Team USA forward #7 Sean Kuraly gives fellow teammate #18 Cole Bardreau a celebratory tap after he scores his first goal of the tournament in Ufa, Russia on New Years Eve December 31, 2012. Mandatory credit: Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images

Today the United States U20 Team entered the contest in a must win or go home situation.  In addition, they also came into the contest ridding a two game loosing skid over the Russians and the Canadians.

At 4:05 of the opener, Team USA forward Cole Bardreau went into the Slovakian’s zone and roofed it to put the United States up early in the first.  The goal scored by Bardreau made it his first of the tournament with assists from Ryan Hartman and goaltender John Gibson.  15 seconds following the goal by Bardreau, Slovakian Matus Matis had a breakaway of his own as he put the rubber past Gibson to knot the game at 1-1.  Matis added his second goal of the World Juniors with the lone assist to Milan Kalena.

Less than a minute later, US Jake McCabe put the United States back on top as he put a nice backhander through the slot past Slovakian’s goal tender to make it 2-1 USA.  McCabe scored his first of tournament with assists from Jim Vessey and J.T. Miller at the 5:10 mark of the first period.

Moments later, Johnny Gaudreau with a nearly identical goal as McCabe made it 3-1 USA with 11 left in 1st.  Shortly after the third goal by team USA, Slovakia’s coach made a goaltender change to try and stop the bleeding by the United States.  Johnny Gaurdreau scored his first goal of the game and added his first of the tournament and assisted by Shayne Gostisbehere and Jim Vessey.

At 11:46 of the first, a sloppy play around Slovakia’s net lead to another goal for United States when Mike Reilly put the puck in the backdoor to make it 4-1 United States.  His goal, would be his first of the World Juniors with assists from Jim Vessey and J.T. Miller.

In the US’s zone, Slovakia’s Marko Dano tripped up a United States player to put the team USA on the power play.  While on the man advantage, it did not take long for the United States to make the Slovakian team pay for their mistake as Jacob Trouba stuffed the puck over the goal line to put USA up by four goals to make it 5-1 United States.  Trouba’s goal, made it his fourth of the tournament with assists from San Jose Sharks prospect Sean Kuraly and Montreal Canadians prospect Alex Galchenyuk at 13:50 of the first frame.

With less than four minutes left of the first period, Shayne Gostisbehere took undisciplined penalty as he was charged for spearing.  He was given a five minute major and an additional 20 minutes for a game misconduct.  While being up a man, team Slovakia would cut into the United States lead in net mouth scramble as Richard Mraz pumped it home over Gibson to make it 5-2 USA.  Mraz goal, was he second of the tournament with assists from both Ceresnak and Nechala.

As the first frame came to a close, the Slovakian National Team would go into the first intermission with plenty of power play carry over time for the second period.  As for the shot clock, team USA edged out the Slovakian’s with an 18-13 shot advantage.

Team USA forward #7 Sean Kuraly and Team Slovakian forward #18 Andrej Bires fight for the puck during a face off at the 2013 World Juniors Championship on December, 31, 2012. Mandatory credit: Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images

As the Slovakian’s entered into the second stanza, they continued with their carry over power play time that was awarded to them from the first.  They would however not convert on the rest of the power play as the score remained 5-2 USA.   Shortly after the American’s killed of the remainder of Gostisbehere’s spearing major from the first, the Slovakian’s Matus Matis took a holding penalty at the 3:08 mark of the second.

With the American’s on the man advantage, team USA took advantage as John Gaudreau with slick backhander under blocker side of Patrik Romancik and scored his second goal of the game to give the United States their four cushion back as it made it 6-2 for the Americans.  Gaudreau goal was assisted by Jake McCabe and Vince Trocheck.  After the goal by Gaudreau, Slovakia’s Marko Dano took a roughing minor, giving the Americans the opportunity to add to their lead.

Not long after Dano’s penalty, Gaudreau’s sent great pass through the slot to Vince Trocheck and earned him the power play goal to make it 7-2 USA with 13 minutes left in the 2nd.  Trocheck’s goal was assisted by Gaudreau.

