7th Heaven: USA Beats The Czech Republic

Team USA forward #7 Sean Kuraly greets his teammates after the score a goal at the 2013 World Juniors Championship in Ufa, Russia on January 2nd, 2013.

Both teams entered the quarterfinals thru two separate paths.  For San Jose Sharks prospect Sean Kuarly and his fellow teammates they won the first game against the German’s that featured an eight goal outburst.  In fact, Sharks prospect Sean Kuraly started off the scoring for Team USA in that game as he scored within the first 20 seconds.  Following their eight goal victory over team Germany, the American’s went cold and fast as they lost back to back games against the Russians and Canadians and scored only two goals combined between the two contest.  When they faced off against the Slovak’s they were in full desperation mode to keep their tournament hopes alive.  In addition, their offense woke up as they scored an impressive nine goals in that secured their spot into the quarterfinals.

For the Czech Republic team they started off the tournament on a different approach as they dropped the first game of the 2013 World Juniors against the Swedes 4-1.  Sharks prospect Tomas Hertl did not get on the scoresheet in that contest.  Following their loss to the Swedes, they defeated the Finnish team 3-1.   In game against Finland, Sharks prospect Hertl finally got on the scoresheet as his registered an assist and first point of the tournament.  After the victory over the Finnish U20 team, Tomas Hertl and his fellow teammates beat Latvia by a final score of 4-2 and just like the last game, Hertl saw the scoresheet as he added his second assist of the tournament.  In their last game of pool play against team Switzerland the contest would see some overtime play.  The hero of the night for Czech was San Jose prospect #19 Tomas Hertl as he stuffed in a garbage like goal to secure the second seed in Group B.  That overtime goal by Hertl was his first of the World Juniors.

UFA, RUSSIA – JANUARY 2: USA’s Riley Barber #16 with a scoring chance against Patrik Bartosak #1 of the Czech Republic while Petr Koblasa #10, Tomas Hertl #19 and Stepan Jenik #8 look on during quarterfinal round action at the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Less than four minutes into the first period United States Ryan Hartman went off to penalty box for roughing at the 3:50 minute mark.  17 seconds in the man advantage situation for the Czech Republic, they would get called with a penalty of their own when Petr Sidlik was charged with a slashing minor, putting both teams at four skaters aside early in the contest.

Shortly after the four on four situation, USA’s Tyler Biggs would march off to the box for a boarding minor.  However the Czech team would also get assessed a penalty for a slash to took place after team USA’s minor.  Putting both teams at four aside again.

Another penalty was called against the United States after they went into the Czech zone as Bardreau was called for goaltender interference.  Thus making special teams the theme in the early going of the contest.  The good news for the Americans was they killed off their undisciplined penalties.

The penalties continued when Stepan Yanik of the Czech team was called for hooking at the 9:49 of the opener.  On the man advantage situation for team USA their opponents the Czech Republic would make it very as the United States struggled to set up on their power play.  As the 5 on 4 situation for team USA winded down, the Czechs took another penalty when Dmitij Jaskin would go off to box for hooking.  As the United States was up two man, John Gaudreau beat the Czech net minder and put puck past Patrik Bartosak to put team USA up 1-0 at the 11:45 mark on the first frame.  That goal would make it Gaudreau’s third of the tournament, with assists from defenseman’s Jacob Truoba and Seth Jones.  In addition, both Trouba and Jones got their third assist of the World Juniors on the by Gaudreau.

San Jose Sharks prospect Sean Kuraly nearly set up a goal for team USA but fellow Sharks prospect of the Czech team Tomas Hertl made a diving save that stop goal from being scored by the Americans to keep the score a 1-0 USA.

At the 18:00 mark of the first, defenseman of the USA team Jacob Trouba went off the sin bin for hooking.  Not long after the penalty to Trouba, Czech Republic’s David Musil took a penalty of his own when he was caught for slashing, putting both teams at four aside for the third time of the period and the contest.

