Sweden, Decisive Victory Over Slovakia

Day One at the World Junior Championship

Group B

Sweden and Slovakia played the first game of the tournament with the Swedes taking a 5-2 victory. Slovakia took an early 1-0 lead into the second period but the Swedes never looked back after notching 2 goals in the period and a 3 goal third period.

Defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka put up a natural hat-trick for the Swedes, adding an assist on the 4 point performance to open the tournament. He racked up 4 penalty minutes and 11 shots on goal. Left Winger David Granberg, centreman Otto Stenberg and right winger Felix Unger Sorum each racked up 2 assists for the Swedes. The Swedish defence was tough to break through giving Slovakia only 17 shots on goal.

The Slovaks were a little easier to crack as goaltender Samuel Urban faced 34 shots, stopping 29 all day. Dalibor Dvorsky and Daniel Jencko scored the only two goals on the day for Slovakia.

Sweden will face Kazakhstan tomorrow (December 27th) in the first game of the tournament for the Kazakhs. Slovakia will play tomorrow as well in the first game of the day against the 0-1 Swiss.