After Trocheck’s tally, team USA took back to back penalties within 15 seconds apart from each other to put the Slovakian’s up two men.  As the United States pk went to work, they stepped up big to stop the Slovakians and successfully killed off both penalties.

Moments later after team USA killed of their five on three penalty situation, Trocheck scored his 2nd goal of game shortly after with 9:41 to go in the 2nd period.  Vince Trocheck’s tally was assisted by Tyler Biggs and Mario Lucia to increase the United States distant to make it a 8-2 lead.

Following Trocheck’s second tally of the contest, Andrej Bires of Slovakia would go off to sin bin for tripping.  After that minor was called, team USA would get back to back penalties to J.T. Miller for slashing and Tyler Biggs for holding.  Thus putting the Slovakians back on a their second five on three power play of the game and the second period.  The good news for the American’s is that killed the five on three to preserve their six goal lead over the Slovakia.

Thru 40 minutes of play, team USA held an nine shot on goal advantage over the Slovakian’s at 30-21 United States.

Team USA goaltender #35 John Gibson makes a spectacular save in December 31, 2012 game at the 2013 World Juniors Championship in Ufa, Russia. Mandatory credit: Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images

Within the first minute of the final period Emil Bagin of the Slovakian team, kneed San Jose Sharks prospect Sean Kuraly as he attempted to thread the needle into the Slovak’s end.  As the American’s were on the man advantage, team USA failed to convert as the score remained 8-2 United States.

Less than four minutes later, Milan Kelana was caught for charging United States Trocheck, thus putting team USA power play team back to work.  Much like the previous man advantage for the United States they would come up short.

At 9:21 of the third period, Matus Matis put the puck past Gibson to make it 8-3 United States.  After the third goal for the Slovakian’s, Marko Dano was caught slashing team USA’s defenseman Seth Jones as the penalties of the contest kept coming.  The good news for the Slovakian’s was team USA would not convert on the man advantage.

With 5:04 remaining of the final frame, the penalty parade would continue as Jacob Trouba would go off for tripping.  Not long after team USA was charged with a minor penalty, Slovakia’s Matus Matis was caught for roughing and was assessed with a game misconduct, thus putting each team at four skaters aside for the first time of the contest.  However that did not last long as Marko Dano of Slovakia was caught for cross-checking.  On the four on three for the United States, Galchenyuk made it 9-3 USA with a backdoor pass on the PP.

As the game winded down, Seth Jones of the United States, took a penalty that really did not need to take place as the Slovak’s would eventually not convert on the power play.

At the end of the game, Cole Bardreau was named Player of the Game for team USA.

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@KingShark49 @bluelinebomber @81Bayer

Blades of Teal: The Final Word On San Jose Sharks, Worcester Sharks, and San Francisco Bulls hockey

Team Canada’s forward #19 Mark Scheifele goes in on Team USA’s goaltender #35 John Gibson as he makes a huge save during the December 30th game in Ufa, Russia at the 2013 World Junior Championship. Mandatory credit: USA Hockey

After the games first commercial break, Canada opened the scoring as Ryan Nugent-Hopskins fired the puck from the point past Gibson to put team Canada up early.  The goal scored by Ryan Nugent-Hopskins was his third of the tournament with assists from Jonathan Huberdeau who added his fourth of the WJC and Mark Schiefele with his second of the tournament at 7:13 of the first period.

At 10:10 of the first, Canada went in on a three on one into USA’s zone when goaltender John Gibson made a huge save to keep it a 1-0 Canada lead.  Later in the opening period, team USA would get the games first penalty as Riley Barber would go off to the penalty box for slashing.  On the man advantage for team Canada, they would fail to convert as the score remained 1-0.

