|
USA beats Russia and advances to WJC semi-finals: will play Sweden |
|
|
|
|
|
It's the time when it's win or go home for USA and tonight they faced off against Russia in the quarter-finals of the World Junior Championships. USA came on top 4-2 and will face Sweden in the semis
Pre-game it was all but clear that team USA will have to beat the man-on-man Russian defense, while Russians would have to assure that they get creative in order to seal any victory at all. Although mentally this was supposed to be an easier game for the guest side, as they were yet to lose in 1/4 finals against the USA in the history of the tournament.
56 seconds into the game Casey Mittelstadt drew a penalty for US sending Artyom Minulin to the box, the Americans cashed in on it. Shot block in front, Tkachuk to Kieffer Bellows and it's 1-0 USA.
Shots on goal 5-0 early on and as home team kept applying pressure and not giving Russia much to work with it seemed to be a very one-sided affair. Russia's first shot on goal came at 7:10 in the period, but ended up being an easy save for Woll. Russia's in-capabilities turned into another power-play for Americans, fortunately for Russia their PK came in clutch and right after the kill Russia got a funny backhander past Woll to tie things up, 1-1. Sholokhov awarded with the goal.
Game kept being faced paced and Kailer Yamamoto came to do the job, defensive error by Russians, chaos in front of the net and a juicy rebound jumps in, 2-1 US.
Luckily for Russian's (not really they are 1/16 on PP in the tourney) got a power-play after allowing their 2nd goal of the game. It ended up being 1/17 with a man advantage and shortly after Russians lost a guy due to an ejection - 5+20 was awarded following an ugly hit to the head against Jones, which then meant 5 minutes of being down a guy for Sbornaya. Luckily 1st period ended with Russia being down by just one goal.
Although chances were generated the USA failed to record a goal on their big advantage as 2nd period was well underway. Even more so the game had become a little less one-sided and Vitaly Abramov was the guy to have a first real scoring chance in the 2nd frame. Some back and forth hockey, with goaltending showcase by Sukhachyov in visiting net up until mid-point of the game and then Russia caught not being able to count, six guys and that's a penalty. Penalty exchange in full swing here - Russia kills one, then they get to try to capitalize on one, and of course, nothing came of it. Back-to-back power-plays for guests but that couldn't help them to tie it up and left them down by one after 40 minutes of play.
3rd period began with a successful kill by Team USA and a pressure for Russia. Huge power move by Hawks prospect Andrei Alybarmakayan to tie things up early in the third leading to a reset of the game.
American side wasn't ready to give up on the game - goal gave them a boost and playing field changed, it was not their pressure that Russia had to deal with. USA's pressure didn't last long as Russia had their opportunity to take the lead for the first time in the game with their power-play. Of course it kept looking like their power-play practices weren't very attended as USA killed 5th penalty of the game. Minutes later we have a goal, puck thrown into the zone, bounces off the boards and Bellows shoots it straight into the net making the bottle fly and putting Team USA up 3-2 with a little over 7 minutes left in the 3rd.
Russia frustrated and ready to come back, 4:55 left and shot from the point re-directed and goes off the post. Net empty with 1:38 to go in the 3rd, and that was just what Joey Anderson needed to make it 4-2 and clinch a ticket for Team USA into the semi-finals where they will face Sweden on Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, Russian 7 consecutive medal streak has been cut short.
Join the Discussion:
»