We’re back for the early game featuring the United States and the Czech Republic – a contest featuring four LA Kings prospects: Alex Turcotte, Arthur Kaliyev, Brock Faber (USA), and Lukas Parik (CZE).
Let's gooooo! 🇺🇸#USAWJC | #WorldJuniors
📺: @NHLNetwork
📖: https://t.co/qHavXUeNWY
📊: https://t.co/aRhySNMdOa pic.twitter.com/aqyCqvONEA— USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 29, 2020
Today's 🇺🇲 🆚 🇨🇿 game has huge ramifications on the standings, which will ultimately determine who each team will play in Game 1 of the playoff round on Saturday.
After today, USA only has one prelim game remaining, vs Sweden on NYE.
CZE final game should be a layup vs Austria. pic.twitter.com/PI30XaTHrC
— The Mayor | John Hoven (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
Corrected / updated lines (with Parik starting) pic.twitter.com/zhPtGm4ljK
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
Let's get it going! @narodnitym #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/8qgoQ9NEJw
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 29, 2020
The Czech Republic's defense strategy has been pushed into overdrive today. #WorldJuniors https://t.co/jP3JlQXUI3 pic.twitter.com/dy1yUxyREs
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) December 29, 2020
Big scrum in front of Parik’s net with 1:50 remaining in the first period.
The Parik fist bump to Turcotte at the end of that scrum was priceless. #KingsOnKingsCrime
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
Scoreless at first intermission.
STATS CHECK
USA v CZE #WorldJuniors
Turcotte
5:51 TOI
0 SOG
3-for-6 faceoffs (50%)Kaliyev
5:15 TOI
1 SOGFaber
5:48 TOI
1 SOGParik
8 saves (they added one)#KingsOnKingsCrime— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
USA goal 1-0
https://twitter.com/IIHFHockey/status/1344013340708843521
Hard-fought goal for Team USA and Bobby Brink (PHI) smacks in a loose puck to make it 1-0 USA. Brett Berard (NYR) took the initial shot that snuck through. Third line strikes again.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) December 29, 2020
"A greasy, slimy, dirty goal" – @DStarmanHockey
USA 1-0
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
Double Ducks
Zegras to Thrun to Zegras
Goal
2-0— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
With 5:35 remaining in the second period, USA now leads in shots 17-15 after trailing most of the game.
Trevor Zegras just mesmerized the hell out of the Czechs. Puck Gazing 101.
U.S. leads 2-0 late in the 2nd period. pic.twitter.com/dSWkbryEDe
— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) December 29, 2020
🚨🇺🇸 @BobbyBrink19 for 2! @usahockey now up 3-0 over @narodnitym #WorldJuniors@NHLFlyers pic.twitter.com/jDaHLZCKCH
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 29, 2020
3-0 USA after 40 minutes. Brink with 2 goals. We had Brink ranked in our top 20 despite his average skating- to accomplish that high ranking a player needs to be really good in the other aspects of his game. Brink was. Smart player.
— Mark Edwards (@MarkEdwardsHP) December 29, 2020
This is the kind of game this U.S. team has to prove they can win. None of the goals have been easy to come by. Both of Brink's were him standing in front and making plays, and Zegras did that thing where he hypnotizes the other team and somehow gets wide open. Good period.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) December 29, 2020
STATS CHECK after 40 minutes
USA 3
CZE 0#WorldJuniorsTurcotte
12:49 TOI
0 SOG
Plus-1
5-for-13 faceoffs (38%)Kaliyev
10:02 TOI
2 SOG
Even +/-Faber
12:39 TOI
1 SOG
Plus-1Parik
20 saves on 23 SOG#KingsOnKingsCrime— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
We’re back for the third period as Team USA tries to extend their lead.
