The Washington Capitals had a strong showing during the first games of the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden. Each of the Capitals prospects in the tournament had a strong showing, registering at least one point each.
The United States, represented by forwards Riley Barber and Thomas DiPauli and defenseman Connor Carrick, beat the Czech Republic 5-1. Barber, the captain of the team, scored one goal and could have easily had a three or four point night. Anytime he was on the ice, he was the best player on the ice. Here’s a gif of his goal.
DiPauli had an assist in the third period and helped Team USA kill 2 of their 3 penalties. Carrick, though he did commit two penalties, had a strong night with an assist in the third period and two shots on goal.
Team Sweden, represented by forward Andre Burakovsky and defenseman Christian Djoos, defeated Switzerland 5-3. Djoos had a huge night, scoring the go-ahead power play goal 2:43 into the third period. He finished the night with a +2 rating and his play stood out. Burakovsky had three quality shots on goal, but was robbed each time. He had an assist on Djoos’s goal and played well defensively.
If you want to watch Barber, DiPauli, and Carrick, Team USA’s next game is on Saturday at 7:30 AM EST. You can watch the game on NHL Network. Team Sweden’s next game is against Norway on Saturday at 9 AM, but it won’t be aired on television. The Capitals future looks bright, thanks in large part to the Capitals prospects playing in the World Juniors.
