The elimination rounds of the 2018 World Junior Championships began with a clash between the Group B runners-up Czech Republic and Group A third-placed Finland. The Finns are coming off the heels of a close 5-4 defeat to the United States, while the Czechs overcame a feisty Switzerland side 6-3 on the final day of Round Robin play.
A tenuous start by both sides saw the Finns earn some decent zone time, but the Nuoret Leijonat managed just a single shot on net by Kristian Vesalainen which was easily swallowed up. An Urho Vaakanainen slashing call then sent a formidable Czech power play to work, and it didn’t take long for 2018 draft0-eligible prospect Filip Zadina to cash in.