World Junior 2015: Jack Eichel makes brilliant behind-the-back pass for Team USA goal (VIDEO)

Jack Eichel needed, oh, fewer than 14 minutes to produce his first signature play of the world junior championship.

The top NHL draft prospect and Team USA captain found a creative means to shake off Finland's Julius Honka — the first-round pick of the Dallas Stars who plays in the American Hockey League — to set up the first U.S. goal of the tournament. On a power play, Eichel carried down the right-hand side, below the goal line. Then the 18-year-old passed the puck to himself off the end boards to take Honka out of the play before whipping a behind-the-back pass right on the tape of linemate Alex Tuch for the one-timer and a goal. That was the only U.S goal in regulation time before it won 2-1 in a shootout, with Eichel and Winnipeg Jets draft pick Chase de Leo converting in the breakaway contest.

Consider the gauntlet thrown down, Connor McDavid, whose Team Canada will face Slovakia on Friday at 8 p.m.. Or so the media would have you believe.

Eichel and Tuch have cultivated a  shared sixth sense over the past couple seasons. The pair were linemates on the U.S. under-18 team last season before joining rivals Boston University and Boston College. De Leo, of the Western Hockey League's Portland Winterhawks, fills out their line.

(Stick tap: Chris Peters.)

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