1SV 2:5 USA | Slovakia2 - USA (Hlinka Gretzky Cup)

Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Russia – Finland	7:3 (end)	\|	Canada2 – Switzerland	4:3 (2:0 after SO)	\|	Slovakia2 – USA	2:5 (end)
Czech Republic – Sweden2	5:2 (end)

final

Slovakia2

2:5 (0:4, 2:1, 0:0)

USA

Wednesday 07.08.2013, 17:30 • Hlinka Gretzky Cup

		Welcome. This game starts at 17:30 CEST, 11:30 EDT.
		Good evening from the EASTON Arena in Piestany for the final round robin from Group B between the United States and Slovakia. The U.S., who have four points through two games still need to pick up a victory in order to secure their spot in the semi finals.
		There's two changes from the Slovakia roster from yesterday's defeat to Finland. Maximillian Pajpach, who made 53 saves against Russia starts in goal, while Jakub Bajanik replaces the injured Adrian Sloboda in defence. The United States have also made a change in net, as Blake Weyrick sees his first action, replacing Alex Nedeljkovic.
		The anthems are done, we're about to get going
	00:01	Game started.
	00:33	Penalty against the United States. Austin Poganski gets called for tripping
	00:43	Slovakia seemingly have a great chance as Christian Jaros' point shot is tipped by Matej Palocko and kept out by a great glove save by Weyrick. However, a late offside whistle means the play was irrelevant. Still, nice save!
	01:10	Patrik Koch snaps his stick on a one timer from the point
	01:45	Point shot by Patrik Maier is blocked and the U.S. are able to clear their lines
	02:13	Another penalty against the U.S. Jack Dougherty for hooking. 10 seconds of 5 on 3 for Slovakia
	02:23	Samuel Ivanic gets a shot away which Weyrick knocks away with the blocker. The U.S. are back to four skaters.
	04:15	Shot attempt for Juraj Mily, but his shot is blocked by the leg of Nick Wolff
	04:15	The U.S. are back to full strength
	04:53	Play whistled for a hand pass in the Slovak zone. Faceoff in the neutral zone.
	05:01	Centering pass from MArco Halama nearly gets onto the tape of Adrian Holesinsky, but the Swedish-based forward is unable to get a shot away.
	05:45	Later in the shift Holesinsky shoots wide again. Weyrick covers a bouncing puck off the end boards later in the shift
	06:49	Penalty against Slovkaia, Michal BIlik gets a high sticking minor
	07:10	Pajpach makes a solid stop on a Ryan Mantha point shot
	08:00	The States go close on a scramble in front, Poganski with the chance.
	08:34	Shorthanded chance for Slovakia as Halama wins the puck off of Dougherty. He tries to centre it to Juraj Mily but the pass is off target
	08:49	Slovakia back to full strength
	09:27	Soft hands by Nick Schmaltz in the slot, but his wrist shot sails over the top of Pajpach's net
	09:37	Slovakia ice the puck
	09:42	Keegan Iverson fires a one timer off the draw, but Pajpach gets his pad in the way of the puck
	10:55	Filip Kundrat takes the puck offside
	11:46	Good stop by Pajpach on a Nick Wolff shot. Great work before that by Joseph Snively carrying the puck through the neutral zone with speed
	12:23	Good period of zone pressure for the States
	13:00	Goal for Team USA! Slovakia manage to get it to neutral ice but are unable to get a change. Nick Schmaltz brings the puck into the zone with speed, and the Green Bay Gamblers forward cuts from the left wing to centre, and fires a low shot which gets a tip from PAUL BITTNER and trickles across the line.
	13:48	Good blocker save by Pajpach on an Iverson shot from the right wing
	14:20	The U.S. go offside on the left wing
	14:43	Penalty against the U.S. Jake Wagner gets two minutes for tripping
	15:24	Point shot by Maier goes wide of Weyrick's right post
	15:31	Penalty against Slovakia, Adam Hascic for hooking. 1:12 of 4 on 4
	16:24	Goal for Team USA! There's more ice available on 4 on 4, and NICK SCHMALTZ makes use of it, skating right through centre ice, riding the hit from Christian Jaros, staying on his feet and prodding the puck past Pajpach to give the States a 2-0 lead
	17:37	Both teams back to full strength
	17:49	The puck bobbles up into the Slovak bench
	18:55	Goal for Team USA! It's all just too easy. KEEGAN IVERSON takes the puck up the right wing on the counter attack, and fires the shot from the circle which beats Pajpach glove side.
	19:07	Goal for Team USA! Two goals in 22 seconds. It's a beat down in Piestany. A complete defensive meltdown for Slovakia and NICK SCHMALTZ bags his second of the game.
	19:25	Slovkaia have their best chance of the period as Marco Halama finds Adam Hascic with a nice pass, but Weyrick is able to make the save.
	20:00	1st period finished.
		It seems Maximillian Pajpach is unable to repeat the heroics from Monday's game. The United States look a class above today, and it's all but certainly three defeats in a row for Slovakia.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:38	Great play by Austin Poganski forces Slovak defenceman Ladislav Romancik to take a hooking penalty. Romancik goes on to limp off the ice, meaning that Simon Petras will serve the penalty.
	21:35	Slovakia changed netminders after the first period. Skorvanek for Pajpach. Skorvanek is forced to make a good save on Snively early on the powerplay.
	22:12	Penalty shot coming for Slovakia
	22:12	Confusion over the penalty call. Ryan Mantha gives away the penalty shot but the Slovak forward who had the breakaway has been lying prone on the ice for the last two minutes. A stretcher has been called for and a five minute penalty against Mantha is on the scoreboard.
	22:12	It's Filip Kundrat who is leaving the ice on the stretcher. Adam Hascic will take the penalty shot.
	22:12	Jake Wahlin will sit to serve Mantha's major penalty.
	22:12	Goal for Team Slovakia! ADAM HASCIC scores a beautiful penalty shot. He cut wide left with the puck, moved in on Weyrick and managed to shift his body weight back to the left, and poked the puck in on the forehand. He is mobbed by his teammates on the bench.