With 5:16 remaining in the first period, Ryan Strome with the tip in shot on the doorstep put it past Gibson for Canada and added the second goal of the game to make 2-0.  Strome, would add his fourth goal of the tournament with the assists coming from Brett Ritchie and Anthony Camara.  Ritchie, added his third assist of the World Juniors and Camara, tallied his second the tournament.  With less than two minutes remaining of the period Canada’s Ryan Strome would go off for slashing.  As the period came to a close, team USA would take into the first intermission with some carryover power play time.

After 20 minutes, Canada leads the US 2-0 as the Canadian team leads on the shot clock with 11-10 advantage.

Team Canada defenseman #14 Ryan Murphy battles for position with Team USA’s defenseman #19 Jake McCabe at the 2013 World Juniors Championship in Ufa, Russia on December 30, 2012.

As the Americans entered the middle frame, they continued the remainder of their power play time but they would encounter some push back and the Canadian National team denied team USA from cutting into their two goal lead.  At the 6:52 mark of the second stanza Griffin Reinhart of Canada was charged with a double minor high sticking infraction, putting team US on a very important power play opportunity.  As the power play went on, the United States would put shots on net but Canada’s net minder Malcolm Subban brother of Montreal Canadians defenseman P.K. Subban made the key saves protecting his shutout bid of the contest.  Less than six minutes later, US defenseman Seth Jones was called for slashing, thus making it the third overall slashing minor between the two clubs.  However, the Canadians would not convert as the score remained 2-0 for Team Canada.

At the end of forty minutes of play, team USA overtook Canada on the shot clock with a 25-19 margin.

Team USA’s #10 J.T. Miller provides a screen in front of Canada’s goaltender #30 Malcolm Subban as Team Canada’s defenseman #6 Scott Harrington looks on during the 2013 World Juniors Championship in Ufa, Russia on December 30, 2012. Mandatory credit: USA Hockey

At 7:35 of the final period, team Canada’s goaltender Malcolm took an unnecessary tripping penalty, thus making it their fourth penalty of the contest.  Much like their previous power play opportunities, the Americans would come up short again as Canada’s pk unit remained perfect.

Following the completion of the penalty kill for Canada, they would get caught for a delay of game infraction, putting the United States back on the man advantage.  On their fifth power play opportunity team USA finally broke thru as Subban’s shutout bid ended when Jacob Trouba put the rubber past the Canadians net minder.  The goal that Trouba scored, was his third of the World Juniors, with the assists from Alex Galchenyuk who added his fourth and Mike Reilly with his first of the tournament.

Minutes later, Jake McCabe of the United States would get two penalties, the first for misconduct and the second for an illegal check to the head 12:06 of the final frame.  Over a minute later, team USA would get another penalty as Tyler Biggs was caught for interference.  The good news for the Americans was they killed off both penalties to keep it a 1 goal Canada lead.

Shortly after their huge penalty kill, team USA would march back to the sin bin as Jacob Trouba was caught for interference.  Furthermore, the Americans penalty parade continued as they were assessed with another illegal check to the head minor plus a game misconduct to Ryan Hartman putting their rivals up two men.  As the Canadian National team up two men, the Americans would get sloppy as Vince Trocheck would get assessed with a cross checking minor.  With the United States being shorthanded again, they came up huge in the special teams department to keep the score tight.

With all these penalties that the US were assessed they finally caught a break as Jonathan Huberdeau of Canada would get the games fourth slashing minor.  As the Americans sixth power play opportunity they came up just short to tie the game as their rivals from the north stepped up to protect their 2-1 lead.

Immediately after the successful penalty kill by Canada, their team captain, Ryan Nugent-Hopskins would take a foolish boarding penalty to allow the United States another attempt to tie it up at 2.  However, that was not the case as team Canada would close out the contest at a final score of 2-1.

As the game ended, team USA held on to their lead on the shot clock by a 37-32 total.  For San Jose Sharks fans, prospect Sean Kuraly was scoreless of the contest .

With today’s loss to their North American rivals, the United States will have to come up big in their next contest against the Slovakian’s on New Years Eve to get out of prelims and into the quarterfinal round of the tournament.

Be sure to follow all of your BoT staff on twitter!!!  

