USA vs. Sweden results: Americans take top spot in Group B with shutout win

Earlier than the ball dropped in New York Metropolis’s Occasions Sq., the puck dropped in Alberta between two hockey powerhouses taking part in for large stakes. The US and Sweden went toe-to-toe within the ultimate recreation of the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship preliminary spherical with quarterfinal positioning on the road.

And simply earlier than the clock hit midnight on the East Coast, Staff USA skated away with a Four-Zero win.

The Individuals opened the scoring simply 1:09 into the sport as Drew Helleson fired the puck towards the web from the nook and beneath the purpose line. Simply over two minutes later it was Trevor Zegras with the purpose from a bizarre angle as he fired it on internet from the left half board and the puck sailed over the shoulder of Hugo Alnefelt. Staff USA added two extra targets within the second interval, one by Ryan Johnson — his first of the tourney — off an exquisite set repay a faceoff win deep within the Swedish zone and one other by Alex Turcotte — additionally his first. That ultimate purpose chased Alnefelt from the web.

“It went nice however I believe it stunned us a bit bit, I believe it stunned us all,” stated head coach Nate Leaman. “Bought a bounce on that first one, after which Trevor simply made an excellent play on that second purpose and I believe it stunned us a bit bit. I believe it rattled them a bit bit and I believed we had a very good first. However the second I believed we acquired a bit free. Within the third interval, we reeled it again in. . . . In order that was a very good win for us, it was a win that we would have liked and we discovered a technique to get it finished.”

“I believe the beginning first was big tonight. I believed it actually acquired our entire group going,” famous crew captain Cam York. “However on the finish of the day, our focus is successful a gold medal. Right now was a giant step in that route. However we have to take it recreation by recreation . . . [and] the fast begin was big for us and we have to proceed doing that down the stretch right here.”

Together with his purpose and helpers on each middle-frame tallies, Zegras is now tied for third all time on the USA’s World Juniors profession factors listing with present NHLer James van Riemsdyk (22 factors). His three factors additionally give him 13 for the 2021 version as he snagged the factors lead from Canada’s Dylan Cozens.

“Clearly, I believe I am taking pictures the puck extra,” Zegras stated when requested to debate what’s totally different from final 12 months, when he had 9 assists. “I believe I’ve a bit extra confidence in these areas. I am taking part in with two nice gamers in Arthur Kaliyev and Alex Turcotte; they’re placing me in some actually good spots and I am getting fairly fortunate and placing them away.”

On the again finish, Spencer Knight continues to roll between the pipes. After giving up 4 targets on 12 pictures in opposition to Russia, Knight has now backstopped the U.S. to consecutive shutout wins — the primary American goalie to perform the feat. He stopped 27 of 27 on New 12 months’s Eve, together with a giant pad cease on a wraparound try within the second interval. 

“He is all the time been actually mentally powerful,” Zegras stated. “Each time he comes off a troublesome recreation, he all the time appears to rebound, and I believe if we need to be a extremely profitable crew right here we want him to be actually good for us each evening, and two shutouts in a row, hopefully, that reinforces his confidence and will get him prepared for the quarterfinals.”

Between Knight and Dustin Wolf, the American netminders haven’t allowed a purpose in 206:35, setting a report that was established in 2015 by the gold medal-winning squad (205:45). Together with Wolf’s shutout of Austria, this marks the primary time USA Hockey has recorded three shutouts on the World Juniors. 

The U.S. was with out Patrick Moynihan, who was out with an harm. The Devils prospect took a late, excessive (and, many would say, soiled) hit in opposition to Austria (the participant was suspended two video games for the hit) and was knocked round in opposition to the Czechs, as nicely. With Moynihan out, the American dressed 12 forwards and eight defensemen, with Senators prospect Tyler Kleven slotting in on the again finish. Moynihan’s standing for the match is unknown.

The Individuals will now face Slovakia within the quarterfinals on Jan. 2 at 10:30 p.m. ET (NHL Community/TSN).

