2023-12-31 16:26:00
The United States sent a strong message Sunday, with a crushing 10-2 victory over Slovakia to finish the preliminary phase first in Group B of the World Juniors.
In a duel between two teams still undefeated in three games, the Americans took off at the end of the second period and scored seven unanswered goals to bring Slovakia back to earth.
The United States thus ends the preliminary phase with a harvest of 29 goals.
Rutger McGroarty was productive for the Americans with three goals, while Isaac Howard and Gavin Brindley scored twice. Zeev Buium, Ryan Leonard and Cutter Gauthier also hit the mark.
Montreal Canadiens prospect Lane Hutson did well with three assists. He now has five points since the start of the tournament.
Marian Mosko and Filip Mesar scored both goals for Slovakia, which is still assured of finishing second in its group. It was a first goal of the tournament for Mesar, who now has seven points in four games.
The Slovaks remained in the game for nearly 40 minutes of play. Trailing 3-1 with less than three minutes remaining in the second period, Slovakia moved closer to their opponents when Mesar used Ryan Chesley as a screen on the power play to score with a good wrist shot.
The celebrations were, however, short-lived. In the moments following Mesar’s goal, Leonard and McGroarty scored to give the Americans a three-goal lead with one period to play.
The United States then dashed the Slovaks’ hopes of victory with five goals in the third period to go away with a crushing victory.
Jacob Fowler was not in net for the United States. Trey Augustine was very busy with a 38 save performance. Slovakia starter Samuel Urban was removed from the game after allowing seven goals on 33 shots. In relief, Rastislav Elias allowed three goals on 11 pucks.
Both teams are now awaiting the results of Sunday’s other matches to know the identity of their quarter-final opponents.
Sweden falls to Finland
Finland, for its part, took the measure of Sweden in a 5-4 victory in shootouts.
After conceding no goals in its first three matches of the tournament, Sweden suffered its first setback. This is only the fifth defeat in 68 preliminary phase matches since 2008 for the Swedes.
Sweden is still assured of finishing first in Group A.
Konsta Helenius and Jani Hyman scored Finland’s goals in the shootout to give their country victory. Helenius brilliantly slipped the puck between the pads of goalie Melker Thelin in the fourth round, then Hyman served him a superb fake before scoring the winning goal with the backhand.
Hyman previously scored the tying goal late in the third period.
Finland quickly established its rhythm in the first period to take a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Tommi Mannisto was the first player to score against Sweden in the tournament, stopping the streak without allowing a goal. Swede at 192 minutes and 15 seconds. Leni Hameenaho then doubled her team’s lead at the end of the period.
The second period, however, was all about Sweden, who scored four goals to take a 4-3 lead. Isac Born, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Theo Lindstein and Filip Bystedt all scored in the middle period, while Kasper Haltunnen scored for Finland.
Ahead with less than three minutes to play, Sweden came close to putting the nail in Finland’s coffin. A superb dive from Jere Lassila, however, prevented Sweden into an empty net.
Moments later, Nyman tied the game after a putback in front of the net to send everyone into overtime.
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