With the completion of the first period, the Americans edged the Czech’s on the shot clock 9-8.  Team USA entered the first intermission with some carry over power play time into the middle period.

UFA, RUSSIA – JANUARY 2: USA’s Alex Galchenyuk #15 celebrates at the bench after a second period goal against the Czech Republic during quarterfinal round action at the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Less than a minute into the contest second stanza, Johnny Gaudreau scored his second goal of the game on the power play as he fired past the Czech net minder.  The tally would make it Gaudreau’s second goal of the contest with the assists from J.T. Miller and Jack McCabe.  McCabe received his second assist of the tournament, while Miller got his third.

Shortly after the second goal for the American’s, Ryan Hartman cleaned up the garbage for team USA as he scored to make it a 3-0 lead.  Hartman’s goal was his was he second of the 2013 World Juniors Championship and was assisted by Trouba who got his second point of the night and Bardreau with his second assist of the tournament.

Not long after the United States scored their third tally of the contest, the Czech team made a goaltender as they swapped Bartosak for Machovsky in an effort to stop the bleeding that was done by the Americans.

With 14:58 remaining of the middle frame a scrum ensued behind the Czech net as Ryan Hartman, Mike Reilly for team USA getting into it with Marek Hrbas and Martin Frk would all get roughing minors as a result.

An undisciplined cheap shot type hit by Sedlak at the 8:23 mark of the period on team USA’s defensemen Seth Jones, was defenseless on his knees as he took the hit that had him dazed, put the American’s back on the power play.

It did not take long for the United States to make the Czech’s pay for their sloppy play as Riley Barber converted on a nice pass from Galchenyuk to add even more distant between the Czech’s to make it 4-0.  Barber’s goal, was his second of the tournament.  Furthermore, Galchenyuk added his sixth assist of the World Juniors and Trouba with his fifth.

At the 10:12 mark of the second, United States Vince Trocheck took a hooking minor to put the Czech’s on the power play.  On their man advantage, team USA pk unit stepped up and stopped the Czech Republic from scoring their first goal of the game.

At the conclusion the power play for the Czech’s, Riley Barber of team USA went into the offensive zone and faked out Machovsky and stuffed the puck past the net minder to make it 5-0 for the United States at 12:13 of the second.  That made it Barber’s second tally of the night, with Seth Jones getting the lone assist.

Less than seven minutes later, David Musil took a delay of game penalty and with 12.8 seconds left of the second Johnny Gaudreau roofed it as he got his hat trick of the contest on the man advantage to make it 6-0 for the American’s.  Furthermore, with that hat trick for Gaudreau he increased his goal total of the tournament to five.

Thru 40 minutes of play, team USA maintained it shot clock edge at 24-23.

Czech forward Tomas Hertl (left) achieved an impressive 65.7 VO2 max score at the 2012 NHL Draft Combine. He also got an OT winner against the Swiss in Ufa. Photo: Richard Wolowicz / HHOF-IIHF Images

Less than four minutes into the final frame, San Jose Sharks prospect Tomas Hertl upended J.T. Miller to put team USA back on power play duty.  With them on the man advantage, the Czech’s took a delay of game penalty thus putting the United States up two men.

While team USA was on the man advantage, a sweat tic tac toe pass on power play, lead to an awesome goal by team USA to make it 7-0 when J.T. Miller jumped off Trouba’s blast from center point that was set up by Seth Jones.

As the period went on, both teams would take penalty after penalty, thus making special teams duty for the United States and the Czech Republic a very busy.  However, both clubs would not capitalize on their power play chances as team USA won the contest in decisive fashion 7-0.  This shutout for the American’s made it John Gibson’s second of the tournament.  His first shutout of the tournament was their first game of tournament against the Germans.  Team USA’s next match up will be against Team Canada in the semifinal round.  Look for the American’s to show more offense against their North Americans rivals than the last game they played against them that only featured one tally.  The puck is set to drop at 4:00am US EST and can be seen on the NHL Network for US viewer’s and on TSN for viewers in Canada.  In addition to that, it can also be seen live on NHL.com.

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