<p>We’re now two days into the World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Michigan, and both American teams have a perfect 2-0 record.</p>



<p>Modnay’s first game started off with USA Blue getting off to a dominant 4-0 start. It was starting to look eerily similar to their game against the Swedes on Sunday, when they took home the 7-2 victory. But the Finns fought back, making it 5-3 before the final whistle, with all their goals coming in the second half.</p>



<p>USA White, meanwhile, didn’t take long to open the scoring. San Jose Sharks prospect Quentin Musty needed just eight seconds to beat Olof Glifford before Teddy Stiga tipped in Aram Minnetian’s shot for the 2-0 goal just a few minutes later. Victor Eklund would go on to score on the breakaway in the second, but neither team managed to make much noise in the third as USA closed out the 2-1 victory.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="152"></div>



<p>A total of 12 NHL franchises are represented on today’s list of the top performers from Day 2, with Tuesday being a practice day:</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-usa-blue">USA Blue</h2>



<p><strong>#22 Brodie Ziemer, RW (Buffalo Sabres): </strong>I know Ziemer is small, but that’s partly what makes him so underrated. He’s quick, tenacious, and never stops moving, and he was rewarded with a pair of goals in the opening frame. The two-way forward has three goals now over two games, helping to build upon the momentum from his strong showing at the Sabres’ development camp. I think he’s been the best player outside of the Boston College duo of Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard for the Americans in this tournament.</p>



<p><strong>#7 William Whitelaw, RW (Columbus Blue Jackets)</strong>: Whitelaw was USA’s most energetic player, making up for a game that saw him take a major slewfoot penalty late yesterday. Whitelaw nearly had a pair of goals in the first period, showing how hungry he is as more of a fringe player hoping to make the final roster in December. USA needs guys like him to bring the energy in the fourth line and I thought he was dangerous at both ends today.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="194"></div>



<p><strong>#9 Ryan Leonard, RW (Washington Capitals): </strong>Leonard scored the 2-0 goal for the Americans after standing in front of the net and knocking in Gabe Perreault’s shot. The Capitals prospect also landed some big hits, displayed good speed and kept getting himself into open lanes. Perreault was the star on Sunday, but I thought Leonard did a bit of everything today to show what he’s capable of.</p>



<p><strong>#15 Lukas Fischer, D (St. Louis Blues):</strong> Fischer did a bit of everything today, from landing some big hits to setting up a goal. It felt like one of the more complete viewings I’ve had of Fischer over the past year, giving the Finns little room to work with around the American net. And the physicality? Yeah, he brought it, even though it got him in trouble with a penalty in the second period.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="141"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Finland</h2>



<p><strong>#6 Kalle Kangas, D (Pittsburgh Penguins): </strong>Kangas had a pair of assists to help spark the Finnish comeback effort. It didn’t pay off today, but Kangas had a good first game yesterday, too – he’s seeing the ice really well. He also had a couple of nice blocks on the penalty kill, too. It’s not a bad start to the week for the seventh-round pick in Plymouth.</p>



<p><strong>#24 Jesse Nurmi, LW (New York Islanders): </strong>After a decent first game, Nurmi had a nice two-point effort with a goal and an assist. He scored the first one for the Finns and then made a couple of great passes with Topias Hynninen to make it 5-3. Nurmi should be leaned on as one of Finland’s better players at the main event, but even more so here as the Finns are missing some key forwards in Plymouth.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="144"></div>



<p><strong>#31 Kim Saarinen, G (Seattle Kraken):</strong> After a difficult first half for Veeti Louhivaara in the Finnish net, Saarinen took over and looked solid. The big, 6-foot-4 goaltender is in a race to steal the No. 1 goalie spot for the big event in December and while he wasn’t too busy, he stood strong as the pressure kept on mounting. I think Saarinen has a decent shot, despite losing the starting gig at the U-18s, but it’ll be interesting to see how he does in a full game at some point later in the tournament.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">USA White</h2>



<p><strong>#28 Quentin Musty, LW (San Jose Sharks): </strong>Being left off the big team last year must have been personal for Musty because, man, he means business here. He scored eight seconds into the game and was the primary play-driver of USA’s first line. Musty can play with just about anyone and be effective, and while he probably deserved another point or two today, it was a nice day for the Sharks prospect.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="167"></div>



<p><strong>#17 Aram Minnetian, D (Dallas Stars): </strong>Minnentian did the work to make the first goal happen, creating the space and waiting until Stiga was in front of the net for the tip. He then landed a big hit two shifts later and blocked a shot on a good Swedish scoring chance. Minnetian was an extra at the main tournament a year ago but has a much better chance of making the roster this year in a bottom-pairing role. A good showing here would help.</p>



<p><strong>#9 Teddy Stiga, LW (Nashville Predators): </strong>Stiga was listed as the fourth-line left winger, but it didn’t stop him from being productive. He scored the 2-0 goal after directing Minnetian’s tip and in. He then had an excellent look later in the second, just hitting the post. Like usual, he brought the energy to almost every shift and worked as hard as anyone out there. He’s one of my favorite prospects to watch for a reason. </p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="161"></div>



<p><strong>#7 Mac Swanson, C (Pittsburgh Penguins):</strong> When you’re small and invisible, that doesn’t help your stock as a prospect. And yesterday, I felt like Swanson didn’t do a whole lot. I don’t know who talked to him overnight because it felt like watching a whole different player today. Maybe it was the connection with Stiga, who had boundless energy, but Swanson was flying out there and had a few good chances in the slot. He didn’t score, but he had a much better performance on Day 2.</p>



<p><strong>#29 Matthew Mania, D (Los Angeles Kings):</strong> Mania has been the seventh defender in both games so far, but I’ve actually liked his game. A lot of it has been spent clearing space around the net, but he does a good job of that. He has also made some good outlet passes and has been solid in transition. Mania is a bit of a longshot to make the team in December but I feel like he’s been good in both outings.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="6" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="168"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sweden</h2>



<p><strong>#18 Victor Eklund, LW (2025 NHL Draft): </strong>Eklund was one of Sweden’s best U-18 national team players last year and today was a great game for him against older competition. He had a few nice looks early, but he then used his speed to create a breakaway in the second period, cutting USA’s lead in half. Eklund is just full of energy and is so difficult to beat in open space, and someone like that will be able to cause damage in the NHL. Expect Eklund to get drafted early this year, and while he’s not a lock to make the World Juniors, he’s off to a good start.</p>



<p><strong>#24 Simon Zether, RW (Florida Panthers):</strong> One of my biggest issues about Zether in the past is how he’d find ways to just disappear when Sweden needed him most. But through two games, I feel like he’s been one of Sweden’s better players. He had a few good looks around the net and set up plays that ultimately fell apart, but not part of his doing. I think Zether still has a long way to go to prove he can be an NHLer, but he just seems rejuvenated with the U-20 team on a level that was often lacking in the past.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="7" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="211"></div>



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