Americans Stay Perfect Against Slovaks

The United States will improve to 2-0 at the World Juniors in Toronto with a 5-2 victory over Slovakia.

After taking just six shots against Canada on Tuesday, Slovakia came into the game against the Americans with a much different mindset. They planned to pepper Joseph Woll often and in lucrative areas, and while they didn’t find the back of the net, they had 12 shots to play their best 20 minutes after four periods of action.

Despite Slovakia playing their strongest period of the tournament, the Americans would put up the first goal. At 10:15 after a few American chances, Tanner Laczynski picked up his own rebound and knocked it in after the puck bounced off of Matej Tomek’s leg and in for the 1-0 goal.

With three minutes to go in the first, the Americans got a goal from their top line. Clayton Keller, who always shines in an American uniform, made a pass in front to Colin White, who doesn’t miss a lot of close range one-timers, giving USA the 2-0 lead.

USA thought they could hold the lead heading into the intermission, but the Slovaks managed to grab their first goal of the tournament. At 18:08 on the power play, 2018 NHL Draft prospect Martin Fehervary tapped in a feed from Boris Sadecky after exploiting a poor defensive effort by the Americans to make it 2-1.

Tage Thompson would get the second period started with potentially the best goal of the tournament. At 22:03, Jack Roslovic fed Thompson in front, who made a beautiful spin deke to keep the puck away from Tomek and put the puck in the back of the net to make it 3-1 USA.

The Americans would score another two to put the game well out of reach. At 28:39, Charlie McAvoy fired a hard slap shot from the point, beating Tomek high blocker for the 4-1 goal. Then, four minutes later, Troy Terry used a screen in front before firing a wrist shot from the slot, giving his team the four-goal advantage heading into the second break. Michal Roman would give Slovakia a second goal, but it wouldn't matter as the Americans would hold on for the 5-2 victory.

The Americans won't have much time off, with a 3:30 PM start against the Russians at the Air Canada Centre. Slovakia will get the day off before their meeting against Latvia on Friday, a game that could decide who gets relegated.

Photo from Anders Marshall/EuroHockey.com

Tweets by @eurohockey