Buffalo Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich has made a living over these past six months wowing fans of the Blue and Gold. On Tuesday, that trend continued.
Just one day after Buffalo Sabres prospect Isak Rosen scored three points and two goals in Sweden’s big win to open the IIHF World Juniors, Jiri Kulich responded the following day with a hat trick. Rosen and Kulich may be teammates in Rochester, but the duo are opponents in the World Juniors, and they are among the hottest players in the tournament at the moment.
So if you missed Rosen’s big performance, the above link will take you to his two goals in Sweden’s 11-0 win over Austria. If you saw the havoc Rosen wreaked and are curious to see what Kulich did in Czechia’s 9-0 win over Austria, keep reading.
Buffalo Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich shined in win over Austria
Jiri Kulich made this look effortless. First goal of the tournament for the Sabres prospect. pic.twitter.com/dVM7mPvaBj
— Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) December 28, 2022
In this goal, Kulich reminded me a lot of Victor Olofsson, taking a one-timer from the circle and sending the puck home. Given Olofsson’s recent struggles, if Kulich keeps up this kind of play, there is a good chance he takes over the winger’s role in time.
Jiri Kulich hammers home another power play goal! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/J7DoRO5lIi
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2022
This one was a product of sensational on-ice awareness and accuracy. Kulich skated up-ice, this time toward the top of the left circle, took a quick pass from the forecheck, and drilled yet another one-timer. Once again, this was another Olofsson-like play from the former first round pick.
JIRI KULICH 🎩🎩🎩 pic.twitter.com/xiTHyzD0Ul
— The Charging Buffalo (@TheChargingBUF) December 28, 2022
And finally, we have a breakaway where Kulich didn’t exactly pull off his best impression of Olofsson, but of Tage Thompson. At least that’s who he looked like when handling the quick deke before taking it to the left and sending the puck home.
Overall, it was a monstrous performance from Kulich, whose development in Rochester tells us we will see him with the Buffalo Sabres sooner than later. He was clearly the best player on the ice for Czechia yesterday, and you can bet that this won’t be the last game he takes over in this tournament.
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