Germany2 – Canada2 2:7 (end) | Norway – Russia 0:11 (end) | Czech Republic – USA 1:5 (end)
Switzerland – Sweden2 3:5 (end)
final
Czech Republic
1:5 (0:2, 0:2, 1:1)
USA
Thursday 26.12.2013, 17:30 • Malmo Isstadion, Malmo, Sweden • World Junior Championship
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 17:30.
     
    Welcome everyone from Malmo, we have the second game of the Group A of the World Junior Hockey Championship for you today featuring the Czech Republic and the United States.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Czech Republic: Dolejš (Langhamer) – Šulák, Plutnar, Šidlík, Marcel, Němeček, Koštálek – Pastrňák, Faksa, Volek – Zacha, Simon, Procházka – Kampf, Vrána, Kaše – Sedláček, Tomeček, Zdráhal.

    USA: Gillies (Stolarz) – Skjei, Carrick, Butcher, Santini, McCoshen, Grzelcyk, Slavin – O´Regan, Barber, Kerdiles – Eichel, Erne, Hartman – Copp, Fasching, Matteau – Hinostroza, Dipauli, Shore, Stepan.

    Referees: Stricker, Wiegand (SUI) – Kowert (GER), Muller (SUI).
     
    The players are on the ice and the opening faceoff is moments away.
     
    Team USA defends the gold from last year, while the Czechs want to revenge their defeat in the quarterfinals.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    00:32
    Patrick Marcel (CZE) gets called for hooking and the Americans will go on their first powerplay of the game.
     
    00:39
    Team USA try with a long shot from the blue, Dolejs kicks aside.
     
    00:58
    Martin Prochazka brings the puck to the other end over the left and fires from the spot, Jon Gillies freezes the puck.
     
    01:08
    Team Czech Republic clear the danger away all the way to the other side.
     
    01:21
    Goal for Team USA!
    They started strong from early on and RILEY BARBER strikes a one-timer in on a pass from behind the goal line on the left.

    Assists: Matt Grzelcyk, Nicolas Kerdiles.
     
    01:21
    Team USA continue on the powerplay as they scored on the delayed penalty. Petr Sidlik (CZE) was called for high sticking.
     
    01:59
    Goal for Team USA!
    In less than two minutes they snap a two-goal lead, both on the powerplay. WILL BUTCHER scored on a feed to the right post coming from the left wing.

    Assists: Jack Eichel, Ryan Hartman.
     
    03:35
    What a start to the game for the Americans, a two-goal lead right at the start and they continue to put pressure on the Czechs.
     
    04:34
    Jack Eichel makes steals the puck in the neutral zone and drives in over the left striking a backhander at Dolejs, who stops with the glove and holds on to it.
     
    04:46
    Radek Faksa tries to clear the danger from his zone and thus ices the puck, so the faceoff will come back deep into the zone.
     
    04:49
    Two quick shots by the Americans right off the faceoff, Dolejs saves both and holds on.
     
    05:12
    Martin Prochazka on the left wing tries to slip it into the slot, gets deflected by the defence and the Americans go to the zone.
     
    05:49
    Jon Gillies freezes another shot from the slot by the Czechs, they somehow manage to get shots through despite the defence closing on them pretty well.
     
    06:34
    Jon Gillies has a handful saving shots now, as the Czechs drive into the slot and try a couple of shots.
     
    08:34
    Czechs send the puck ahead for Martin Prochazka but that gets anticipated well by the American first line, and they take over.
     
    09:06
    Czechs look to go down the ice, but again their offense is cut by the defence as the puck was intended for Jakub Vrana going over the blue through the middle.
     
    09:50
    The Americans try to produce something in the zone, but lose possession passing behind the net.
     
    10:27
    Jakub Vrana goes for the wrap around though has to stretch the play to the boards, looks for a feed in the slot, but can't find anyone open.
     
    10:58
    Daniel Dolejs with a quick glove stop on Adam Erne who drives the puck to the net through the slot and on the right, but can't lift it enough.
     
    11:34
    The Czechs tried to go for the change and thus cleared the zone, but the dump was from their half so the call is icing.
     
    11:58
    Martin Prochazka man of the action again, but gets hammered into the boards behind Gillis and the Americans take over. Connor Carrick on the hit.
     
