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WJC preliminary round ends, Othmann scores again, six NYR advance |
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The World Junior Championships preliminary round ended Monday. Team USA and Canada won their respective divisions, going 4-0 in the first round. Teams for six of the seven Rangers players - only Adam Sykora and Slovakia were eliminated - advanced to the next round, though it’s possible not all six will suit up in the quarterfinals.
G Dylan Garand- Canada- 2020 fourth-round pick (103rd)
LW Brett Berard- United States- 2020 fifth-round pick (134th)
LW Will Cuylle- Canada- 2020 second-round pick (60th)
LW Brennan Othmann- Canada- 2021 first-round pick (16th)
RW Jaroslav Chmelar- Czechia- 2021 fifth-round pick (144th)
RW Kalle Väisänen- Finland- 2021 fourth-round pick (106th)
C/LW Adam Sýkora- Slovakia- 2022 second-round pick (63rd)
Monday, Dylan Garand stopped 22 of 25 shots to pick up the victory over Finland. On the only goal Garand allowed, Kalle Väisänen notched the primary assist, continuing his solid tournament. Will Cuylle was ejected for a knee-on-knee hit - the third type of penalty by a Rangers player in the WJC - and he could be suspended for the contest against Switzerland. Othmann, scratched in Game 1, continued his upward ascent and strong play, notching Canada’s first goal of the game.
On the play, Othmann helped create the chance with a strong forecheck. Then, he did what Chris Kreider did so well last season, going to the front of the net, tipping in a shot from inside the blue line. Othmann is up to two goals and four assists, paired at times with Mason McTavish and Connor Bedard. He continues to impress even more game by game, which should assist him in his chances to make the team as he will enter training camp exuding confidence. Not that he will earn a spot but he should come in with a positive mindset.
We will get to see Brett Berard, who fired a power play goal Sunday, possibly against Jaroslav Chmelar and Czechia in the final contest of the night Wednesday. Chmelar missed Czechia’s last game due to injury after he was clipped by Othmann’s skate folliwing Chmelar’s hit on him from behind, though he looks to avoided any further discipline other than the original penalty call. All signs right now point to a USA-Canada final but that is not set in stone. If that ends up being the match up, Rangers fans should get to see four Blueshirts feeding for a chance at the gold medal.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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