World Junior Hockey Championships 2016 Results: Sunday Group Scores, Reaction

The World Junior Hockey Championships continued on Sunday, with two games between several teams desperate to either open with a win or recover from an opening loss. 

Below, we'll break down the day's action and group implications.   

Slovakia Beat Belarus, 4-2

Three third-period goals from Filip Lestan, Lukas Hrusik and Juraj Siska helped Slovakia erase a 2-1 deficit and earn a 4-2 win over Belarus on Sunday, the second loss in as many days for the Belarusians. 

Patrik Koch also scored for the winners, while Vadim Malinovsk and Ruslan Vasilchuk found the back of the net for Belarus.

Koch opened the scoring in the first period, ripping a slap shot past goalie Ivan Kulbakov on the power play just seven minutes into the game. Malinovsk answered in the period, however, beating goalie Adam Huska off the rebound.

Early in the second period Belarus took the lead, as Vasilchuk put home a rebound off the power play. But Slovakia came storming back. As Lestan scored on a Belarus giveaway, Hrusik ripped a top-shelf blinder past Kulbakov, and Siska scored in an empty net to secure the win.

“First win is naturally important and a good step forward. We hope to beat the Czechs tomorrow. It’s going to be a good derby,” Lestan said after the game, per Risto Pakarinen of the World Junior Hockey Championships' official website.

“We want to make the playoff stage, and then we’ll see what happens,” he added. 

Slovakia are now tied with Finland atop Group B with three points and will next face their rivals, the Czech Republic. Belarus are all alone at the bottom of Group B with no points and next take on Russia.

Denmark Beat Switzerland, 2-1

Third-period goals from Soren Nielsen and Mathias From fueled Denmark's comeback and 2-1 victory over Switzerland on Sunday.

Noah Rod scored the lone goal for Switzerland in the first period, his second goal in as many games.

For much of the game, it appeared Denmark wouldn't be able to solve goalie Joren van Pottelberghe, who pitched a shutout in the first two periods. But Nielsen's wicked wrister from the left side tied the game just over a minute into the third period, and not long after From put away a loose puck on the rush. 

"We knew from the beginning that if we kept going the whole game, we would have a good chance of winning," Alexander True said after the victory, per Lucas Aykroyd of the championships' official website.

While Denmark continued to press, Switzerland took their foot off the gas pedal.

"We went up 1-0 and then we kind of just went away from our game," Swiss captain Timo Meier said, per Aykroyd. "That’s what cost us the game today."

Both teams next face Canada, with Denmark getting the mighty Canadiens on Monday and Switzerland facing them on Tuesday. While Denmark are sitting pretty in Group A after winning their first game, Switzerland, buried at the bottom of Group A, have now lost both of their contests and are in trouble with Canada looming.