Team USA Power Play Vital To Their Success

The preliminary round at the 2023 World Junior Championship is winding down. New Year’s Eve is the final day of group play with a lot on the line for not only Team USA but Canada as well. We all know what Canada has done after their opening night loss to Czechia. Won two straight games, Connor Bedard is showing why he is a generational talent with 14 points in three games including tying Jordan Eberle’s record for most goals at the World Juniors with 14. Both players did it in 12 games. However, it is the special teams play more specifically the power play for both Team USA and Canada that is doing damage.

Special Teams Playing Pivotal Role At 2023 World Juniors

Just look at the games played by both Canada and Team USA on Thursday night. Team USA was able to extend their lead with multiple power-play goals against Switzerland to pick up a much-needed three points. While Canada started off slow against Austria and used the power play to get themselves into the game before opening it up on the scoreboard.

But sticking with Team USA, the Americans have been excellent on the power play this tournament. It has been a key to their success thus far. Though their power play did not start off the tournament the greatest over the previous two games especially their game against Switzerland Team USA’s power play clicked.

Through three games thus far in the tournament, Team USA is ranked third scoring four goals on 10 power play attempts. That is a conversion rate of 40 percent. After not scoring against Latvia in the first game, the Americans scored twice on the power play in a loss against Slovakia. Against Switzerland, the Americans scored twice in the second period on the power play to extend their lead from 1-0 to 3-0.

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Keys To Team USA Power Play

Two keys to Team USA’s power play have been their puck movement and their ability to win faceoffs. This has allowed the Americans to move the opposition goalie from side to side before scoring on an open net.

A perfect example of this was Thursday against Switzerland. Go to the second period, both power-play goals come from winning the faceoff.

I mean…this highlight is just fun to watch🤩 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/rOJF58A6cQ

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 29, 2022

On the second power-play goal, the Americans control the puck off the faceoff in the Switzerland zone. As they did against Slovakia where Tyler Boucher scored twice on the power play, Team USA moved the puck around the perimeter before sending it down low to Rutger McGroarty who put the puck between his legs to Logan Cooley. From there Cooley shot the puck into a wide-open net.

An absolute laser from @JSnuggerud 👀 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/BWJCRNvN0q

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 29, 2022

Later on in the period, the Americans made it 3-0 on Jimmy Snuggerud’s second goal of the night. Again it all starts with a faceoff win in the offensive zone. From there the Americans control the puck and move it from low to high and back down low below the dots opening up the Swiss defence. From there, Snuggerud pockets the puck into an empty net from a great pass from Jackson Blake and Ryan Ufko.

Team USA will need to have their power play clicking when they take on Finland Saturday in the final game of Group B. The winner of the game will win the group avoiding a potential matchup with Sweden, Canada, or Czechia in the crossover quarterfinals.

Going Forward

The Americans got back to playing hockey. Even with the lead, they did not get cute with the puck. Team USA chipped pucks deep and got to work moving the puck low to high and high to low which allowed them to get on the power play. They kept things simple and did not try to do too much. Getting the room back for the coaching staff was huge as this group of kids have acted the part of being professional every time they score and celebrate.

As the tournament continues Team USA will want to remain this way and continue to grind games out and work hard for every goal. That is how they win going forward.

Additional Observations Heading Into Saturday’s game:

• Luke Hughes had a great bounce-back game scoring his second goal of the tournament from behind the faceoff circle
• 12 different players netted a point in Team USA’s victory on Thursday
• It appears Trey Augustine will keep the net going forward for Team USA
• Boucher and Snuggerud lead the team with three goals each
• Cooley and Cutter Gauthier lead the team with four points each. Gauthier leads the team with four assists