USA 6:3 1SV | USA - Slovakia2 (World Junior Championship)

KHL

World Junior Championship

USA – Slovakia2	6:3 (end)	\|	Sweden2 – Finland	4:2 (end)	\|	Canada2 – Czech Republic	4:5 (1:2 after SO)
Russia – Switzerland	7:1 (end)

final

USA

6:3 (2:0, 1:2, 3:1)

Slovakia2

Saturday 28.12.2013, 13:30 • Malmö Isstadion • World Junior Championship

		Welcome. Today's game starts at 13:30 CET local time in Malmö, 07:30 EST.
		This is the second game of the tournament for both of these teams, and they both won their first. The Americans started strong against the Czechs, scoring two goals in the first two minutes, then cruised to a 5-1 win. They got goals from five different sources and 13 players had 1 point, nobody more. Jon Gillies stopped 23 of 24 shots and gets the start again this game. The Slovaks, meanwhile, were utterly dominant against Germany, crushing them 9-2. David Grieger and Martin Reway led the way with 4 points each, and are the co-scoring leaders of the tournament. Marko Dano and Milan Kolena scored twice each. Richard Sabol stopped 19 of 21 shots, and gets the start again. The USA is the clear favourite of this game, but one never knows.
		Starting Lineups: USA: Gillies (Stolarz) – Skjei, Carrick, Butcher, Santini, McCoshen, Grzelyck, Slavin – O'Regan, Barber (C), Kerdiles – Eichel, Erne, Hartman – Copp (A), Fasching, Matteau – Hinostroza, DiPauli, Shore Slovakia: Sabol (Baroš) – Luža, Predajniansky, Rusina, Gachulinec, Valjent, Černák, Kečkeš, Dinda – Kolena (C), Réway (A), Griger – Lunter, Daňo (A), Cehlárik – Minárik, Horanský, Mlynčár – Šimun, Tibenský, Skalický Referees: Steve Papp (CAN), Yevgeni Romasko (RUS) – Andreas Kowert (GER), Joonas Saha (FIN).
		Thee teams are on the ice and the game will start soon. Team USA is designated as the home team and is wearing navy blue uniforms with white and red trim, white numerals, navy pants and white helmets. Team Slovakia is designated as the away team and is wearing white uniforms with blue sleaves and blue and red trim, blue numerals, blue pants and blue helmets.
	00:01	Game started.
	00:11	An icing call right off the bat against USA.
	00:26	Puck deflected out of play in the Slovak zone, faceoff inside.
	00:30	Quick faceoff win by Kerdiles and a shot from the point by Butcher, save Sabol and we'll have another faceoff in the Slovakian zone.
	01:40	Great chance for the Slovaks, Martin Reway centred for David Griger, and Jon Gillies got an arm on the one-timer to keep them off the board. This top Slovak line is dangerous.
	02:41	Low wrister from Copp in front, he's tied up and Sabol turns it to the corner.
	03:00	Icing Slovakia.
	03:55	Adam Erne with a weak-angle shot for USA, stick save Sabol.
	04:25	USA mounting pressure in the Slovak zone, but a couple of shots are blocked and finally the zone is cleared.
	04:36	Icing USA.
	04:39	Daniel O'Reagan ties up his man off the draw and is sent to the box for tripping, so the Slovaks get the first power play of this game.
	04:57	The Americans ice it and Sabol is forced to cover it as Hudson Fasching was bearing down on him. We get some pushing and shoving after the whistle but nothing comes of it, so Slovak power play backed up in their own zone with 1:42 left.
	05:39	Americans ice it again, Slovaks try to get out of their own end with their power play half over.
	06:11	Shot from Grieger hits a stick and then Gillies in the shoulder, Americans ice again.
	06:33	Offside Slovakia with just :06 left in the power play.
	06:43	Mario Lunter gets a shot just as the penalty end, save Gillies and the Americans clear, now back at full strength.
	07:08	Icing USA.
	07:25	First a shot from Minarik, then the Americans back quickly the other way and Sabol makes a save and covers.
	07:28	Clean faceoff win for Barber and a one-timer from Carrick that hits Sabol in the shoulder and goes out of play.
	08:05	Reway with a nice poke check in the US zone and starts some pressure for the Slovaks.
	08:24	They don't get a shot, though, and Riley Barber led a rush the other way, save Sabol and the rebound was loose for a while but he finally covered it.
	08:50	Andrew Copp attempts a wraparound but has no room.
	09:06	Offside Slovakia.
	09:16	Americans get control off the draw and Vince Hinostroza leads a rush up ice, shoots from the left wing and it's caught and held by Sabol. Erik Cernak then gives him a cross-check after the whistle and they push at each other, but nothing comes of it.
	09:23	A couple of faceoff wins by the Americans in the attacking zone and a pair of saves by Sabol. Americans dominating in the faceoff circle so far.
	09:46	Martin Reway leads a Slovakian rush and takes a slapper, save Gillies and he covers.
	09:54	Offside Slovakia.
	10:15	Shot by Gachulinec sneaking in from the point and Gillies makes a pad save, then Lunter on the rebound and another big save by Jon Gillies.
	11:08	Play moves into the Slovakian zone and Stefan Matteau is whistled for interference, so the Slovaks go to the power play for the second time.
	11:47	Slapper from Reway, pad save Gillies and the zone is cleared.
	12:10	Slovaks re-enter the zone and get another shot but the puck is cleared again.
	13:12	Americans back at full strength, Steven Santini takes a shot from the point, Sabol knocks it down with the glove.