	22:27	Goal for Team Slovakia! Two goals in 15 seconds for Slovakia! They make the 4 on 4 play count. CHRISTIAN JAROS fires an absolute rocket from the right point which goes top corner. Can Slovakia come back?
	22:53	To confirm, Ryan Mantha was given a 5+game penalty for hooking, due to the injury caused to Kundrat.
	24:10	Only a great poke check by Marco Halama denies Dylan Malmquist from tapping in the puck at the back door on a shorthanded chance for the U.S.
	25:00	Another shorthanded chance for Malmquist. He makes a great move on Patrik Koch, and then fires but Skorvanek makes the save.
	25:00	Penalty against Slovakia, Koch gets a high sticking penalty.
	25:34	Great shot block by Samuel Ivanic from a shot from the slot
	26:23	Slovakia ice the puck
	26:30	Stanislav Skorvanek gloves a Nick Wolff shot
	26:47	Goal for Team USA! Joseph Snively once again uses his speed in the neutral zone. He drops the puck to KYLE CONNOR who gains the blue line, moves to the left wing and fires a hard shot which beats Skorvanek high. Normal service resumed it seems.
	27:12	Both teams back to full strength
	27:47	Some wild hits been thrown now. Adam Hascic dumps Jerad Rosburg unceremoniously into the boards. The U.S. bench calls for a pen but its not given.
	29:29	Great chance for Slovakia. Dominik Novak finds Adamcik with a centering pass. The Slovak forward can't get all of the shot and Weyrick is able to hold on to the puck after some juggling.
	30:11	Puck goes out of play in the Slovak zone. Face off to the right of Skorvanek
	31:17	Penalty against the U.S. Dylan Malmquist for holding
	31:50	The U.S. clear the zone after Slovakia created space with some good puck movement.
	32:50	The U.S. get a shorthanded chance as captain Ryan Wagner breaks away with speed, but his wrist shot just misses the top corner
	34:40	Snively gets rocked by a hit from Patrik Maier
	36:15	Wagner fires a shot on the turn which Skorvanek knocks away with his blocker
	37:20	Adrian Holesinsky fires the puck from the left wing on a 1 on 2 rush, but Weyrick shoulders the puck over the glass
	37:38	Juraj Mily takes the puck offside
	38:21	Paul Bittner backhands a puck wide.
	38:39	Skorvanek gets out well from his crease to lie on the puck before Kyle Connor can get to it
	39:18	The U.S.A. ice the puck
	39:31	Ryan Wagner brings the puck into the zone with speed on the left wing. He cuts to the middle but Skorvanek saves.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		We're almost ready to go in the third period here. Shots on goal are USA 26 Slovakia 10 through two periods.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	42:00	Kyle Connor fires wide early on.
	42:43	Tight angle shot by Joey Dudek is kicked away by Skorvanek
	43:23	Weyrick deflects the puck over the glass with his stick
	43:37	Skorvanek freezes the puck and is given a whack by Chase Phelps. Some pushing and shoving ensues
	43:37	Phelps is handed a slahsing minor for his troubles.
	44:29	Great glove save by Weyrick. Marco Halama holds the puck for a long time looking for an open man. Patrik Maier is left with a shooting lane at the right point, and is dished the puck. The Slovak defenceman fires a hard one timer which Weyrick athletically snatches out of the air
	45:06	Slovakia ice the puck on the PP
	45:37	U.S. back to full strength. Slovakia then go offside
	46:43	Penalty against Slovakia. Dominik Novak for slashing
	47:15	Skorvanek covers the puck under a mass of bodies.
	47:31	Jack Dougherty gets a wrist shot from the point away which Skorvanek saves.
	48:31	Fantastic lateral movement by Skorvanek means he's able to stop Joey Dudek's shot after a cross crease pass by Kyle Connor
	48:43	Slovakia back to full strength
	49:09	Aaron Haydon fires a hard shot which sails out of play off a Slovak stick
	49:42	The United States ice the puck
	49:51	A hard wrist shot by Patrick Koch just misses the top right corner.
	50:50	Jack Dougherty fires a low wrist shot from the point which Skorvanek snares in his glove
	51:51	Patrik Maier takes a hit in the neutral zone and is prone on the ice. He's able to get up after the whistle goes though
	51:51	Troubling scenes for Slovakia. A stretcher is called to the bench as Dominik Novak is seemingly in trouble. Nothing seemed to happen on ice, but he is carried off the bench on a stretcher, the second Slovak player to leave the game that way.
	53:13	Juraj Mily tries to fire the puck round the boards in his own zone, but a dodgy bounce forces Skorvanek to cover the puck
	53:33	Slovakia go offside down the left wing
	54:17	Simon Petras tries to get a shot away on the turn but it's snuffed out by the U.S. pair of Rosburg and Carlo.
	54:23	Penalty against the U.S. Ryan Wagner gets two minutes for a slash on Stanislav Skorvanek after the Slovak goalie had covered the puck
	55:10	Christian Jaros looks for his second goal of the game but Weyrick keeps his wrist shot from crossing the line.
	55:30	Play whistled up for a Slovak hand pass in the neutral zone
	55:38	Penalty against the United States. Brandon Carlo gets two minutes for delay of game.
	55:38	Time out Slovakia.
	56:09	Slovakia are getting chances on the 5 on 3. A hard shot from Ladislav Romancik is straight at Weyrick who makes the save.
	56:23	The U.S. have one man return to the ice
	57:20	The U.S. manage to clear the zone with relative ease
	57:38	The U.S. back to full strength. A decent chance for Koch as the penalty expires is saved by Weyrick's left pad.
	57:58	The U.S. dump the puck in straight after, but Skorvanek stops play by freezing the puck
	58:02	Centering pass to the slot by Halama is intercepted by Kyle Connor, taking the puck off the tape of Hascic
	59:00	Final minute in the third period.
	60:00	Game over.
		M.V.P for Team U.S.A. – Nick Schmaltz
		M.V.P. for Team Slovakia – Adrian Holesinsky.
		And so concludes round robin play in Piestany. The U.S., with today's 5-2 victory sit atop of Group B with 7 points. Finishing behind them on 6 points is Russia, while Finland and Slovakia miss out on the semi finals, picking up 5 points and 0 points respectively. (19:49:11)

