LA Kings prospects were on full display in the World Juniors Gold Medal game between Team USA and Canada.
With Finland winning the Bronze Medal game over Russia, LA Kings prospects swept the medal games. Of course, all eyes were on the Gold Medal game where Team USA and Canada were on a collision course coming out of Groups A and B.
Team Canada was looking to win back-to-back Gold Medals after Akil Thomas scored the golden goal with just under four minutes left to play in a 3-3 game.
Flash forward to 2021.
Team USA featured Alex Turcotte, Arthur Kaliyev, and Brock Faber while Team Canada played Quinton Byfield in Tuesday’s finale. Jordan Spence was a healthy scratch. Heading into the contest, the voters believed Team USA would upset Canada.
Who wins the Gold Medal tonight? #WorldJuniors
— Rink Royalty (@RinkRoyalty) January 5, 2021
Here is how the game went down, in Twitter moments.
1st Period
Alex Turcotte’s goal with 6:35 left in the first period marked the first time Team Canada trailed in this tournament. Turcotte redirected a Drew Helleson shot attempt past Canadian netminder Devon Levi.
https://twitter.com/rinkroyalty/status/1346652576918372352?s=21
https://twitter.com/LAK_Ryan/status/1346652446177849353
https://twitter.com/iihfhockey/status/1346653047401938945?s=21
.@usahockey SCORES! @Turcotte__71 breaks the ice in the first period! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/SMwFgKXKKm
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) January 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/eprinkside/status/1346654101967310851?s=21
After one, the U.S. leads 1-0!#USAWJC | #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/JQEUiiidQ5
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/rinkroyalty/status/1346656377901436928?s=21
STATS CHECK after 20#KingsOnKingsCrime
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) January 6, 2021
USA 1
CAN 0
Turcotte
5:11 TOI
1 GOAL
1 SO
Plus-1
4-for-6 faceoffs (67%)
Kaliyev #ArtyParty
5:42 TOI
1 SOG
+1
Faber
5:32 TOI
1 SOG
Even +/-
Quinton Byfield
4:26 TOI
0 SOG
Minus-1
3-for-4 FO (75%)#WorldJuniors #LAKings
2nd Period
Just 32 seconds into the second period, Anaheim Ducks’ prospect Trevor Zegras scored his seventh goal of the 2021 World Juniors.
https://twitter.com/RinkRoyalty/status/1346661400366596096
It's Zegras time ⌚️ USA leads 2-0 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/4piKsR4eNR
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/IIHFHockey/status/1346661500145041409
https://twitter.com/hayyyshayyy/status/1346661327092199424
Team USA headed to the powerplay with just under ten minutes left in the second period, but it was Bowen Byram for Team Canada who nearly scored a short-handed goal. His shot hit the post, keeping the score at 2-0 for Team USA.
Byram with a chance shorthanded #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/NNCbeDkS0h
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/hockey_robinson/status/1346666934671003648?s=21
https://twitter.com/rinkroyalty/status/1346669061942382592?s=21
STATS CHECK after 20#KingsOnKingsCrime
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) January 6, 2021
USA 2
CAN 0
Turcotte
11:08 TOI
1 GOAL
1 SO
+2
6-for-9 FO (67%)
Kaliyev #ArtyParty
11:44 TOI
1 A (on Zegras G)
3 SOG
+2
Faber
11:26 TOI
1 SOG
Even +/-
Quinton Byfield
8:32 TOI
1 SOG
Minus-1
5-for-6 FO (83%)#WorldJuniors #LAKings
3rd Period
It was the Spencer Knight show in the third period.
Between periods, Turcotte on how to keep attacking: “We’re sticking with what works. Being hard on their defense. Being physical with them down low. That’s what we’re trying to do, that’s our game plan. They had a good pushback there in the second, but we’re in a good spot.”
— Rink Royalty (@RinkRoyalty) January 6, 2021
Golden Knight
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin9) January 6, 2021
In year's past, that McMichael chance went in 100% of the time.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) January 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/gustltweets/status/1346679986879561728?s=21
U-S-A! pic.twitter.com/JK6xCHF8qJ
— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) January 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/usahockey/status/1346680806459097089?s=21
https://twitter.com/siriusxmnhl/status/1346682135382519812?s=21
https://twitter.com/rinkroyalty/status/1346681081186013184?s=21
USA wins its fourth consecutive gold in a final vs. Canada. 2004, 2010, 2017, 2021
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) January 6, 2021