	13:52	Shot by Eduard Simon, pad save Gillies, then the Americans back the other way and Richard Sabol makes another save and covers.
	14:13	Puck deflected out of play in the USA zone, faceoff inside.
	15:20	Shot from Grzelcyk, pad save Sabol.
	16:05	Big collision near the blueline between Brady Skjei and Pavol Skalicky just after the US d-man had passed the puck.
	16:24	Now the USA getting its first power play of the game as Lubomir Dinda is called for boarding, as the physical play of this game escalates.
	16:53	Goal for Team USA! Ryan Hartman led a rush down the right wing passed into the slot and JACK EICHEL fired it low stick side on Sabol to open the scoring. Power-play goal. Assists: Ryan Hartman, Will Butcher.
	17:37	Offside Slovakia.
	18:00	Americans going back to the attack, Riley Barber fires a backhander just wide with lots of traffic in front, then Sabol finally manages to cover the puck.
	18:38	USA continues to dominate in the faceoff circle, especially in the Slovakia zone, and had some attacking zone pressure there. Connor Carrick with the shot from the point, Sabol saves and covers.
	19:06	Big slapper from Patrik Uza, kicked out by Gillies.
	19:16	Richard Sabol, the Slovakian goaltender, is now being penalised for delay-of-game. First he botched a clearing attempt and was forced to cover it with pressure bearing down on him. Better to take the penalty than give up an empty-net goal.
	19:59	Goal for Team USA! The Americans with all sorts of pressure on the power play again and the Slovaks were just hoping to get to the horn with out another goal against, but DANIEL O'REAGAN put in a rebound at the side of the net with less than a second remaining. Another power-play goal. Assists: Matt Grzelcyk, Nicolas Kerdiles.
	20:00	1st period finished.
		Shots on goal in the 1st period: USA 22, Slovakia 11. I'd say at least 7 of those American shots came directly off of faceoff wins in the attacking zone, where they have utterly dominated. The Slovaks looked good for a while but they couldn't handle the American power play, which is how they've scored both goals. 2nd period begins at 14:31 CET, 08:31 EST.
		The teams are on the ice and the 2nd period will begin shortly.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:42	Slovakian hand pass out of their own zone and into the neutral zone, so the faceoff comes back to their own end.
	21:28	Valjent a wrister from the point, hits Gillies and goes to the corner.
	22:27	Erik Cernak gets his elbow into the face of Riley Barber and he'll go off for elbowing for two minutes of less, as this dangerous US power play goes back to work.
	22:50	Kerdiles to O'Reagan, quick release but it's blocked and the zone is cleared.
	23:20	Slovaks almost score shorthanded, Marko Dano with the shot, stick save Gillies and the rebound goes to Mario Lunter and Gillies slides across to make a brilliant pad save.
	24:22	Goal for Team USA! I was just about ready to say that the Americans didn't get much going on that power play, but they got it together in the late going and score with :05 left. Butcher dropped to RYAN HARTMAN, who fired a one-time slapper high stick side. Power-play goal. Assists: Will Butcher, Jack Eichel.
	25:04	Now the Slovaks to the power play as Andrew Copp is called for slashing. The Slovaks are 0/2 and have to get something going.
	27:10	USA back at full strength, Slovaks had some possession in the zone but didn't get any shots on net that I saw.
	28:20	Big collision into the end boards between Martin Keckes and Connor Carrick.
	28:58	Turnover in the US zone and a quick shot from Skalicky, pad save Gillies.
	29:09	Then the Americans rush up ice, top line, and Sabol makes a save and covers.
	29:30	Hudson Fasching attempts a wraparound on the backhand, pad save Sabol.
	29:40	And Jon Gillies with another great save, couldn't see the number from here.
	30:06	Penalty for tripping to US defenceman Ian McCoshen, as he upends Milan Kolena, who was favouring his kolena as he was down near the blueline.
	30:27	Puck deflects out of play in the US zone, faceoff inside with 1:39 left in the penalty.
	31:04	Goal for Team Slovakia! The Slovaks finally cash in on the power play, Cehlarik with the initial shot and captain MILAN KOLENA was in front for the rebound. Power-play goal. Assist: Peter Cehlarik
	32:15	Another American penalty as Ryan Hartman goes off for high-sticking in the attacking zone, where the Americans had been putting on some pressure. Power plays have produced all the goals in this game so far and the Slovaks can get back in it if they cash in here.
	32:30	Slapper from Reway with traffic in front, blockered away by Gillies.
	32:57	Goal for Team Slovakia! One-goal game now, as Kolena knocked the puck out of skates and got a shot on goal, but MARTIN REWAY had a couple of whacks at the rebound and finally put it in. Power-play goal. Assists: Milan Kolena, David Griger.
	34:15	Offside Slovakia and Simun is upended after the whistle. Tempers flare but the situation is defused.
	35:20	Huge hit by Stefan Matteau on Patrik Luza.
	36:05	Bodies keep colliding and finally Hudson Fasching is called for interference, and the suddenly red-hot Slovakian power play gets another chance. They're 2/4.
	36:34	Slapper from the point by Daniel Gachulinec with traffic in front but Gillies gives up no rebound, 1:31 left in the penalty.
	37:02	Low wrister from Luza, pad save Gillies.
