Seven of the eight Chicago Blackhawks players representing their countries were in action on Friday to kick-off the first day of game for the 2021 IIHF World Championships being held in Latvia. Out of Day One we saw two Blackhawks players with multi-point efforts and a massive upset for the host Latvian squad.
Russia (ROC) def. Czech Republic, 4-3
In the first game of the tournament, the Russians topped the Czech Republic in dramatic fashion, scoring the game-winning goal with just 19 seconds left in regulation for a 4-3 win. Blackhawks representation for the Russians at the World Championships is comprised of defenseman Nikita Zadorov and forward Max Shalunov. Neither registered a point in the 4-3 win, but both were +1 and Shalunov went 5-for-11 at the face-off dot.
What a beauty! @VranaJakub ties it for @narodnitym.🇨🇿 It's a 2-2 game after two periods.#RUSCZE #IIHFWorlds @DetroitRedWings pic.twitter.com/bchXNLsSri
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 21, 2021
Getting on the scoresheet in Game One for the Czech side was Blackhawks forward Dominik Kubalík, first with a primary assist on Jakub Vrana’s game-tying 2-2 goal in the second period, and then with a powerplay goal late in the third period to again tie the game at 3-3 at that point.
Dominik Kubalik with PPG ties the game for @narodnitym with 2:37 left!🚨 #RUSCZE #IIIHFWorlds @NHLBlackhawks pic.twitter.com/V2IYDh6Y2z
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 21, 2021
Kubalík adding to his already impressive resume at the World Championships with his two points today he now has 22 points in 19 World Championship games in his career. The Czech Republic play tomorrow against Switzerland, where Kubalík will face fellow Blackhawks teammate Philipp Kurashev, while the Russians are back in action tomorrow against Great Britain.
Germany def. Italy, 9-4
The hype around Blackhawks 2020 first-round pick Lukas Reichel continues to grow as we anticipate his professional debut in North America. In the opening game of the World Cahmpionships with Germany, Reichel notched a goal and two assists in a 9-4 win over Italy.
FORZA ITALIA 🇮🇹
Alex Petan buries off a nastyyyy sauce 🍝
1-1 game! #GERITA #IIHFWorlds@fisg_it pic.twitter.com/W8NDr5tr7E
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 21, 2021
It wasn’t a hot start for Reichel as a first period turnover led to the Italian’s first goal of the game in the opening period. He bounced back with a pair of secondary assists and a right place, right time goal on the doorstep to help Germany get a win in their opening game of the tournament.
Lukas Reichel scores his first of the #IIHFWorlds to extend Germany’s lead!#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/Pu8Yyvkl1b
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) May 21, 2021
Reichel finished with three points, a +3 rating, four shots on goal and went 4-for-9 at the face-off dot in his first IIHF World Championship game. Germany is back in action tomorrow against Norway, a 4:15 a.m. CT start time.
Latvia def. Canada, 2-0
Closing the day with the most stunning result, the Canadians fell 2-0 to host nation Latvia in their opening game of the tournament. Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks pitched a shutout with 38 saves to blank the favored Canadian squad.
Brandon Pirri tries to go high-glove on Matiss Kivlenieks but is denied#IIHFWorlds #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/92SIDxgbyi
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) May 21, 2021
Obviously with no score, there would be no score summary from any Blackhawks players. Brandon Pirri and Brandon Hagel each registered four shots on goal in the contest. Pirri skating 17:42 minutes in the game with Hagel clocking 11:49 minutes. Defenseman Nicolas Beaudin had 8:53 minutes of ice-time, the third-lowest on the Canadian squad and was a -1 in the process.
Latvia takes a 2-0 lead on Canada in the 2nd period. Nicolas Beaudin the net-front defenseman. #IIHFWorlds #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/NZOPXKcgR5
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) May 21, 2021
It’s the first time in Latvian Hockey history that they have defeated Canada in an IIHF World Championship game and they did it with zero current NHL players on their roster. Canada will lick their wounds and look for a rebound effort on Sunday as they prepare to take on the United States.