In the Czech Republic, hockey is the only thing on everyone’s mind with the World Junior Championship in full swing. Team USA bounced back after their opening loss to Canada by defeating Germany.
First Period
In the first period, Germany struck first by scoring 2:32 into the game. At the 7:04 mark, Jordan Harris scored on an assist from Trevor Zegras and Arthur Kaliyev. Harris was a third-round pick by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2019 draft, Zegras was the ninth overall pick by the Anaheim Ducks, and Kaliyev was a second-round pick by the Los Angeles Kings.
Shortly after the tying goal from Harris, Zac Jones gave Team USA the lead. Zegras notched his second assist of the night while Shane Pinto tallied his first point. Jones is a third-rounder for the New York Rangers while Pinto is an Ottowa Senators second-rounder.
USA went into the second period holding the 2-1 lead.
Second Period
In the second, it was Germany who again struck first by scoring 2:53 into the period. Six minutes later, USA surrendered another goal to leave them trailing 3-2. The catalyst thus far for USA has been Shane Pinto, and he again stepped up.
Pinto scored 14 minutes into the period at the hands of K’Andre Miller and Trevor Zegras. Miller was the 22nd overall pick by the Rangers in 2018. Zegras wasn’t done in the period as he not only tallied his third assist of the game, but his fourth as well.
Zegras’ assist was accompanied by Jacob Pivonka on the goal scored by Curtis Hall. Pivonka was a fourth-round pick by the New York Islanders while Hall was a fourth-round pick by the Bruins. Pivonka’s goal gave his team the lead heading into the final period, 4-3.
The middle period has been a weak spot for Team USA thus far in the tournament as they have surrendered 5 goals and only scored two.
Third Period
USA was able to create some distance and shut down Germany to seal the victory in the final frame. Bobby Brink and Oliver Wahlstrom scored the games final goal to push USA’s lead to 6-3. Recording an assist for the goals were Nicholas Robertson, Wahlstrom, and Pinto.
Brink was a second-round pick by the Flyers, Robertson was a second-round pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Wahlstrom was the eleventh overall pick by the Islanders.
Points
Shane Pinto is the tournament’s leader in points with six. He has three goals and three assists. His teammate, Trevor Zegras is the tournament’s assists leader with five and he has a total of five points.
USA moved into second place in Group B, only behind Russia, who they play today at 1 pm ET. They’ll need to strengthen their second-period play if they want to take down Russia who just defeated Canada, 6-0.
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