	37:23	Slapper from Reway hit the side of the net.
	37:39	Finally the puck is deflected out of play with :26 left in the Slovakian power play, faceoff in the US zone.
	38:05	US ice the puck just as the penalty expires ... they survive that one.
	38:36	Turnover leads to a US rush, Hinostroza to Erne and the wrister hits Sabol in the chest, and he holds on.
	39:00	Big defenceman Erik Cernak gets his fist up in the face of Riley Barber and is called for roughing. The US power play is 3/3 and they would dearly love to cash in late as they did in the 1st to make it a 2-goal game again.
	39:47	Offside USA as Butcher couldn't hold it in at the line.
	39:52	Another American offside.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		Shots on goal in the 2nd period (and game): USA 9 (31), Slovakia 11 (22). The Americans scored a third-straight power-play goal early in the period and it looked like they might run away with this game, but Slovakia battled back with two power-play markers of their own now and have cut the deficit to 1, but they still have another half of a US power play to kill off at the start of the third. 3rd period starts at 15:20 CET, 09:20 EST.
		The teams are returning to the ice and the 3rd period will start shortly. The Americans still have exactly half of a power play left, and they're a perfect 3/3 in the game so far, and 5/6 to the tournament at this point.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	40:49	Offside USA on the pass, faceoff back at their own blueline with just :11 left in the power play.
	41:10	Slovakia at full strength and they dump it into the US zone.
	41:53	Turnover deep in the US zone, Cehlarik centres to Horansky in front, one-timer hits Gillies from point-blank.
	42:23	The US was foiled in their last power play but they're back to as Michal Valjent goes off for slashing. Americans 3/4 in the game.
	42:50	Slovaks getting chances shorthanded, Reway feeds Luza and a blocker save Gillies.
	43:07	And now a shorthanded partial breakaawy for Martin Reway, he goes to his backhand and tries to go upstairs but it goes over the glass and out of play. Faceoff outside the US line with 1:16 left in the penalty.
	44:30	Slovakia back at full strength, they had the best two scoring chances of that one.
	46:38	Pavol Skalicky streaks down the right wing and gets a shot on goal and then he's hammered into the net by Connor Carrick, as Jon Gillies freezes the puck.
	47:03	Americans now applying pressure, shot from Barber whistles just wide.
	47:36	Slapper from Reway blocked, Americans start back.
	48:29	Tomas Rusina takes a one-time slapper from a weak angle that Gillies catches and holds for a faceoff.
	48:36	Icing USA. They're feeling the Slovak pressure suddenly.
	48:58	Simon shoots from the boards, Gillies with the paddle-down save.
	49:33	Goal for Team USA! Against the flow of play, the Americans get some breathing room. Carrick's shot went wide and then took a funny bounce off the end boards that went right to MATT GRZELCYK in front, he put it in with Sabol going the wrong way. Assists: Connor Carrick, Tomas DiPauli.
	50:34	The Americans smelling blood now and they're back on the attack, Sabol denies Shore on the doorstep.
	51:13	Barber with the shot, Sabol with the save and the rebound deflects out of play. Faceoff in the Slovakian zone.
	51:40	Hartman shot from the point, hits Sabol up high.
	52:23	Riley Barber hits the base of the post on a US rush.
	52:37	Finally Richard Sabol covers the puck. The Americans were back on their heels not long ago but ever since that 4th goal they're going for the jugular.
	52:58	Kerdiles to O'Reagan 2-on-1, save Sabol, then he recovers and stops Kerdiles on the rebound.
	53:49	Now Gillies scoops up a rolling puck in the US zone and holds on.
	54:15	Goal for Team USA! The pressure continued and that might put this game away. Copp fed STEFAN MATTEAU in front from down low and he fired a beautiful wrister under the crossbar. Assists: Andrew Copp, Hudson Fasching.
	54:59	Icing USA.
	55:03	Quick shot off the draw and Gillies makes a glove save hand holds on.
	55:40	Kolena one-times a rolling puck that goes over the glass and out of play, and he looks skyward after. Faceoff outside.
	55:48	Americans head up ice quickly and Sabol makes the save and covers.
		Attendance: 1658.
	56:34	Goal for Team USA! RILEY BARBER takes a nice feed from Copp, out of the reach of a Slovak defenceman, and fires it low glove side for the 6th US goal. Assists: Andrew Copp, Nicolas Kerdiles.
	57:52	Goal for Team Slovakia! This Slovak line strikes again, as Griger with the pass out front to MARTIN REWAY, who backhands it through the pads of Gillies. It's too late to make a difference in the outcome, but they'll feel a bit better. Assist: David Griger.
	58:51	Offside USA.
	60:00	Game over.
		Shots on goal in the 3rd period (and game): USA 16 (47), Slovakia 8 (30). The Slovaks put up a valiant fight, but the Americans just had too much depth for them to handle, and they eventually pulled away in the end. The Americans improve their record to 2-0, while the Slovaks drop to 1-1.
		Players of the Game: Slovakia – Martin Reway USA – Mark Grzelcyk
		Follow EuroLiveScores' coverage of the entire World Junior Championship, with three other games today and more tomorrow . . . (16:23:41)