    12:49
    The Americans struggle in transition as the Czechs close the gaps ahead at the blue, so no way through.
     
    13:46
    Vojtech Tomecek picks up the loose puck in the Czech zone and skates all the way to the American zone over the left wing, but tried to shoot himself instead of feeding into the slot, and the defence is able to set up and force a turnover.
     
    15:00
    Jon Gillies will hold onto the puck on a shot from the middle just as the Czechs entered the zone. A couple of good saves for him this period.
     
    15:47
    Libor Sulak scoops up the loose puck and takes it over the left into the zone for a 3-on-2 breakaway, but the Czechs struggle a lot on the counters.
     
    16:33
    The Americans try down the ice all the time, though with little or now success as the Czech defence finally woke up. However, Jakub Vrana couldn't do anything on the other side.
     
    17:32
    Radek Faksa passes back to the point for Michal Plutnar who takes a shot from the right, Gillies deflects aside with his stick.
     
    18:27
    Dominik Simon delivers a hit on Steven Santini behind Gillis, but still the Czechs can't keep possession inside the zone.
     
    19:00
    One minute left to play in the first.
     
    19:40
    The Americans keep the puck on the left boards battling the Czechs for it, though they get hammered and the puck gets picked up.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    What a start to the period by team USA and what a period of hockey! The Czechs did a good job moving the puck and attacking, while the Americans scored two early goals to give themselves the edge from early on. Second period can only get better!
     
    Shots on goal: CZE 7, USA 13
    Penalties: CZE 4, USA 0
    Powerplay: CZE 0/0, USA 3/3.
     
    We're back for the second period at approx. 18:28 CET, 13:28 EDT, 21:28 MSK.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    20:33
    Early on pressure on both sides and Dolejs and Gillies have to put some effort in it.
     
    21:19
    Riley Barber feeds in the middle for Nicolas Kerdiles in the slot from the right boards, though he can't shoot at the net.
     
    22:05
    Petr Sidlik looks ahead to Martin Prochazka but the pass is a bit too quick for him, so he doesn't make it in time to have an opportunity on Jon Gillis.
     
    22:48
    The Czechs able to clear the zone after the Americans built on the attack from behind the net.
     
    23:40
    Pavel Sedlacek makes it on time and outskates the defenceman on his side, reaches the puck at the left circle, but the shot goes wide.
     
    24:16
    Prochazka wins the faceoff and passes back to the point on the right for Michal Plutnar, Jon Gillis freezes with the glove save.
     
    24:28
    Dominik Volek with a chance to cut the lead as he gets the puck alone and fires from the perimetre, just above the net and into the glass.
     
    25:06
    Jack Eichel the creator of most American plays creates yet another one, though the shot from the slot is way too high and into the netting.
     
    25:15
    Jack Eichel with the puck once again over the right this time, Daniel Dolejs stones him cold as he fires from the slot.
     
    25:43
    Martin Prochazka with the opportunity in the slot, and the Czechs continue to put pressure firing from all spots, but Gillis deals with it.
     
    26:38
    Hudson Fasching plays the puck down across the blue, but the Czechs close the gap really well and don't allow team USA many opportunites on the offense.
     
    26:47
    Connor Carrick (USA) gets called to the box for tripping, and team Czech Republic will go on their first powerplay today.
     
    26:58
    The Czechs try to keep possession inside the zone, but the American penalty kill is strong and disciplined as they don't even allow them to get back after the clearance.
     
    27:38
    Extraordinary penalty kill, that won them the gold medal, by the Americans, three consecutive clearances.
     
    28:07
    Pavel Zacha makes a nice play in the zone, shoots and the shot is deflected over the glass into the netting, so the faceoff will come before Gillis.
     
    28:42
    So far nothing from the Czechs, while Matt Grzelcyk even had a chance shorthanded, though Daniel Dolejs handles ist well.
     
    29:24
    Goal for Team USA!
    Andrew Copp gets the puck slided for him into the zone on the right and takes it straight at Dolejs firing a hard wrister, deflected to the right but HUDSON FASCHING onskates and picks up the rebound scoring into the empty net.

    Assist: Andrew Copp.
     
    30:44
    The Czechs look a bit stunned, it's not easy for the young players to handle the pressure and a huge lead, while the Americans turn the shaky 2:0 to a comfortable 3:0 lead.
     
