2021 WJC: Four key players for Team Canada / Team USA in Quarter-Finals
These four players will be crucial for Team Canada and Team USA in the 2021 WJC.
It is Quarter-Finals day in the 2021 World Junior Championship, and both Team Canada and Team USA will be expected to progress through to the Semi-Finals, which take place on Monday.
Team Canada, who have been an absolute juggernaut so far with four wins with 34 goals for and just four goals allowed, take on the Czech Republic.
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Then, Team USA will be hoping to stay on course for a mouthwatering matchup with Team Canada by beating Slovakia.
While both teams should advance, the Czech Republic and Slovakia will be tough outs, and Team Canada and Team USA will have to be at the peak of their powers.
We’ve already looked at the four storylines to keep an eye on throughout today’s four Quarter-Finals matchups – one for each game – but now we are going to pick out two players for Team Canada and two players for Team USA that will be key today.
Let’s delve right in….
4. Devon Levi, G, Team Canada
It has been a fairly easy tournament for Devon Levi so far, who has allowed just three goals on a grand total of 61 shots.
And, by the way, all three goals have come on the power play.
So, four games in and Levi hasn’t allowed a goal at 5-on-5 yet, although he hasn’t really been tested given how dominant Team Canada have been.
They dominated a depleted Germany team in their opening game, although the Germans did manage to score twice, they allowed one against Slovakia and Levi shutout Switzerland.
However, the Czech Republic beat a talent-laden Russia team in a shootout and they should pose Team Canada their toughest test of the tournament so far.
After all, they do boast the likes of Martin Lang and Jan Mysak who are talented players in their own right, and Levi will need to be alert at all times in order to prevent an almighty shock from taking place.
One of the hallmarks of an elite goaltender is staying alert even when the workload is light and, after being a spectator for much of the tournament so far, Devon Levi will likely be a lot busier against the Czech Republic.
And he will need to be ready.
3. Cam York, D, Team USA
Defense is king at every level of the game and Cam York has been one of the best blueliners at the 2021 World Junior Championship so far.
Ranked second among all defensemen in the tournament, behind Finland’s Topi Niemela, York has six points (1 G, 5 A) in four games with a plus / minus rating of +3.
He’s been an offensive juggernaut on the blueline for Team USA, someone who can carry the puck out of the zone with ease and who is an elite outlet for his offense.
And, going up against a Slovakia team that have been solid on the penalty kill (81.25%), Team USA will need to move the puck well and be patient in order to create high-danger chances, and York is more than capable of doing just that.
After all, York’s ability to make things happen and create is a big reason why Team USA rank first on the power play at the 2021 WJC, boasting a conversion percentage of 40.00%.
2. Quinton Byfield, F, Team Canada
This is an obvious one but it doesn’t make Quinton Byfield any less important to Team Canada in their Quarter-Final clash against the Czech Republic today.
Without a goal in last year’s tournament as his country secured the Gold Medal, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the LA Kings, Byfield has played a much bigger role this year for Team Canada.
Through four games he has seven points (2 G, 5 A) and has lit the lamp twice, while he exploded for a six-point night (2 G, 4 A) in Team Canada’s dismantling of Switzerland earlier in the tournament.
Playing top minutes as the key center for Canada, Byfield is playing in all situations and his physicality and size are both huge weapons for his country.
He’s a real disruptor on the forecheck and he has done a good job of using his size to force turnovers.
Plus, with games getting tighter and more harder fought the deeper you go into tournaments, Team Canada will need Byfield to be at his physical best, while using his big frame as a net-front presence both at 5-on-5 and on the power play.
If Quinton Byfield has a good game, maybe his best of the tournament so far, then Team Canada will advance.
1. Trevor Zegras, F, Team USA
Arguably the best and most impressive player at the 2021 World Junior Championship so far has been Team USA forward Trevor Zegras.
Zegras has been absolutely dominant so far with six goals and seven assists for 13 points in four games, leading the entire tournament in points.
Most impressive, though, has been the center’s ability to come up big when his country and team has needed him most.
He sparked Team USA to a must-win 4-0 shutout win over Sweden to top Group B with a goal and two assists, while he boasts an ability to change the momentum of a game with a single elite-level play.
Check out the highlights from tonight's 4-0 win over Sweden. The U.S. has clinched the top spot in Group B, and will take on Slovakia in the quarterfinals on Saturday. #USAWJC | #WorldJuniors
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 1, 2021
Recap: https://t.co/IqOHcV01Xr pic.twitter.com/vRvETNHAkg
Taken with the ninth overall pick by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Zegras has a high ceiling and incredible talent, and it is feasible to project that the left-shot could make the leap to the NHL in 2020-21.
But, for now, Zegras’ focus will be on helping Team USA to advance to the Semi-Finals and he will be crucial against Slovakia.
Playing top-six minutes and excelling on the left-wing, Zegras boasts the type of skill set that could decide a tight game, and he’ll be expected to add to his 13 points.
dark. Next. Four Storylines to watch in 2021 WJC QF
Able to both score and create, in addition to thriving on the power play, there is perhaps no more important player to Team USA than Trevor Zegras, who has the elite talent and the firepower to take his country all the way to the Gold Medal.