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Entering Tuesday’s contest with the Czech Republic, the Americans had played two games on opposite ends of the spectrum. The opener featured a team struggling to play a full 60 in a 5-3 loss to Russia. Game 2 was a dominant shutout of 73 shots and 11 goals for Austria less than 24 hours later.
And in Game 3 against the Czechs, the Americans continued their victory with a solid 7-0 victory. Trevor Zegras led the way with five points (two goals, three assists) while Bobby Brink was named Player of the Match supported by his two goals. His future Flyers teammate, American captain Cam York, had three assists. Two-guy head coach Nate Leaman would love to play with Cole Caufield and Arthur Kaliyev. The pair scored consecutively in the third period on two rips from the hoops; Caufield also got an assist on the Match Capper from Matt Boldy.
Spencer Knight also had a solid bounce game between the pipes. The Panthers prospect struggled in the team’s loss to Russia, allowing four goals on 12 shots. Against the Czechs, he threw a shutout of 22 saves, including the stoning of Michal Teply right at the gate. Teply, a 2019 Blackhawks draft pick, led the Czechs with six shots on goal.
Lukas Parik, who backed the Czechs in a shocking 2-0 win over Russia on Sunday, was originally intended to be the replacement. He ended up starting with a last-minute roster change and allowed seven goals on 30 shots. Nick Malik, the son of ex-NHL player Marek, picked him up at the end of the third and stopped the two shots he saw.
The United States is now officially in the quarterfinals; however, seeding is always up for grabs. They will face a tough Swedish side to close a triple New Year’s Eve title.
Sporting News got all the action as the USA and Czech Republic faced off in Group B.
(All Eastern hours)
USA score vs Czech Republic, 2021 World Juniors highlights
Third period: USA 7, Czech Republic 0
4:19 p.m. – Trevor Zegras comes close to the hat trick but pulls it off the post on the power play.
4:17 p.m. – Alex Turcotte passes around the peloton of the net and gets caught by Radek Kucerik. Turcotte is on the ground and sets off slowly after the coach leaves.
4:16 p.m. – The Czechs have two good chances to score from close range, but Spencer Knight drops the pad.
4:16 p.m. – The Czechs take another penalty.
4:15 p.m. – Malik now and Parik is out and not happy.
4:13 p.m. – OBJECTIVE PP. Matthew Boldy (MIN) on the net and he goes through his legs – a famous shootout goal from Nick Malik’s father, Marek – to score. The United States leads 7-0.
4:12 p.m. – Delayed game on the Czech bench. Maybe because they wanted to change goalkeepers and something went wrong.
4:10 p.m. – OBJECTIVE. Cole Caufield (MTL) takes the puck and simply buries it from the bottom of the right circle. His first of the tournament too. The USA leads 6-0.
4:05 p.m. – OBJECTIVE PP. It’s a #ArtyParty in 2021. New York native Arthur Kaliyev (LAK) takes the left circle puck for his first of the tournament. The USA leads 5-0.
4:04 p.m. – The United States has another numerical advantage.
3:58 p.m. – GOAL. On a delayed penalty, Trevor Zegras (ANA) with a clock from the right circle. The USA leads 4-0.
3:56 p.m. – The United States maintains the pressure as the ice continues to tilt.
3:51 p.m. – The final framework is underway.
Second period: USA 3, Czech Republic 0
Shooting in two periods: USA 23, Czech Republic 20
3:32 p.m. – Less than a minute left and Spencer Knight (FLA) makes his best save of the game as he steals Michal Teply (CHI) on his own after the puck hits him.
3:31 p.m. – Landon Slaggert (CHI) pulls in as the puck sinks just beside it. The United States is buzzing now.
3:25 p.m. – OBJECTIVE. Bobby Brink (PHI) at the gate with his stick on the ice (always a good thing) and a defender on him hits in the perfect pass from Matthew Beniers. The USA leads 3-0.
3:22 p.m. – OBJECTIVE. After coincident minors and a 4v4 action, Henry Thrun (ANA) feeds a wide open Trevor Zegras (ANA) in the right circle and he buries him with Parik out of position. The USA leads 2-0.
3:18 p.m. – Spencer Knight with a good save on the Wild prospect Pavel Novak.
3:13 p.m. – Drew Helleson (COL) with a shot from the high lunge and Parik made the save but gave up the rebound. The USA are not there to capitalize but fly in this intermediate framework.
3:08 p.m. – OBJECTIVE. Brett Berard (NYR) gets his initial shot blocked but his second attempt squirts through Parik and dribbles into the paint. Bobby Brink (PHI) jumps on the loose puck and buries it. The USA leads 1-0.
3:07 p.m. – Spencer Knight with another good save but his rebound comes out in the middle
3:05 p.m. – Matthew Beniers absolutely flies in the attacking zone. It is available in the 2021 draft.
2:58 p.m. – Second period in progress.
First period: USA 0, Czech Republic 0
Strokes: Czech Republic 10, United States 7
2:37 p.m. – Sensational. The Czech has a great chance but just can’t tune in on what would have been a slam-dunk goal. A royal road passes a wide open Michal Teply (CHI) who cannot finish on the other side.
2:22 p.m. – Ryan Johnson (BUF) called for the trigger. According to Dave Starman of NHL Network, the United States was worried about the embellishing calls from the Czech … and it was close.
2:20 p.m. – Spencer Knight looks solid in the net so far. He faced six shots and stopped them all.
2:15 p.m. – Matthew Boldy with a good luck at the door as he gets two good looks.
2:14 p.m. – Adam Raska (SJS) takes Cole Caufield (MTL) into the boards near the Czech bench – with a little extra – and gets two for the draft. Coming into the game, the US team is 3 for 7 with the man advantage.
2:12 p.m. – On a turnover, Brett Berard (NYR) has a good chance. Then a mad race but the Americans cannot bury him despite Parik out of position.
2:10 p.m. – An explanation from head coach Nate Leaman as to why Spencer Knight (FLA), and not Dustin Wolf (CGY), is between the pipes for this one.
Leaman said @usahockey the original plan was to play Knight, Wolf, and Knight – in that order – in the first three games. And they stick with it. @NHLNetwork
– Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 29, 2020
2:08 p.m. – Game on.
2:07 p.m. – UPDATE: Lukas Parik is in net for the Czechs.
Before the match
13:21 – The lines are here.
Leaman said he really liked Brock Faber (LAK) with Cam York (PHI) and expected this duo to play a big role in the future. The United States appears to have solidified 3L with Berard (NYR) -Farinacci (ARI) -Brink (PHI). LaCombe and Knight have a chance to bounce back from tough outings against RUS.
– Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) December 29, 2020
World Juniors 2021: Latest news
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