2019 Washington Capitals top draft pick Connor McMichael had a solid performance in the World Juniors tournament that should have Caps fans excited about the future.
Connor McMichael finished the World Juniors with five goals and seven points in Team Canada’s seven tournament games. It all ended on Sunday afternoon as Canada rallied to defeat Russia 4-3.
Canada opened up the tournament with a 6-4 win over USA where McMichael got on the scoresheet. Following that, Canada endured a tough 6-0 shutout at the hands of Russia, an opponent they would ultimately get payback on.
Canada bounced back with a 4-1 win over Germany. In their next game on New Years Eve, McMichael scored in a dominating 7-2 win over the only other Caps prospect that competed in the tournament, Martin Hugo Has of the Czech Republic. Has finished with a goal and two assists in five World Juniors games.
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McMichael’s goal was one of four power play goals in the first period as he banged home a rebound to put Canada up 4-0.
Canada followed that up with a 6-1 win over Slovakia where McMichael once again lit it up to help Canada advance to the semifinals. McMichael finished up a 2-on-1 rush in the second period to put Canada up 2-0.
In the semifinals, Canada cruised it’s way to a 5-0 win over Finland. McMichael got Canada on the board to open up the scoring. It came at 1:48 with a snipe from the left face-off dot. It helped set things up with a rematch with Russia for all the marbles.
The first period was scoreless but the goals would come shortly after the first intermission. First it was Nikita Alexandrov to put Team Russia up 1-0. Dylan Cozens tied the game before Russia went back on top with a goal from Grigori Denisenko. 2-1 was the score after two periods.
Russia added another goal in the third to go up 3-1 from Maxim Sorkin. Staring at a two-goal deficit it was the Caps top prospect who ignited a rally. McMichael scored on a one-time blast after playing the puck off his foot from way downtown.
Just 34 seconds after the @russiahockey goal, @con91mcmichael tips one in for @hc_wjc and we have a 3-2 game!! @capitals @GoLondonKnights pic.twitter.com/2MwwhPDIN7
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 5, 2020
Canada tied the game with a goal from Barrett Hayton before Akil Thomas scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal with 3:58 to go in regulation to go on to win 4-3.
We won’t see McMichael in a Capitals sweater for another couple of years but we can still follow him with the London Knights as he learns the game from Dale Hunter. Stars and Sticks congratulates Connor McMichael on winning the gold!