Happy 31 December!

A great hockey game to close the year? Oh, yes, and not for the first time:  the classic clash between Canada and USA is is a habit of New Year’s Eve.  The teams have played nine previous times on New Year’s Eve. Canada has won six times, all but one by a single goal. The two USA wins came by 5-2 and 7-3 counts in 1998 and 1980 and there has been one tie, in 1999 in Skelleftea, Sweden.  The last meeting on day 31 was in Malmo, Sweden  in 2014 when Canada won 3-2 in preliminary round,  sending USA in a very complicate quarter-final Americans lost 5-3 against Russia. All the scorers for Canada of that match – captain Connor McDavid, Curtis Lazar and Nic Petan – still are in the roster as well as goalie Zach Fucale, today starting as back-up. Same Fucale established the second longest individual shutout sequence, going 143:48 without allowing a goal, between 14:36 of the first period of Canada’s final game on Jan. 5 at the 2014 WJC in Malmo and Dec. 29 at 8:26 of the 2nd period of his second game at the 2015 WJC: both goals was scored by Finland. A last curious statistic: despite being one of the classic game also at junior level, Canada dominates the series: in a total of 41 games played, Canada won 31 and lost just 7 with 3 ties, having won eight of the last 10 games in the series. Six of the last 10 games have been decided by a single goal with three having gone to overtime (two of those to a shootout).

Today in Montreal the prize is the top seed of group, meaning taking perhaps the easiest quarter-final. But when the two neighbors are on ice, it’s not just a matter of a simple final place in the table, there is much more. Game is presented also as the challenge between captains Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, both indicated as possible top pick in next draft, but Canadian coach Benoit Groulx is annoyed: "For us, it's Canada versus the U.S., not Connor versus Eichel, two guys among 44 players who will play against each other.” Groulx surprisingly chose Eric Comrie in the net instead of Montreal fans favorite Zach Fucale and moved  Jake Virtanen in the line with MCDavid and Lazar, scrolling down Nick Ritchie in the fourth. No surprises in US roster, with positive Thatcher Demko in the net.

Game started in a great atmosphere, but again without an expected sold-out. Canada has an aggressive start and the game will be very physical.  McDavid and Milano test the reflexes of two goalies. Reinhart almost score in a rebound from et and Demko has to stretch the whole leg to close the door, on the opposite side Anthony DeAngelo powerful shot is well deflected by Comrie. At 6 great chance for Reinhart deflecting a shot from Anthony Duclair right on Demko. Other chance for Duclair at 10, well deflected by Demko. At 11 chance for Motte, his shot passes very close to the post and on counter-attack is Nick Paul to shot on Demko. Same goalie is reactive in deflecting a shot from the blue by Joe Hicketts. At 18 a pounding offensive action by Canada results in five shots, all calling Demko at difficult saves. USA finishes period with a man more for a controversial penalty called to Ritchie. First 20 minutes shows a very positive Canada, able to create several chances and a more timid team USA, more concerned to defend that to look for a way to bite the opponents.

In the second period Canada kills the initial penalty and immediately gives Demko some work with Ritchie and Virtanen. USA has the first good chance after three minutes with a dangerous shot by Alex Tuch but in the counterattack the shot by McDavid was swiped on the line by Will Butcher, with Demko out of action. With Canada constantly in USA defensive zone, finally the goal comes: Max Domi well served shots on Demko, but Reinhart is very smarting in serving for same Domi the rebound with no chance for American goalie, while Bell Centre exploded. Canada earns a power play around minute 30 and suddenly has a great chance with McDavid but Demko is outstanding in deflecting with the pad jumping in the empty cage  and then scores the second goal with Josh Morrisey, well served with a series of quick passes around the American defense. USA are is really in trouble and can breathe only due a penalty called to Anthony Duclair, during which Anthony DeAngelo scores the first goal finishing a pass from Eichel missed by Tuch. The goal lights tempers and Darnell Nurse leaves Canada with a man down in a crucial phase, but his teammates plays well the power play killing and Canada closes the period earning a power play

Canada has again an aggressive start in the last period but the first great chance is for team USA when Alex Tuch misses for inches the decisive deflection on a smart pass from Brandon Carlo. The pressure by Canada is almost unsustainable and American defense is constantly under pressure and the third goal is the logical consequence:  the action of Connor McDavid is unstoppable on wing, his shot is deflected with the body by Demko for the tap-in by Curtis Lazar, allowed after the instant replay.

Curtis Lazar controversial goal validated after the video replay

USA is now apparently tamed: an individual action by Dylan Larkin is the only danger for Comrie’s cage; on the other side of the rink, Demko has a lot of work.  While the fans already celebrate a triumph, USA unexpectedly scores the second goal with Dylan Larkin able to close in the net a tic-tac-toe with always positive Sonny Milano.

Dylan Larkin goal gives more hope to US

Coach Osiecki immediately call the time-out and pull the goalie with two minute to play, a real heartbreaking for the fans, with two good saves by Comrie, until the error of Deangelo that allows the empty net goal by Reinhart. Faceoff in the middle and  USA scores third goal with Dylan Larkin – Comrie not perfect on the shot – to resume the assault looking for a miracle, the definitive end is written by Max Domi, again on empty net.

It's over: Max Domi scores empty-net

Canada deserves to win but the final 2 minutes showed all the temperament of USA, a tough opponent for everyone in the upcoming playoffs. Hosts ends the preliminary round with a perfect record and travel now to Toronto to face Denmark; USA remains in Quebec waiting for a tough quarter against Russia

In the mixed zone captain Curtis Lazar is radiant, despite a black eye: "US is a great team. It was a lot of fun.It was exciting!"

"First of all I wanna congratulate Canada hockey for the great atmosphere they create in Montreal - said US coach Mark Osiecki - it is a great experience playing here for my players. About the game, I try to see the positive side: Canada played very well, but i've seen the never-give-up spirit I demand from my players since training camp in Lake Placid. Now we turn the page and will concentrate on next game"

Coach Benoit Groulx said that his team "had to adapt to US style of play because the first minutes weren't easy to decode. I'm especially pleased with how Darnell Nurse and Shea Theodore shut down Jack Eichel's line"

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