World Junior 2015: Max Domi demonstrates 'Canadian hockey' with inspired effort

MONTREAL — The evolution of Max Domi was neatly captured in a few seconds on Friday.

The London Knights captain had one goal and one assist during Team Canada's opening 8-0 rout over Slovakia at the world junior championship, which doubtlessly cued up all sorts of told-you-sos about him being left off the selection camp roster a year ago. However, the difference between Domi now and Domi then was the build-up to the 19-year-old's second-period goal. Canada was up by five and could have gone on autopilot, but from near the top of the Bell Centre, one couldn't miss how rapidly Domi got back to disrupt an odd-man Slovakian rush and then leak out for a lead pass from linemate Sam Reinhart. Even at the end of his shift, he was able to finish by beating goalie Denis Godla glove side. Afterward, Domi acknowledged that was something he likely didn't do as often before the wake-up call of late 2013.

"You try and work on everything when you deal with some sort of adversity," Domi said. "You evaluate your game and go from there.

"Everyone here is expected to backcheck like that," he said. "It doesn't matter what the score is, you have to treat every shift the same. I just got lucky enough to get back and was fortunate enough to get a good pass from Rhino [Reinhart]. I was pretty tired so I just shot it and I don't know how it went in.".

Top-end players getting hailed for the little things while furnishing the Big Shiny Things (i.e., goals) was part of the mystique when Canada produced WJC gold medals like they were rolling off an assembly line. It's very early yet, but that trait was abundant throughout Friday night's opener in front of enthusiastic if less than full Bell Centre crowd.

"That was a heck of a shift, that's what we want to build off of," captain Curtis Lazar said. "They're probably going to show that one in video [before Saturday's game vs. Germany]. That's Canadian hockey — a great backcheck that might have prevented a goal and then he gets rewarded going the other way. Those are pure examples of leadership and whatnot.

"Max had a great game today; everyone had a great game today."

The Reinhart-Domi-Anthony Duclair line combined for six points. Domi also did the heavy lifting to give Duclair a skew of time for a backhand goal in the first period. What also stood out about Domi's effort was how often the Arizona Coyotes first-rounder flicked out a stick to nip a Slovakia breakout in the bud.

"Benny [coach Benoît Groulx] really emphasizes that and you have to be tracking hard and working hard away from the puck," Domi said. "When you do that, everything else seems to fall into place. That's what happened there."

If nothing else, the night attested to the depth Groulx and the staff have been trying cultivate. Six of the eight goals came via third and fourth-liners, with Robby Fabbri tallying twice and Nick Paul, Nick Petan, Brayden Point and Jake Virtanen also burying. (Connor McDavid did have a team-high six shots but was held without a point.)

The top line was also able to set a tone.

"What I liked about Max Domi and Anthony Duclair and Sam tonight, the game was 5-0 and they track hard [on the backcheck]," Groulx said. "I saw Duclair at one point coming from the top of the circle in their zone and taking the puck away at our blueline and turning and attacking. It's easy for certain guys to pass on that, like to pretend that the game is [put] away and they're not coming back. I liked the fact that even at 5-0 or 6-0 we had that effort on our team."

"When I look at Nic Petan the last two  games, he's been skating, attacking the net and passing the puck very well, with confidence," Groulx added. "So have Robby Fabbri and Brayden Point. It was nice tonight to see that offence come from our third and fourth lines. I really feel with our speed up front, we were able to put them on their heels. Connor had many chances. It's tough to defend when it comes from the top three lines and you also have Point who can adjust any place you put him."

It's hard to recall that last time Canada could put out a whole quintet of 19-year-olds as skilled as the Reinhart-Domi-Duclair troika and Darnell Nurse-Shea Theodore first defence pairing. Domi appears to be in his element. He's clearly evolved as anticipated, based on the way become the leader of a less loaded but still competitive Knights squad after returning from his second Coyotes camp before stepping into the national team atmosphere.

"This place is one of the best places to play in the world," he said. "[Montreal] Canadiens fans are unbelievable. It's great to play here."

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.