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U.S. powers past Germany 8-0
Losers dress just 17 skaters, U.S. scores 6 PPG
The win was aided in part by Germany’s ability to dress only 17 skaters as three regulars were injured and unable to play. It was fuelled also by a more common form of man-advantage situation in that the U.S. got six of their goals via the power play.
Four of those goals came in a record-tying second period. The only other team at U20 play to score as many was Czechoslovakia, against USA, in the second period, January 3, 1988.
Goaltender Anthony Stolarz made his debut with Team USA and was called upon to stop only 15 shots for what might be the easiest shutout he'll ever record.
"It was a pretty easy game," he admitted. "They didn't get many scoring opportunities and the defence did a good job of keeping the shots to the outside. We played really disciplined."
The win was the third impressive showing for the defending champions in advance of their showdown with Canada on New Year’s Eve.
"We've been tested a little bit in different aspects of the game," said forward Adam Erne. "The Slovaks took it to us a bit when we got too comfortable, and we've learned little lessons throughout the games. Canada will be our first real test, and I think we're all looking forward to it."
For the Germans, it marked their third straight loss and puts them in a precarious situation before their final game tomorrow against the Czechs. Germany has zero points and the Czechs, in fourth place, have two. It is critical for Germany to win in regulation time if it hopes to avoid the best-of-three relegation in the New Year.
Continue reading"Our players fought hard today," German coach Ernst Höfner said. "We told our players to stay out of the penalty box, but against a good team like this, it is difficult. But five-on-five it was 2-0, which is very good for us."
The Germans had a good chance to get an early goal when they had a lengthy two-man advantage. Nic Kerdiles took a hooking penalty and 37 seconds later the Americans were called for too many men. But the Germans created precious few good chances after which it was just a matter of time before the U.S. scored.
This they accomplished on a screen shot from Hudson Fasching. He skated in over the blue line, used the defenceman to block goalie Patrick Klein, and ripped a long shot between Klein’s legs.
Less than four minutes later the U.S. made it 2-0 on a power play. Vince Hinostroza made a cross-ice pass in the German zone which was tipped by a defender, but the puck landed on the tape of Kerdiles who ripped a shot to the top corner before Klein could get over.
The Germans could not have got off to a worse start in the second. Just ten seconds in, captain Leon Draisaitl drilled Andrew Copp into the end boards from behind and received a match penalty. Then, during that five-minute short-handed situation, Sven Ziegler took a minor, leaving the team with only 11 available skaters on the bench.
Sure enough, the Americans pounced, scoring twice and putting the game out of reach. Jack Eichel fed Will Butcher who snapped a winner past Klein at 2:21 and a minute later Hinostroza got his second of the night by rifling a loose puck over the goalie’s shoulder.
"I tried to hit him and he turned around, and I accidentally hit him from behind," Draisaitl explained. "Obviously, I didn't mean to hit him like that. It just happened quickly. I feel bad about it, for sure."
Later in the period the Americans got another power-play goal courtesy of captain Riley Barber to make it 5-0.
The U.S. added to their power-play total with another midway through the third when a Matt Grzelcyk point shot that went off the leg of Steven Santini. Hinostroza added a late goal.
NOTES: Draisaitl's hit on Copp will be reviewed by the Disciplinary Committee to determine if a suspension is warranted in addition to the match penalty he received today...Stolarz has started a Twitter account @StolietheGoalie in the hopes of reaching out to his fans.
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