“We all know that now we have to be taking part in our greatest,” stated Leaman who was on the teaching workers of USA Hockey’s 2009 crew that was upset by the Slovaks. “Now it issues that we’re taking part in our greatest and that was mentioned with the fellows after the sport that to have success we won’t go away from it in anyway and that it is a new match now.”

Sporting Information had all of the motion as the US ended 2020 on a excessive word and took the highest spot in Group B. The US has gained the group 5 earlier instances, ending with 4 medals (bronze in 2011; silver in 1996; gold in 2004 and 2017). 

(All instances Jap)

USA vs. Sweden rating, highlights from 2021 World Juniors

Third interval: USA Four, Sweden Zero

11:48 p.m. — Numerous probabilities for the Individuals with the final seconds of the facility play ticking off.

11:45 p.m. — Sweden takes an offensive zone penalty. With eight:04 left within the recreation the Individuals are in full management.

11:41 p.m. — Spencer Knight with a pad save.

11:34 p.m. — Neither crew has a lot hearth on this interval simply but.

11:26 p.m. — Closing 20 of the sport. Closing 34 of 2020. Let’s go.

11:09 p.m. — Per NHL Community, USA has not allowed a purpose in two hours, two seconds with a goalie in internet.

Second interval: USA Four, Sweden Zero

11:07 p.m. — Knight makes a very good shot on the purpose shot by means of visitors.

11:05 p.m. — Soderblom rings one off the pipe. Sweden comes shut however that is the closest they’d get on the facility play.

11:04 p.m. — Kaliyev will get known as for tripping and provides the Swedes their first energy play of the sport.

11:01 p.m. — 5 minutes to go within the interval, USA is outshooting Sweden 27-22.

10:58 p.m. — Spencer Knight does not know the place the puck is and is leaning the fallacious means on a wrap-around try however kicks out the pad on the final second to maintain Sweden off the board.

10:42 p.m. — Goalie change for Sweden. Hugo Alnefelt is out. Jesper Wallstedt is in.

10:41 p.m. — GOAL. Off a scramble within the slot, Arthur Kaliyev feeds Alex Turcotte standing on the doorstep and much facet. Turcotte stuffs the puck in and will get his first of the match. USA leads Four-Zero.

10:40 p.m. — On the penalty shot, Victor Soderstrom stickhandling and he had area after he pulls Knight out of place however loses management of the puck as he goes to his forehand and does not even get a shot off.

10:39 p.m. — Arvid Costmar breaks in and is pulled down by Jackson Lacombe— and we get a penalty shot!

10:36 p.m. — GOAL. Two minutes into the interval. One move throughout the royal highway after a clear faceoff win by Trevor Zegras and Ryan Johnson buries it. USA leads Three-Zero.

10:34 p.m. — Within the first minute of motion, Sweden will get to probabilities together with one by Lucas Raymond that Spencer Knight stops.

10:33 p.m. — Interval is underway.

First interval: USA 2, Sweden Zero

10:14 p.m. — first interval for the Individuals. Spencer Knight stopped 9 pictures because the Individuals put 14 on internet, together with the 2 from unhealthy angles that resulted in targets. 

10:10 p.m. — With two seconds left, Alex Turcotte will get an additional love faucet in on the goalie and the Swedes introduce themselves to him.

10:05 p.m. — Individuals head to the facility play.

9:53 p.m. — After making save Alnefelt is out of place however Alex Turcotte cannot stuff the puck in. Victor Soderstrom with a stick save and a magnificence.

9:44 p.m. — GOAL. Trevor Zegras throws the shot on subsequent from the halfwall on the left boards and it finds daylight above the shoulder of Alnefelt. USA leads 2-Zero.

9:43 p.m. — Groups swap scoring probabilities. 

9:39 p.m. — GOAL. simply 1:09 into the sport, Drew Helleson throws the puck on internet from the nook and beneath the purpose line and it someway goes in. USA leads 1-Zero.

9:37 p.m. — Sport on and because the ref stated: “Let’s end 2020 proper right here.”

Pregame

9:37 p.m. — Silky mitts.

eight:45 p.m. — Traces are right here.

World Juniors 2021: Newest information

Match

USA

Canada