was unreal," said captain Peteris Bulans. "He FaceTimed us and told us a speech. It was really motivational. He told us to keep going forward."
Feldbergs calls Merzļikins his role model. 

"I enjoyed every minute," said the Sherbrooke Phoenix netminder, who also received a personal message from Merzļikins. "Thanks Elvis!"

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Team Canada lines at skate:

F

Beaudoin - Ritchie - Cowan
McKenna - Catton - Pinelli
Nadeau - Yager - Howe
Cataford - Luchanko - Gauthier 
Rehkopf, Martone

D

Molendyk - Gibson
Dickinson - Bonk 
Mynio - Price 
Akey

G

George starts 
Ivankovic 
Bjarnason