    31:18
    Matt Grzelyck with a strike from a severe angle on the left, easy job for Daniel Dolejs.
     
    31:29
    Icing against team Czech Republic as they clear the zone.
     
    31:54
    Nicolas Kerdiles over the right shoots from the circle, Dolejs makes the deflection aside, though the Americans claim it again and pass back to the point.
     
    32:54
    Another icing against the Czechs again on the clearance, wanting to go for the change, their 3rd line has spent some time on the ice now, they could use a break.
     
    33:44
    Americans again in the zone building up the offense, the Czechs put some desperate defending with no possession.
     
    34:13
    Ryan Hartman takes a long a cross-ice feed from the left blue into the right side of the slot, but Daniel Dolejs doesn't let him slide the puck in.
     
    34:56
    A shot from the right by Hartman from a very severe angle just at the goal line, Dolejs has a hard time keeping his skates firm by the post, and nearly drops the puck but still forces a stoppage.
     
    35:29
    A long pass through the middle intended for Andrew Copp in the zone, but he can't race for it and icing called against the USA.
     
    If you're wondering why I'm not mentioning the Czechs, that's because they're not playing sufficiently, the Americans outplayed them in the second period in every aspect of the game.
     
    36:42
    Riley Barber over the left gets around David Nemecek and tries to beat Daniel Dolejs, but he covers the post and doesn't let that one in.
     
    37:04
    Goal for Team USA!
    Hard work pays off! A long shot from the spot gets deflected by Zach Stepan in front of Dolejs, he is quite uncertain about it and couldn't handle the puck so it bounces off into the air, JACCOB SLAVIN waits patiently on the right post and slides the puck in before Dolejs retrieved to the side.

    Assist: Quentin Shore.
     
    37:53
    The Americans score again as they crash the net coming from the right, but the referees wave it off instantly as Dolejs was pushed into the net and the forward was inside the crease.
     
    38:21
    Will Butcher fires wide of the net from the left, and on the right Pavel Sedlacek gets to it taking it outside.
     
    38:39
    Icing team USA as they try to force a breakaway into the zone.
     
    39:00
    One minute left in the second period.
     
    39:22
    Team USA try to keep possession behind the Czech net, but the ruling is a hand pass as someone was down on the ice with a lot of pressure from the opponents.
     
    39:57
    Nicolas Kerdiles tries a shot from way out, just as he passed the centre line, though it's pure statistics, Dolejs deflects with ease.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    The Czechs will have to show up if they want to get anything out of this game. Though it sounds impossible judging by their play in the second period and how dominantly the Americans play. Another two goals building a mountain in front of the Czechs and team USA now have a comfortable lead going into the third period.
     
    Shots on goal: CZE 10 (17), USA 12 (25)
    Penalties: CZE 0 (4), USA 2 (2)
    Powerplay: CZE 0/1, USA 2/2.
     
    The third period coming up at approx. 19:18 CET, 13:18 EDT, 22:18 MSK. Stay tuned, it's action-packed!
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    40:34
    Team USA again early in the zone taking two shots but nether beating Dolejs.
     
    41:29
    Daniel O'Reagan gets the backdoor pass to Riley Barber at the right post, but he sees his shot wide to the right.
     
    42:33
    Pavel Sedlacek in the zone with the puck but Ian McCoshen closes him and takes over possession in the right circle.
     
    43:13
    Dominik Volek looks to send a feed into the slot as he gets into the zone, but the Americans take care of it and force a turnover.
     
    44:06
    Quentin Shore with the puck by the right boards dekes the defenseman in front three times turning and skating back and forth, but behind the net can't feed for anyone.
     
    44:49
    David Pastarnak with the shot from range, Jon Gillies makes a pad deflection to the side.
     
    45:16
    Stefan Matteau (USA) takes a slashing penalty as the Czechs were entering the zone.
     
    45:48
    Goal for Czech Republic!
    MICHAL PLUTNAR waits at the blue in the middle with lots of time before anyone could cover him and fires a precise wrister past Gillies to cut the lead.

    Assists: David Kampf, Ondrej Kase.
     
    46:41
    The Czechs gained some strength and improved their play down the ice with this powerplay tally, while Dolejs makes a dandy save alone with two forwards just outside the crease.
     
