Rangers prospects eliminated as Russia beats Sweden in OT

No New York Rangers prospects will win a gold medal at the World Junior Championships this year.  The last two future Blueshirts were eliminated when Russia beat Sweden 5-4 in overtime in the first semifinal game.

If you thought the New York Rangers game against the Edmonton Oilers was crazy, you should have watched the World Junior Championships semifinal game between Sweden and Russia. It featured major penalties, miraculous saves, seesawing leads, ejections and some dicey officiating.  It all came down to overtime and the Swedes saw their hopes dashed yet again.

Sweden has won 52 straight games in the preliminary round, a record that may stand forever.  However, when it comes to the medal round, they just cannot win it all.  The streak started in 2007 and in 13 years they have won gold only once and they have earned only one silver medal in the last six years.

Rangers first round draft pick Nils Lundkvist (#27) put Sweden ahead 4-3 about four minutes into the third period, rifling a wrist shot from the blue line for a power play goal.

https://twitter.com/IIHFHockey/status/1213493410692251648

It was his second point of the game as he had notched his sixth assist of the tournament in the first period.  In that play he made a sublime pass that Samuel Fagemo was able to convert for a power play goal to pull the Swedes within one goal, trailing 3-2.

The other Ranger prospect, Karl Henriksson, centered for top prospects Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz, but that line didn’t see as much action with Henriksson playing under ten minutes.

The Swedes still have a chance for a medal as they will play in the bronze medal game on Sunday.

About the Rangers prospects

Nils Lundkvist had a very impressive tournament.  He finished with one goal and six assists and played heavy minutes for Sweden.  Watching him play, you can see why he is one of the top offensive defenseman in the SHL.  He doesn’t hesitate to shoot and is a classic power play quarterback.

Though he isn’t big at 5’11”, 175 pounds, he plays a strong game around on the net and gives as good as he gets  He took his only penalty of the tournament in this game.  It was a very soft slashing call on a Russian odd man rush.

With Jacob Trouba, Anthony DeAngelo and Adam Fox all righthanded shots with the Rangers and Joey Keane excelling in Hartford, the fact that the 19-year old Lundkvist could be ready to make a move to North America as early as next season give the Rangers a real surplus of righthanded offensive defensemen.   It’s a great problem to have, but it definitely means the Blueshirts will be looking to deal at least one of them .

Karl Henriksson didn’t make as much of an impression.  He is also a smaller player at 5’9″, 174 pounds. He is still only 18 years old, not turning 19 until next month.  While he is fast, his line with Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz wasn’t as productive as Sweden would have hoped.  Both Raymond and Holtz are presumed to be first round draft picks in June.

In watching Henriksson, it’s clear that he is not ready to make a move to North America and would benefit from a year or two in the SHL. We will probably get another chance to see him in action at next year’s WJC.