Chaz Lucius Overtime Hat Trick Propels Team USA To Bronze Medal

What a game in Halifax for Bronze as Team USA defeats Sweden in overtime by a score of 8-7 on a game-winning overtime hat trick goal by Chaz Lucius

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Chaz Lucius picks up the loose change for the OT-winner after Lane Hutson’s effort in the zone 💪 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/z01yC0MBHI

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 5, 2023

Team USA Wins Bronze Thanks To Chaz Lucius

The squad 🇺🇸 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/2THL5TEIWS

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 5, 2023

Entering the Bronze Medal against Sweden Chaz Lucius had only two goals in the tournament. However, his presence was being felt on the ice. Against Sweden, Lucius exploded for three goals as he led the way for Team USA. Lucius has been compared to Anthony Beauvillier of the New York Islanders with his shot and release.

In addition, many scouts felt Lucius could be a player that could lead the team in scoring and explode at any time. His two earlier were big goals, but Lucius was looking for more. And more he got. Saving his best performance for last leading the Americans to a Bronze Medal.

Lucius was all over the ice tonight for Team USA. In a wild second period that saw nine goals scored between Sweden and Team USA, there was Lucius right in the middle of the action. After Sweden cut the American lead to 2-1, Lucius scored his first of the night to make it 3-1 Team USA. Sweden then tied the game at 3-3 on goals from Oskar Pettersson and Leo Carlsson.

Cutter Gauthier made it 4-3 Team USA with another power-play goal. Soon after Lucius got his second of the night to make it 5-3. Sweden again answered before the end of the period. This time getting goals from Milton Oscarsson and Liam Ohgren.

Early into the third period, Liam Ostlund gave Sweden their first lead of the night. However, captain and New Jersey Devils prospect Luke Hughes scored on a spin-o-Rama from his knees to tie the game and told the bench “We are not losing this game.”

It appeared that Rutger McGroaty scored on the power play with 1:37 left in the third period. However, it was Gauthier who got his second of the game before Filip Bystedt got his second of the game to tie it at 7-7 with 20 seconds in the third period to force overtime.

Kaiden Mbereko, who replaced Trey Augustine in the third period, came up with some big saves in the third period in overtime to allow the Americans to get the puck into the Swedish zone. With control, Lane Hutson went to work driving the net and putting a shot on Carl Lindbom. The puck just laid there for Lucius who went upstairs on his backhand to win the game for Team USA.

Top Guys Continue To Perform

The top guys for Team USA again once stepped up in a big way. They set the tone early for the Americans. Logan Cooley opened the scoring to get his team-leading seventh goal of the tournament. In addition, he led the team with 15 points (seven goals and eight assists). His linemate Jimmy Snuggerud added two more assists to finish the tournament two points behind Cooley with 13 points (five goals and eight assists). The final member of that line Cutter Gauthier finished the tournament with 10 points (four goals and six assists).

These guys were flying all tournament long and were always around the top of the crease trying to score. That was the game plan for Team USA. These guys bought in from the start. Just look at the Gauthier/McGroaty goal was another grease-pan goal. If you look at the number of goals the Americans scored in the tournament more than half were scored within five feet of the net and it was the top line doing the damage.

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Power Play Delivers

The power play for the Americans finally delivered. However, after blowing a five-minute major power play, you wondered if they would ever connect on one. The Americans not scoring on that power play gave Sweden confidence and you saw them building momentum entering the second period. However, Team USA finished with three power-play goals including two from Gauthier and one from Ryan Ufko. The power play was a big reason why the Americans got to the medal round and it came through when it mattered most, but they needed to score one, or else they don’t have these leads in this game.

Going Home With Bronze

After a disappointing summer World Junior Championship, Team USA was out for redemption. Unfortunately for the Americans, they were not playing for the medal they hoped for after losing to Canada in the semifinals. However, leaving Halifax with a Bronze Medal is better than leaving with no medal and it looked like they were going to leave with no medal as Sweden tied the game with 20 seconds left in the third period at 7-7.

However, the Americans dug deep to pull out another game. They had to mentally refocus after their loss to Canada and play the early game. And even blowing multiple leads in this game tested them mentally. However, these kids found a way to win a medal. You could see they were tired on the ice. They made mistakes they would normally not make, which started in the Canada game and carried over into this one against Sweden.

But captain Luke Hughes ignited this team. Again rallying from down a goal in the third period and fighting through the adversity and fatigue.

It is always hard to get up for the Bronze Medal game, but Team USA and Chaz Lucius found a way to get it done.