Commentary by

Derek OBrien

@@Djob76

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 17. Eichel (Hartman, Butcher), 20. O'Reagan (Grzelcyk, Kerdiles), 25. Hartman (Butcher, Eichel), 50. Grzelcyk (Carrick, DiPauli), 55. Matteau (Copp, Fasching), 57. Barber (Copp, Kerdiles) – 32. Kolena (Cehlarik), 33. Reway (Kolena, Griger), 58. Reway (Griger)

USA: Gillies (Stolarz) – Skjei, Carrick, Butcher, Santini, McCoshen, Grzelyck, Slavin – O'Regan, Barber (C), Kerdiles – Eichel, Erne, Hartman – Copp (A), Fasching, Matteau – Hinostroza, DiPauli, Shore

Slovakia2: Sabol (Baroš) – Luža, Predajniansky, Rusina, Gachulinec, Valjent, Černák, Kečkeš, Dinda – Kolena (C), Réway (A), Griger – Lunter, Daňo (A), Cehlárik – Minárik, Horanský, Mlynčár – Šimun, Tibenský, Skalický

Referees: Steve Papp (CAN), Yevgeni Romasko (RUS) – Andreas Kowert (GER), Joonas Saha (FIN)

Avangard – Admiral	4:1 (end)	\|	HC Yugra – Novosibirsk	2:1 (end)	\|	Avtomobilist – Novokuznetsk	2:0 (end)
Barys – Khabarovsk	8:2 (end)	\|	SKA St. Petersburg – Salavat Yulaev	1:2 (end)	\|	Riga – Lev	1:2 (0:2 after SO)

1st period
	04:39
	11:08
	16:24
	16:53
	19:16
	19:59
1st intermission
2nd period
	22:27
	24:22
	25:04
	30:06
	31:04
	32:15
	32:57
	36:05
	39:00
2nd intermission
3rd period
	42:23
	49:33
	54:15
	56:34
	57:52
Final