Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana’s contract is going to be a big storyline this summer. In the meantime, Vrana has killed it so far in his first taste of IIHF Worlds.
Jakub Vrana led his country, the Czech Repblic to a stunning upset over Geromany with two goals in the 5-2 win. The victory ended Sweden’s 17-game World Championship winning streak.
On the game’s first shift at 1:55 Vrana was waiting for a pass just outside the left face-off circle. Vrana got a great pass from Dominik Kubalik as he was going toward the net avoiding defenders.
That’s when Vrana blasted the one-timer past Sweden/New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist to put the Czech Republic up 1-0.
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In the second, the Swedes went in front with goals from Patric Honrqvist and Oskar Lindblom. Kubalik, who set Vrana up for the one-timer the previous period, tied the game 2-2 heading into the third.
Czech went back up thanks to Michael Frolik but needed an insurance goal and they got it from V. Vrana’s second goal of the game came from doing what he does best: using his speed.
After Filip Hronek got the puck near the corner of the boards, he glided a pass all the way up the ice to a charging Vrana. Vrana flew towards the net and Lundqvist had no chance either blink nor stop the puck.
Vrana not only flexed his muscles but stuck his tongue out. Czech Republic added an empty net goal from Jan Kovar to seal the 5-2 victory.
Vrana’s night ended with two goals on four shots in 26 shifts in 12:57 minutes of play. Dmitrij Jaskin also made an appearance in 14:51 minutes of play in 25 shifts. He registered three shots.
#CZESWE #IIHFWorlds @narodnitym are on the board first thanks to a beauty goal by Jakub Vrana 1:55 into the 1st. pic.twitter.com/dGxweBqJIO
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 10, 2019
Top. Shelf.
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 10, 2019
Vrana gets his 2nd of the game and puts @narodnitym up 4-2 over @Trekronorse #CZESWE #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/n6GUDDcrkh
Vrana and Jaskin weren’t the only Capitals in action Friday: Team Russia defeated Norway 5-2 and while Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov were quiet, Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov tallied a secondary assist in the game’s second goal.
Orlov’s assist came with puck protection along the boards. After having the puck along the boards, Orlov made a backhand pass to Mikhail Grigorenko, who completed it with a dish in front of the net to Artyom Anisimov.
The goal put Russia up 2-0 in the first period, they had an earlier goal from Yevgeni Dadonov, who also scored in the second period along with Nikita Kucherov. Russia expanded their lead up to 5-0 before Norway added two in the third.
Vrana, Jaskin, and the Czech Republic are back in action today against Norway.