Washington Capitals: Lars Eller Scores for Denmark, Jakub Vrana Notches Assist for Czech Republic

Washington Capitals center Lars Eller had both a regulation and shootout goal in Denmark’s 5-4 win over France.

Lars Eller, Washington Capitals Game 5 hero from last year’s Stanley Cup run, was one of the biggest stars in Denmark’s win in their first game of the IIHF World Championship.

Eller’s goal came in the second period and a lot went on prior to the goal. Charles Bertrand put France up 1-0 before Denmark responded with goals from Frederik Storm and Markus Lauridsen to go up 2-1 heading into the first intermission.

France answered with three unanswered goals to go up 4-2 thanks to tallies from Olivier Dame-Malka, Damien Fleury, and Valentin Claireaux.

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Eller’s goal came with 4:31 left in the second period to pull Denmark within one. Off a pass from Mikkel Boedker, Eller launched a wrister from all the way near the top.

Denmark tied the game in the third with a goal from Jesper Jensen to send the game with overtime. After a quiet extra session the game went to a shootout.

Eller was up first, who shot the puck to perfection into the net as he was coming down the ice. It was a back-and-fourth shootout that ended with Storm’s goal to give Denmark the win. Eller played 31 shifts for a total of 21:13, registering three shots for a +2. Denmark will take on Germany today at 10 a.m. eastern time zone.

Jakub Vrana and Czech Republic Win Again: Jakub Vrana picked up where he left off from Friday’s two-goal performance with a solid assist in the Czech Republic’s 7-2 victory over Norway.

This was a game the Czechs simply dominated. Filip Hronek scored the first two goals of the game. After Tobias Lindstrom put Norway on the board, Michael Frolik extended Czech’s lead to 3-1 at the end of the first.

Frolik added another goal in the second and Michael Reptik found the scoresheet to make it 5-1 after two.

After Sondre Olden got one back for Norway, Vrana got in on the action. Vrana got the puck and used his speed to get past the poke check of Stefan Espeland.

V took the puck and did a wraparound pass to Jan Rutta. Rutta’s shot was deflected in by Filip Chytil to make it 6-2. Domink Kubalik rounded out the scoring.

Vrana played in 21 shifts for an ice time of 20:08 with three shots and a +1. Dmitrij Jaskin played 23 shifts for 15:12 and had three shots.

As for Czech Republic’s next game? Get your popcorn ready for Monday. It’ll be Vrana vs. Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuzetsov and Dmitry Orlov aka Russia vs. Czech Republc.