Blue and Gold fingerprints all over the World Junior Semifinals

Sabres d-prospect Jake McCabe
celebrates one of his two
goals in the US win over Canada.

Two of Buffalo's top three draft picks this past June made an impact in Russia during the World Junior semi-finals. Albeit with differing end results.

Defensman Jake McCabe (2nd-round, #44 overall) potted the first two goals for the US in their clash with Canada, and the Americans never looked back in a dominant 5-1 victory.

McCabe, captain of the US squad, was named the teams' player of the game notching a 2g, 1a, stat-line.

Sabres center prospect Mikhail
Grigorenko has been clutch for Russia
the last two games, but the team
came up just short today.

In the "feature presentation," Center Mikhail Grigorenko (#12 overall) drove hard to the net to chip in a game-tying rebound midway through the third period as the Russians came back from an early two-goal deficit to send the game to OT and eventually a shootout.

Grigorenko would get stymied in the shootout as did fellow teammates Nail Yakupov and Nikita Kucherov, as the Swedes advanced to the Finals to meet up with the US.

In addition to the quality contributions of McCabe and Grigorenko, the US squad is coached by former Sabres defensman Phil Housley who, not surprisingly, has his defensemen constantly jumping into the play. McCabe's two goals came just like that as he moved into the slot to pot his goals. (for video, visit our good friend, Kris Baker at sabersprospects by clicking here.)

Link extra:  The Hockey News' Ryan Kennedy says Grigorenko is really the man for Russia, not Yakupov http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/49142-THN-at-the-WJC-Grigorenko-must-lead-Russians-USACanada-ramp-up-for-rematch.html