U.S. company extracts another bronze from Prague

Recapitulation of the bronze medal game between the United States of America and the Czech Republic could be brief, as the game story itself was really simple, too. Said in one sentence, the Czechs were bombarding Connor Hellebuyck`s net, but thanks to the lead earned in the opening session, it was enough for USA to "just" defefend.

The first period was equal on shots, both teams received eleven. It was the way how either clubs used them, which made the goal-score difference. Meanwhile Team Czech only let Hellebuyck to star, the young American team put two in Czech net.

The score board was opened during the eight minute. Defensive of the Czech Republic national team gave enough of time and space to Brock Nelson to shoot and then to challenge Ondřej Pavelec even one more time when he sent back a rebound. Pavelec made another save, but the puck then appeared in front of uncovered Nick Bonino who had an open net to score in.

Two minutest to go in the first period, Jack Eichel figured out a great shot-pass to Pavelec`s crease, where Trevor Lewis was already prepared to double American lead.

After the intermission, Team U.S. started with a defensive tactic, registering three shots on goal only. But one of the three went in. Maybe the Stars and Stripes did not conver the powerplay they had in the thirty-eight minute, but just after Jiri Novotny`s comeback from the sin bin Charlie Coyle beated Pavelec by his one-timer shot - 3:0.

In between of all the three goal situations, and also later until the end of game, Czechs were looking for a contact-goal, altogether they registered 39 shots towards USA net. However they scored nothing, but a goal-post.

A match full of frustration for the host nation`s team slowly lasted till the final horn, when a joy of the young American team could be started.

For Team USA, this is the second consecutive bronz medal from World Men Championship played in the Czech Republic (2004, 2015). Czechs climb the fourth, for the second time in a row (2014, Minsk + 2015, Prague).

A Czech forward Jaromír Jágr, thinks this happens in sports: "Sometimes you are rewarded even when you do not deserve it. The other days it does not work out. After all, we are grateful the quarterfinal game against Finland went for us, because it could end one way or another. If we lost it, we would not play the last two games at all."

Connor Murphy, a right defenseman of Team USA and one of the happy new holders of bronze says the medals are rather heavy: "Yeah, they are pretty big. Obviously it is not the right color we wanted, but we will take it and will be happy. We are really proud about the team. We came together on a short notice, just two days prior the tournament but now we enjoy this a really proud moment."

Tweets by @eurohockey