As if there was any doubt about the capabilities of Team USA, the team answered with a clutch win over the host Czechs in action at the World Junior Championship on Monday.
A day after beating the Russians 3-1, a team that had embarrassed powerful Canada 6-0 in its previous game, the Americans held steady and got some spectacular playmaking from a Boston University standout.
But it didn't come easily; they got a mighty stiff scare from the hosts, who got a star performance from their goaltender.
Here's our analysis of the big game:
Special teams stall again
After going 1-for-6 against the Russians on the power play, the Americans had success early against the Czechs -- but it didn't last. And, as a bonus, their penalty-killing unit had a less than stellar night as well.
First, with Radek Kucerik off for hooking, Shane Pinto (former South Kent Select) put the Americans on the board 50 seconds later to open the scoring, assists going to Nick Robertson -- who did some nice work behind the net to get Pinto open -- and Oliver Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass).
Aggression proved costly for the Americans late in the first period, when they went down two men after penalties to top defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (interference) and then winger Jacob Pivonka (slashing). The Czechs capitalized, Libor Zabransky scoring his second of the game to make it 2-1 with 14 seconds remaining in the two-man advantage.
And after that, the Americans went o-for-6 on the power play, getting shut down repeatedly with the score 2-2 and then 3-2. Their third goal (see below) came just after a Czech penalty had expired, but there was no doubt the power-play unit was struggling.
The special teams took another hit after that. With Jack Drury off for tripping, Petr Cajka scored to knot the game at 3-3, making it two power-play goals for the Czechs.
How'd the top local players do?
Pinto wasn't the only player with a New England connection to star. Just 1:13 into the second, Arthur Kaliyev scored from an extreme angle at the circle by the boards, with Trevor Zegras (Boston University) notching an assist, his eighth helper in the tournament.
Then, as we were marveling at his eight assists, he added another on Team USA's third goal, which was scored by Drury. And it wasn't just any old routine assist: curling with the puck in the corner, he spun around and flipped the perfect behind-the-back pass to Drury, who was breaking into the deep slot, an insane pass. The two assists gave Zegras the scoring lead for the tournament.
"I'm just playing my game, lanes are opening up and I guess I'm just kind of finding them right now, so it's been pretty good," Zegras told the NHL Network during the second intermission. When asked how he's been able to get all the assists, Zegras said, "I've got good teammates, so that's what it is."
The goalie factor
Spencer Knight (Boston College) was steady, which is what Team USA needed him to be, making 26 of 29 saves. His opponent across the ice, Lukas Parik, faced 43 shots and kept his team in the game.
Cole Caufield emerges
Overshadowed prospect Cole Caufield scored the winner 3:14 into overtime, playing give-and-go with Alex Turcotte. The Americans dominated in OT with the teams at 3-on-3, cycling the puck and using their speed to push the Czechs back on their heels, leading up the goal.
Tip of the helmet should also go to Drury, who took a bad penalty but did go an amazing 14-3 in the face-off circle. Pinto went 13-6. With possession percentages like that, the Americans were starting off at an advantage when it came to creating scoring chances off the draw.
Next up
The Americans leave Group B with a 2-1-0-1 (wins-OTW-OTL-L) record and will face, in the quarterfinals on Jan. 2, Finland.
Paul Grant is an editor and a writer for HockeyJournal.com and Seamans Media. He previously oversaw hockey content at ESPN.com and Sporting News. You can connect with him at pgrant@hockeyjournal.com.
