Head Coach David Carle has guided the USA to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship finals for the second season in a row. The USA faced Czechia in a Saturday night semifinal for a ticket to the championship title game against Finland. Finland defeated Sweden. 4-3, for the chance to face the Americans in the finals tomorrow night.
In a tight game heading into the third period, 2-1 USA, the Czechs looked dangerous for most of the period before captain Ryan Leonard (BC) scored with less than five minutes left in the game to take the steam out of the Czechs, 3-1. Several minutes later, the Czechs wanted to pull their goaltender, Michael Hrabal, but a tripping penalty left the USA a man-up. With a little over a minute remaining, Oliver Moore (Minnesota) delivered the knockout blow for the USA, 4-1, and the USA could breathe easy, coasting the final minute of the game.
The USA and Czechia traded goals in the first period with Gabe Perreault (BC) giving the USA the early lead. Cole Eiserman (BU) scored for the USA to give the Americans a lead they would never relinquish in the second period at 33:41. Eiserman’s goal set-up the dramatic third period when the Americans were forced to defend their lead until Ryan Leonard provided breathing room late in the third period.
The USA faces Finland tomorrow at 5:30 pm MT on the NHL Network as head Coach David Carle goes for his historic second World Championship at the IIHF World Junior Hockey championships.
Solid, workmanlike victory for Team USA against a tough Czech team. Although the score was 4-1, that was a tightly contested game for most of the way. The Czechs are tough–they have some big kids, can muck it up along the boards and clog things up in the middle of the ice, but they also have enough speed and skill to be dangerous in transition and on the PP. Team USA’s PK was sharp, and Augustine made some big saves and once again was positionally sound, had good rebound control, and limited the second chance opportunities. And the offense did just enough.
At times I wished Team USA had pushed the pace a bit more and committed to a more sustained forecheck and put more pressure on the Czechs in their own end, but at the end of the day, it was a solid win.
Another big challenge tonight against the Finns in the gold medal game.
tHE GOOD NEWS IS THE u s WINNING.
tHE BAD NEWS IS THE b.c GUY lEANORD IS A PHENOMINAL P[LAYER. iF WE GET TO st .LOUIS AND END UP PLAYING b. c. LIKE LAST YEAR , WATCH OUT FOR THAT GUY.