Denmark’s Petersen allows unfortunate goal on floating shot from center ice

Lasse Petersen caught a bad break on Monday afternoon in the World Junior Championship quarterfinal as a shot placed on net from center ice managed to elude his glove.

Denmark’s run in the World Junior Championship this year has been nothing short of outstanding, with the surprising Danes scooping up six points in the round robin to earn themselves second place in a group that included tournament mainstays such as Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic.

The underdog Danes faced arguably their toughest test of the tournament on Monday, however, as they squared off against a high-flying Russian team. And while Denmark managed to keep the Russians off the board through nearly half of the first frame, the first goal Danish netminder Lasse Petersen allowed is one he’s going to have a tough time forgetting about.

After a turnover in the neutral zone, Russia’s Alexander Polunin scooped up the puck and crossed over the red line before firing what is best be described as a two-zone saucer pass towards Petersen. The Danish netminder stuck out his glove to nab the airborne puck, but the puck somehow, someway eluded Petersen to find the top corner:

That’s a heartbreaking goal against for Petersen and he didn’t get much of a chance to redeem himself. After allowing a second goal against with 10 seconds left in the opening frame, his second goal against on nine shots, Petersen was given the rest of the outing off in favor of Kasper Krog.

It’s hard not to feel for the 19-year-old Petersen, who was taking the start in arguably the most important game of his career. 

Petersen, born in Swan River, Man., is a member of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels. A dual citizen, he has represented Denmark in four prior international competitions.

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