World Junior 2015: Slovakia’s Godla gives defending champ Finns an early tournament wake-up call; Day 2’s 3 Stars

Buzzing The Net's Three Stars from Day 2 of the world junior championship:

No. 1 Star: Denis Godla, Slovakia

Denis Godla was God-like for the Slovaks in their 2-1 upset win over Finland, handing the defending champions their second loss in as many nights and having them on the outside looking in after day 2.

Godla, the starting goalie for HK Orange 20 in the Slovakia Extraliga, is a relative unknown entering this tournament. His numbers for his club team, which is a collection of the best under 20 players in Slovakia, are not great, considering the team has only three wins in 20 games so far this season.

That didn’t stop him from turning away the defending champs at nearly every opportunity, his only blemish a Mikko Rantanen offering 7:01 into the first period. He stopped every other puck, making 37 stops in all, for the upset victory.

This coming one day after getting pulled in a 8-0 shellacking at the hands of Team Canada. It’s one way to rebound from a bad start, and Slovakia now sits in third place in Group A with a 1-0-0-1 record.

Slovak captain Martin Reway (2A) led the way offensively with both primary assists on his team’s goals, by Peter Cehlarik and Matus Holenda.

Finland falls into desperation mode with only one point (0-0-1-1) so far and games against Canada and Germany remaining. Juuse Saros made 10 saves in the loss. Slovakia’s next test is a Monday matchup against the United States.

No. 2 Star: Kevin Fiala, Switzerland

Fiala (2G) scored twice for the Swiss to open their tournament schedule with a 5-2 win over the Czech Republic, burying the Czechs in a deeper hole with their second straight loss.

Fiala, the Nashville game-breaker picked in the first round last year, scored both his goals in the opening frame, the first one coming just :46 seconds in and the second one midway through the first to square the game at 2-2.

The loss puts the Czechs last in Group B, and the only team after two days without a point. They have matchups against Denmark and Russia remaining.

Noah Rod (1G, 1A, +1) scored the winner early in the second for the Swiss, who sit atop Group B with their first win of the tournament. Luca Fazzini (1G, 1A, +1) and Timo Meier (2A, +1) chipped in with a pair of points of their own.

The Swiss will look to keep rolling taking on the hungry Russians in the early game Sunday, while the winless Czechs play the Danes Monday.

No. 3 Star: Connor McDavid, Canada

The hand is fine, Canada.

McDavid (1G, 2A, +1) scored his first goal of the tournament on a lovely powerplay marker just 4:11 into the game in a 4-0 victory over Germany and then, in a fit of relief and emotion, punched the glass in celebration. There’s your proof.

More proof was the goal and two assists he put up after getting shut out in Canada’s 8-0 rout over Slovakia Friday night.

Canada also got solid contributions from Nic Petan (3A, +1), who took over the tournament scoring lead with six points, and Eric Comrie, who stopped 17 shots in the win. Canada hasn’t allowed a goal since William Nylander’s penalty shot tally in the pre-tournament tune-up contest against Sweden. They take on the winless Finns Monday night.

Germany takes on the United States Sunday in the late game of two on the schedule.

Honourable mention: Jacob de la Rose, Sweden

The Habs prospect (1G, 2A, +3) led Sweden to a 5-1 convincing win over Denmark with a three-point effort.

He assisted Nylander’s late goal in the first period, before adding two points of his own in the second, including finishing off an Anton Karlsson pass for his second goal of the tournament.

Anton Blidh (1G, 1A, +2), who also assisted de la Rose’s goal, had a two point night, as did Sebastian Aho (1G, 1A, +3) and Lucas Wallmark (1G, 1A, +1). Nick Olesen had the only goal for the Danes, who couldn’t replicate the same magic as Friday night, when they stole a point from Russia in a 3-2 shootout loss.