    48:07
    No real organization in the zone by either as the Czechs started playing a bit more aggresively to try to answer the USA before the time leaks.
     
    Zach Stepan seems to be in pain at the US bench and will go to the locker for the doctors to examine him. It seems to be his back.
     
    48:46
    Andrew Copp gets the feed in the slot by Fasching from the left, but Daniel Dolejs makes a chest save and holds on.
     
    49:51
    A centre ice takeover from Eichel and gets it down the ice for Jaccob Slavin, though he can't keep possession as David Pastrnak slams him against the glass on the right.
     
    51:29
    Martin Prochazka gets a shot at the US goal, nothing serious.
     
    52:14
    Team USA in the zone again, the shot from the right circle gets deflected by Dolejs and then Daniel O'Reagan misses the net high on the empty net before Dolejs was able to get back on the line.
     
    52:58
    Daniel Dolejs freezes the puck again as the USA still keep firing at him putting more pressure on the Czech defence.
     
    53:06
    Off the faceoff from the right Ryan Hartman hits the goal post and the puck bounces off to the left.
     
    53:43
    Radek Faksa can't keep up with the pressure from Jack Eichel who comes around from behind in the zone and makes the steal feeding to the right, though the shot is handled by Dolejs.
     
    54:16
    Connor Carrick (USA) gets called for cross-checking from behind on Dominik Simon (CZE) but he will also get a penalty for slashing as he hit Carrick with the stick, though Carrick did a bit of acting to draw the penalty. 4-on-4 hockey.
     
    55:03
    Ryan Hartman takes the puck in over the left and drives to the slot alone with the goalie, but Daniel Dolejs between the pipes lifts his arm and deflects the shot into the glass.
     
    56:16
    Both teams are back at full strength.
     
    56:49
    The Czechs clear the zone and the Americans keep possession in their own zone waiting for the rest to set up. They're probably aware they won today.
     
    57:03
    Going down the ice with the pass, the Americans ice the puck.
     
    57:22
    Jon Gillies makes the save from the left in the slot and stops the play.
     
    57:49
    Goal for Team USA!
    Like four weren't enough, VINCE HINOSTROZA scores the fifth! Probably the quickest transition of the night, right from the defence with one touch they get it into the zone for Hinostroza who sneaks past the defence and beats Dolejs alone from the slot with a backhander.

    Assists: Thomas Dipauli, Connor Carrick.
     
    58:00
    Two minutes to go in the game.
     
    59:00
    Nothing significant going on in these final two minutes, besides a few hits against the boards, but the game has calmed as both teams realize this is over.
     
    59:10
    David Nemecek (CZE) goes to the box for slashing, although I think the call should have been boarding.
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    And the siren brings the game to a close, team USA with a convincing win to start the campaign in their quest to defend the title. The Czechs will have to work hard both ways to improve their presentation on the ice. Players of the game coming up.
     
    For team Czech Republic – Dominik Simon,
    For team United States – Stefan Matteau.

    Both players were selected by the teams themselves. The national anthem of the United States of America to honour the winner.
     
    The USA wins it and thank you all for following the game with us today. We have more KHL and WJC action for you ready in the following days. Until next time, goodbye! (19:54:05)
    Commentary by

    Alan Ilijic

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 46. Plutnar (Kampf, Kase) – 2. Barber (Grzelcyk, Kerdiles), 2. Butcher (Eichel, Hartman), 30. Fasching (Copp), 38. Slavin (Shore), 58. Hinostroza (Dipauli, Carrick)

    Czech Republic: Dolejš (Langhamer) – Šulák, Plutnar, Šidlík, Marcel, Němeček, Koštálek – Pastrňák, Faksa, Volek – Zacha, Simon, Procházka – Kampf, Vrána, Kaše – Sedláček, Tomeček, Zdráhal.
    USA: Gillies (Stolarz) – Skjei, Carrick, Butcher, Santini, McCoshen, Grzelcyk, Slavin – O´Regan, Barber, Kerdiles – Eichel, Erne, Hartman – Copp, Fasching, Matteau – Hinostroza, Dipauli, Shore, Stepan.
    Referees: Stricker, Wiegand (SUI) – Kowert (GER), Muller (SUI)
    Attendance: n/a