Strong Start Powers Team USA to the Semifinals

Redemption has been on the minds of the returning players for Team USA as they headed to the quarterfinals. This was the spot last year Team USA lost to Czechia. The Americans were going to make sure that did not happen again this year. Team USA knew a strong start was a must in order to advance to the semifinals and have a chance at a medal.

The Americans won Group B by defeating Finland 6-2 in their final round-robin game on New Year’s Eve. This allowed the Americans to get the fourth team in Group A, which was Germany. Just like their game against Finland, Team USA was ready to go from the drop of the puck.

It didn’t take long for the Americans to get on the board when Logan Cooley scored his first of three goals of the day to give Team USA a 1-0 lead 3:51 into the first period. From there the Americans continued their strong play attacking Germany every chance they could scoring two goals in 38 seconds to open up a 3-0. First, it was Jimmy Snuggerud followed by Red Savage.

Starts have been important for the Americans all tournament long. Dictating the style of play from the get-go puts the other team on their heels and that is what Team USA did in their last three games. After the loss to Slovakia, the coaching staff was able to get the room back. This allowed them to re-establish what the identity was going to be for Team USA. A fast team playing with speed through the neutral with good management.

Head coach Rand Pecknold has been impressed with the way his team has played especially establishing their game early in periods.

“I liked the way we started and thought we did what we needed to do tonight,” U.S. coach Rand Pecknold said post-game.

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That strong play continued into the second period. Jackson made it 4-0 at 9:05 into the second period. Then 1:58 later Cooey got his second of the night. Again this was another greasy goal for the Americans. That is how they have done it all tournament long. Goals within five feet of the night off of rebounds or with good puck movement. Nothing pretty. 18 seconds later Cutter Gauthier scored his first of two second periods goals as the Americans built a 6-0 lead.

Cooley finds the loose puck and capitalizes! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/UpBQ4LdcbI

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 2, 2023

“I thought we had good jump, good legs, played hard and kept it simple,” Pecknold continued. “Obviously, we got a couple of goals early and then had a little lull at the end of the first, but I thought we reloaded really well for the second and third. It was a good effort tonight.”

Everything for the Americans was clicking tonight against Germany. It did not make if it was five-on-five or on special teams, the Americans found a way to score goals. Savage got his second of the game shorthanded. Earlier in the night, Snuggerud scored on the power play. But it was an overall great performance by Team USA before they take the bus ride to Halifax for the semifinals.

“We wanted to stick to our game plan, grow and grow, especially in these medal rounds,” Gauthier said. “There’s no room for mistakes in the semis or final moving forward so just critiquing our game, perfecting as much as we can for these next couple of games, is going to be huge for us.”

Even with the lead entering the third period, the Americans continued their strategy of playing smart with the puck. They pumped in three more goals again they got another early goal 4:51 into the third period. But the game was already won. Team USA just wanted to win the final period and bring good habits into the next game. Their next game will be against Canada on Wednesday.

In total eight different players had multi-point games. Three players had multi-goal games including Cooley with a hat trick, Savage had two goals, and Gauthier with two goals. Ryan Ufko had five primary assists on the night. Snuggerud and Cooley continue to lead the team with five goals each.

Team USA will need another strong start to the semifinal game against Canada on Wednesday. If they do not they could find themselves behind the eight-ball early. However, one thing is clear Team USA is focused on the job at hand and taking one game at a time.

The message from the coaching staff remains the same for Team USA and that is to continue to play smart with the puck, grind games out, and start strong.