World Juniors showcase Lightning talent

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
January 5, 2017

As gloomy and dark as the present feels for the Lightning, the future continues to look bright.

Tampa Bay’s group of prospects playing for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships showed just that over the past two weeks.

The gold medal game of the World Juniors took place on Thursday, and it was one for ages, decided in a shootout between Canada and the United States.

And once again, Tampa Bay’s group of players had an impact on the game won by the U.S. 5-4 in a shootout.

Mathieu Joseph, who had a relatively quiet tournament, broke through in the gold medal game with a goal and two points, converting a breakaway chance in the third period to put Canada up 4-2 at the time, 4:05 in to the third period, for his first goal of the tournament. Joseph finished with the two points, two shots, plus-1 in 17 minutes, 57 of ice time. Joseph played 6:01 in the 20-minute overtime.

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Mitchell Stephens picked up an assist in 18:51 of ice time and nearly won the game with a chance on top of the crease late in overtime.

Anthony Cirelli finished with two shots on goal in 16:55 of ice time and missed on his shootout attempt.

Taylor Raddysh, who enjoyed a four-goal game during preliminary round play, ended the night with two shots on goal in 13:41 of ice time, playing just 58 seconds in the overtime.

For the tournament, Cirelli finished with three goals and seven points, leading Canada with a plus-8 rating, second best of all skaters. He also won 66 percent of his faceoffs in the tournament.

Raddysh finished with five goals and six points, leading the team with three power play goals.

Stephens, who missed the final two preliminary round games with an ankle injury, ended with two goals and five points in five games.

Joseph ended with one goal and five points.

Goaltender Connor Ingram, who was pulled from the semifinal game against Sweden, allowed eight goals on 48 shots in his four games of action.

Full Gold Medal game highlights from IIHF

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