@KingShark49 @bluelinebomber @81Bayer

Blades of Teal: The Final Word On San Jose Sharks, Worcester Sharks, and San Francisco Bulls hockey

Official 2013 IIHF World Junior U20 Championship Logo. Mandatory Credit: IIHF

For San Jose Sharks fans out there, this is a special game day report.  Its day five as both Sharks prospects Sean Kuraly and Tomas Hertl are in tournament action.  In the tournament, Sean Kuraly represents the organization for the USA U20 National Team and Tomas Hertl represents the Sharks as a member of the Czech Republic U20 National Team.  In addition, the United States are positioned in Group B, while the Czech’s are seeded in Group A.  Each squad has played two games of the tournament as hold identical records of 1-0-0-1 with three points in the prelims.

Team USA forward #7 Sean Kuraly (San Jose Sharks prospect). Mandatory credit: Andre Ringuette

Sharks prospect Sean Kuraly is from Dublin, OH an was selected by San Jose in the 2011 NHL Draft in the fifth round at 133rd overall.  Before being picked up by the Sharks, Sean has spent the last three years in the USHL (United States Hockey League) playing for the Indiana Ices.  In those three seasons, Kuraly has played 110 games, with 41 goals, 61 assists, and was plus 17.  In the tournament, thru two games, Sean Kuraly has one goal and one assists with a plus three rating.

The 2013 U.S. National Junior Team woke up this morning in Ufa, Russia, with its sights set on a matchup on Sunday against Canada at 4:30 a.m. US EST.  Team USA is coming of off a 2-1 loss against the retooled and revamped Russian National lead by Edmonton Oilers 2012 1st overall draft pick Nail Yakopov and Buffalo Sabres 12th overall draft pick, Mikhail Grigorenko.  For the Canadians, they are coming off of a 6-3 victory against the Slovakian’s and are 2-0-0-0 in the tournament and are currently sitting in second place with six points just behind Team Russia.

The North American rivals have a long and storied history in international play and in particular have waged some classic battles on the ice at the IIHF World Junior Championship.

Team USA last defeated Canada at the World Juniors in 2010 when it won 6-5 in overtime to claim the gold medal. Overall, the U.S. is 5-1-3-26-3 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) against Canada all-time in the tournament. The teams squared off last year in Alberta in the preliminary round where the U.S. fell 3-2.  This matchup for the US, is a must win.

Czech Republic’s forward #19 Tomas Hertl (San Jose Sharks 2012 1st Round Draft Pick 17th overall). Mandatory credit: Richard Wolowicz

In the 2012 NHL draft, San Jose selected 17th overall, young Czech Republic centerman from the Slavia Prague team Tomas Hertl.  Before being picked up by the Sharks, Hertl was the fourth-leading scorer for Slavia Prague as a rookie in the Czech Extraliga and represented the Czech Republic at the 2012 U20 World Junior Championship.  Skating in 38 games, he scored 11 goals with 15 assists and had 22 penalty minutes. After finishing 12th in the 14-team league, Slavia avoided relegation to the first division in the twelve-game playout series. Hertl scored 3 goals with 6 penalty minutes in the post-season. In six games at the WJC, he scored 3 goals with 2 assists and was plus-two.  In the 2013 World Junior Championship tournament, Tomas Hertl, thru two games played, has one assist and is a plus one.

The Czech Republic team recently grabbed its first win at the 2013 world junior hockey championships on Friday, defeating Finland 3-1.  Today, Tomas Hertl and his club will take on the Latvian National Team who has played three games in the tournament with a 0-0-0-3 record and are still looking for their first win in the World Junior Championships with the puck set to drop at 7:00a US EST.

Best of Luck for both San Jose Sharks prospects today!!!!!!!

Be sure to follow all of your BoT staff on twitter!!!  

@KingShark49 @bluelinebomber @81Bayer

Blades of Teal: The Final Word On San Jose Sharks, Worcester Sharks, and San Francisco Bulls hockey