Czechia wins back-and-forth affair with Slovakia to open 2022 World Juniors

The 2022 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship got underway on Tuesday afternoon at Rogers Place in Edmonton (Alberta), with Czechia and Slovakia playing the opening game of Day 1.

Tuesday's tilt between the two nations marked the first meeting at the World Juniors since December 28th 2015, when Czechia defeated Slovakia 2-0.

Slovakia got the scoring started early in the first period. Forward Servac Petrovsky used his speed to chase down a loose puck, before chipping it over the glove side of Czechia netminder Jan Bednar to make it 1-0 Slovakia.

*Correction: Goal scored by Servac Petrovsky— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 9, 2022

The Slovaks then extended their lead just over two and a half minutes later. Matej Kaslik's shot knuckled past Jan Bednar's glove after a great individual effort from Oleksiy Myklukha, making it 2-0 Slovakia.

🚨🚨 @HockeySlovakia with another! Just 2:27 later, Matej Kaslik makes it 2-0 over @narodnitym pic.twitter.com/f5sEiYdd7v— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 9, 2022

Czechia bounced back in a huge way in the second period, scoring three unanswered goals to take a 3-2 lead after two.

Just over two minutes into the period, the Slovaks tried to clear the puck out of their own zone, but Matous Mensik picked up the loose puck and slide it cross-crease to Martin Rysavy who gave the Czechs their first goal of the game.

*Correction: Goal by Martin Rysavy— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 9, 2022

Eleven minutes later, following a strong individual effort from Montreal Canadiens prospect Jan Mysak, the puck was loose in front of Slovakia's net, before redirecting off defenceman Denis Bakala and sliding through the pads of Simon Latkoczy to tie the game at two goals a piece.

Late in the period, Czechia forward Tomas Urban picked up the puck along the half wall and took a high shot on Latkoczy. The puck then landed in crease where Vegas Golden Knights prospect Matyas Sapovaliv shot it into the empty net to make it 3-2 Czechia.

After a sneaky goal by Michal Gut, Matyas Sapovaliv answers to put @narodnitym up 3-2 #CZESVK #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/rmjBnVKyri— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 9, 2022

Czechia captain Jan Mysak extended his nation's lead to 4-2 after ripping the puck glove side on Simon Latkoczy nearly eight minutes into the third period.

The @narodnitym Captain has entered the build. Czechia up 4-2 over @HockeySlovakia #WorldJuniors #CZESVK pic.twitter.com/jt10PvfWK0— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 9, 2022

After two quick penalties by Czechia, Slovakia had a legnthy 5-on-3 power play. On the 5-on-3, Slovak captain Rayen Petrovicky blasted a shot from the point past Jan Bednar to make it 4-3.

Rayen Petrovicky unleashes on the 2-man advantage and Slovakia is within one #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/O41X4BNRsp— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) August 9, 2022

Slovakia was still on the power play and with just over three minutes left in the third period, Matej Kaslik poked the puck through Jan Bednar to tie the game up at 4-4.

It appeared the game would be heading to overtime, but with less than two minutes left in the third, Czechia re-took the lead through Gabriel Szturc, who put the puck top corner while in tight on Simon Latkoczy, making it 5-4 for his country.

The Czechs would hold on to take the three points and defeat their rivals, Slovakia, by a score of 5-4. Czechia will be in action next on Thursday against Finland, while Slovakia will face Canada, also on Thursday.

Players of the Game

Czechia: David Jiricek (one assist, two penalty minutes)
Slovakia: Simon Latkoczy (42 saves on 47 shots)

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