Trevor Zegras (ANA) keeps scoring goals. Drills a one-timer. I believe it was Brock Faber (LAK) on the pass. Zegras is an offensive machine for the second straight WJC. 4-0 USA.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) December 29, 2020
A delayed penalty works in @usahockey's favour. USA pulls Knight for the extra attacker and @tzegras11 snipes one in. pic.twitter.com/kHUJyo11lm
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 29, 2020
🇨🇿 penalty
2 minutes tripping David Jiricek (‘22)— Hockey Lyfe (@HckyLyfe) December 29, 2020
🚨 Kaliyev #ArtyParty
5-0 🇺🇲#WorldJuniors #KingsOnKingsCrime
— The Mayor | John Hoven (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
This is what Arthur Kaliyev does 🚀
🎥 @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/RIXvo0WrlT
— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) December 29, 2020
"Beautiful. Gorgeous to watch. What a shot! I could watch that all day. What a shot… Nice smile from the #ArtyParty – That is an NHL release and NHL shot. Wow!" – @DStarmanHockey
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
Cole Caufield (MTL) and Arthur Kaliyev (LAK) both get the monkey off their backs in this game as both have scored goals after going without one in the first two games. Nice, quick shot for Caufield to make it 6-0.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) December 29, 2020
#GoHabsGo Cole Caufield showing why Habs fans have every right to be excited for him
6-0 🇺🇸
(🎥 @TSN_Sports) pic.twitter.com/enrBo8062Y— Hockey Lyfe (@HckyLyfe) December 29, 2020
Turcotte down
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
Looks like he took an elbow to the chest. Still down.
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
Turcotte skating slowly to the bench, under his own power.
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
When all of LA held their collective breath pic.twitter.com/PJ6FyPSj0p
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
Here is a look at the check Turcotte(#GoKingsGo) took. https://t.co/M0QlXCfOAQ pic.twitter.com/B55EWa93fj
— Stars n’ Stripes Hockey (@StarsStripesHKY) December 29, 2020
On USA-Czech WJC @DStarmanHockey says LAK scouts he’s spoken to about @Arthur_Kaliyev draw comparison to Thomas Vanek.
— Dennis Bernstein (@DennisTFP) December 29, 2020
Matt Boldy, my goodness.
It's 7-0 USA. You play to win for the full 60 minutes. #WorldJuniors
— Jon Lane (@JonLaneNHL) December 29, 2020
Trevor Zegras with the sauce, Matt Boldy with the between the legs finish.
The offense is clicking now
🎥 @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/Ng1BIzhPWK
— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) December 29, 2020
USA earns a 7-0 win over the Czech Republic, clinching a spot in the quarterfinal. Spencer Knight (FLA) had a 22-save shutout, Trevor Zegras (ANA) led the way with four points (2-2). Very impressive performance from the U.S. over a Czech team that can frustrate the hell outta you
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) December 29, 2020
Final
🇺🇸- 7
🇨🇿- 0
Players of the game
🇺🇸 Bobby Brink #FlyOrDie
🇨🇿 Radek Kucerik
Next games
🇨🇿 v 🇦🇹 Dec 31 @ 2:00 pm EST
🇺🇸 v 🇸🇪 Dec 31 @ 9:30 pm EST#FlaPanthers Spencer Knight gets a 22-save shutout in the win— Hockey Lyfe (@HckyLyfe) December 29, 2020
Arthur Kaliyev's 6:52 TOI in the third period today was his highest of WJC thus far…
Game 1 v RUS
6:12 first period
5:47 second
4:00 thirdGame 2 v AUS
5:23
4:11
6:00Game 3 v CZE
5:15
4:47
6:52— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
USA coach Nate Leaman on the Czech style – It's a frustrating style. It's a tough style. I give them a lot of credit… We got our game going in the second period and I'm proud of the guys for sticking with it… We showed some balance.
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
🇺🇲 Coach Leaman on Trevor Zegras – This was his most committed game away from the puck. He was very committed and I'm glad he got rewarded offensively.
— The Mayor | John Hoven (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
Leaman on Kaliyev's ice time — Well, we wanted to get him a goal for sure because he's he's been doing a lot of little things well but he's been snake bit. Been telling him, 'Don't cheat the game, keep doing the little things well the team needs, and you're getting your looks'
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
More Leaman – Kaliyev's goal was a big-time goal, very happy for him… If anything, in that 3rd period, I was trying to shut down the top guys a little bit. But, there was some bad blood on the ice. They were taking some liberties on our guys and we're just not gonna take that.
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 29, 2020
Trevor Zegras leads the #WorldJuniors in scoring (10p, 3gp) and he has also made his way into the all-time PPG totals Top 10 (minimum 5 GP)https://t.co/0P4UjAn9sA pic.twitter.com/W09zp1fjMb
— Eliteprospects (@eliteprospects) December 29, 2020
Team USA will play their final round robin game on New Year’s Eve vs Sweden.
Next up at the World Juniors today, though, is Canada vs. Switzerland. All games can be seen on NHL Network TV.
RELATED CONTENT:
Kings Of The Podcast: Ep. Q31 with John Vanbiesbrouck of USA Hockey
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Lead photo via IIHF