Commentary by

Jon Rowson

@jonrowson

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 23. Hascic (p.s.), 23. Jaros – 13. Bittner (Schmaltz), 17. Schmaltz, 19. Iverson (Turgeon), 20. Schmaltz (Bittner, Poganski), 27. Connor (Snively)

Slovakia2: Pajpach, 20. Škorvánek – Maier, Romančík, Koch, Jaroš, Bilík, Ivanič, Moravčík, Bajanik – Paločko, Halama, Holešínský – Haščič, Sukel´, Milý – Krasničan, Kratochvíla, Kundrát – Petráš, Adamčík, Novák. Trenér: Antón Bartánus.

USA: Weyrick (Nedeljkovic) – Wolff, Carlo, Mantha, Haydon, Nardella, Dougherty, Rosburt, Phelps – Bittner, Schmaltz, Poganski – Connor, Snively, Wahlin – Malmquist, Wagner, Dudek – Milan, Turgeon, Iverson. Trenér: Bob Corkum.

Referees: V. Baluška, R. Müllner – P. Šefčík, R. Výleta

1st period
	00:33
	02:13
	06:49
	13:00
	14:43
	16:24
	18:55
	19:07
1st intermission
2nd period
	20:38
	22:12
	22:27
	25:00
	26:47
	31:17
2nd intermission
3rd period
	43:37
	46:43
	54:23
	55:38
Final