. . World News – USA – USA vs. . Results of Slovakia: The Americans get scared, but hold on to the World Juniors 2021 for the semi-finals

As US head coach Nate Leaman said after his team’s New Year’s victory: « It’s a new tournament now. « 

On Saturday evening, the USA will meet Slovakia on ice in the last quarter-finals of the IIHF Junior World Championship 2021. The Americans finished the preliminary round in Group B after scoring three straight wins. They lost the opener against Russia 5-3. It was the sixth time the Americans won their group – four of the last five times they ran away with some hardware (one bronze, one silver, and two gold). .

This squad wouldn’t mind repeating that in 2021. What they don’t want to visit again is what happened last year. Eight players are returning from a 2020 team that were knocked out 1-0 by Finland in the quarter-finals.

« I’ve spoken to some of them individually. . . . They send the message a lot and convey the message to their teammates that this is a new tournament and that this has to be one of our best games, « said head coach Nate Leaman.

The American’s bank boss also wants to keep his own quarter-finals past – and with Slovakia – in the past. In 2009 Leaman was an assistant coach for the U. . S.. . Team that was upset by the Slovaks 5-3 in the quarter-finals. Some recognizable names on this team: 2020 Stanley Cup champions Kevin Shattenkirk and Ryan McDonagh.

Another member of this 2009 squad was James van Riemsdyk, whom Trevor Zegras ranked third in the World Juniors career points on New Year’s Eve when he scored three goals against Sweden. Zegras and now NHLer van Riemsdyk each have 22 points, and the future duck has 13 in the tournament. He will seek to regain his position on the 2021 leaderboard all by himself, while Canada’s Dylan Cozens scored a goal and support for Canada’s win to tie him in points.

Once again this is U. . S.. . will be without Patrick Moynihan with an injury for the second straight game. The prospect of Devils had a late, high (and, as many would say, dirty) hit against Austria (the player was banned for the hit two games) and was thrown around against the Czechs. With Moynihan, the Americans attract 12 forwards and eight defenders. After Tyler Kleven played against Sweden, Rangers prospect Hunter Skinner prevailed at the back end. Moynihan may be available as the Americans advance.

Slovakia won only one game in the preliminary round, a 1-0 squeaker against Switzerland to open the tournament. It took Canada to three goals in one defeat as the players clogged the center, blocked an exorbitant number of shots and thwarted the Canadians’ strong offensive. The Slovaks are not insulted as they have only scored five goals out of 87 shots (second lowest total shot in the preliminary round). .

« Big, physically, physically with the net fronts, » Leaman said when asked what challenges the Slovaks pose. « Structurally they will make it difficult for us. We have to handle pucks. We have to play fast with close support. We may have a small advantage in foot speed, but they certainly make it difficult to play against them. So we need to make sure we move our feet, move pucks quickly, and manage pucks well. « 

Spencer Knight gets the nod on the net. After allowing the Russians four goals out of twelve shots at Christmas, he threw two consecutive failures (following an expulsion of his goalkeeping partner Dustin Wolf). . With a goalkeeper in the net, the Americans did not allow a goal in 206: 35 (180: 21 if you consider Russia’s empty nice guy). .

Sporting News has it all under control as the US and Slovakia battle for a place to play for a medal.

12:59 a. m. – EN GOAL. The Slovaks pull their goalkeeper 1:31 to the left and seven seconds later Matthew Beniers hits to freeze him. USA leads 5-2.

12:54 a. m. – GOAL. Farinacci has the puck behind the net, comes out and hits the backhand. USA leads 4-2.

12:52 a. m. The Americans control the game by just over five minutes when Cole Caufield gets two decent looks – one who fell off the post.

12:44 a. m. – Just under nine minutes and it’s a one-goal game. USA shoot against Slovaks 35-16.

12:40 a. m. – PP GOAL. After five seconds in the power play, Samuel Knazko stops the clearing pass and sends the puck to Dominik Sojka, who is wide open in the left circle for forwarding. USA leads 3-2.

12:39 a. m. – Cam York makes a great block, but the puck goes straight to the slot and Spencer Knight makes it big with a straight shot.

12:38 a. m. – Helleson called to stumble. The Slovaks embark on their third power game. So far they are 0-2 with two shots in the network.

12:25 a. m. – The third period begins and again the Americans have a good chance within the first 20 seconds when he robbed Turcotte on the rebound.

12:04 a. m. – With this goal, the American shutout series ends at 245: 07 with a goalkeeper in the network and a world record in the junior shutout series of 218: 53 (reached from Russia’s empty Netter at Christmas to Kaslik’s goal). .

12:03 a. m. – GOAL. Puck somehow gets to Matej Kaslik and fires the one-timer who beats Spencer Knight. USA leads 3-1.

12:00 a. m. – PP GOAL. Birthday boy Cole Caufield goes down from the right circle. USA leads 3-0.

11:58 p. m. – Trevor Zegras is hit late and seems a little shaken, but the Americans are now 5v3. Zegras appears fine and stays out for the two man advantage.

11:57 p. m. – Americans go to the power game as Roman Faith receives a bad punishment.

11:52 p. m. – Martin Chromiak rings the bell when the Slovaks react to the goal with a good zone time.

11:50 p. m. – GOAL. Ryan Johnson sends the puck into the net and with four guys in between (two Slovaks and two Americans) he walks off John Farinacci’s leg and in. USA leads 2-0.

11:48 p. m. – The Americans are getting close to the Slovak defender’s passport, but Latkoczy is there, of course. He’s got a game.

11:38 p. m. – Another outlier for Team USA when the Slovak defender fell on the blueline and Alex Turcotte was robbed by Simon Latkoczy.

11:34 p. m. – Slovakia keep up the pressure in the offensive zone and Spencer Knight makes a good stop in traffic.

11:32 p. m. – Cole Caufield flies and gets a runaway, but the birthday boy is blocked and cannot sneak in the ricochet.

11:30 p. m. – The second period is a breeze. Zegras is fine and back on the ice.

11:10 p. m. – Trevor Zegras gets up as he enters the Slovak Zone and goes straight back to the U. . S.. . Bank. The hit hit him a little on the chin. He seems fine on the bench.

11:04 p. m. – Seconds after the Americans killed the penalty, Spencer Knight robbed Roman Faith in the slot. Faith grabs her head in disbelief.

10:55 p. m. – PP GOAL. It’s an « Arty Party » as Arthur Kaliyev stays wide open at the back door – how wide open – and he slams it down. USA leads 1-0.

10:54 p. m. – USA gets a power game. The Americans are 6 against 15 with the man advantage.

10:47 p. m. – The United States go to penalty shootouts; You have not yet given up a power play goal in the tournament (5 against 5). . They would kill that one and now 6 against 6.

10:44 p. m. – John Farinacci is pushed up against the boards and goes down the tunnel.

10:40 p. m. – Scramble in front of the Slovak network but cannot finish. Simon Latkoczy is online for the Slovaks.

10:38 p. m. – As the referee in the middle of the ice says, « Let’s have a good time here. « 

Lines for USA (oops) and Slovakia.
Hunter Skinner is joining the USA for Tyler Kleven. #WorldJuniors picture. Twitter. com / KIvWqn5NdY

World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, US National Junior Ice Hockey Team, Slovakia, 2021