Team Canada scored two empty net goals en route to a 5-3 win over Team USA on Wednesday in the much anticipated matchup.
Action was quick from the start with both teams having good scoring chances to start the first period. By the time the horn blew for the end of the first the American’s had 13 shots on goal and the Canadian’s had 17 with neither getting a shot into the net.
Team Canada broke the scoreless gridlock seven minutes into the second when Max Domi slapped a rebound shot past Thatcher Demko. Sam Reinhart got the assist on the goal.
Two minutes later Dylan Larkin went to the penalty box giving the Canadian’s the man advantage for the first time in the game. Team Canada had the best power play unit coming into the game and only improved their stats as Josh Morrissey put the Canadian’s up 2-0 with just under a minute remain in the penalty.
Team USA cut the lead in half on a power play of their own just minutes later. With Anthony Duclair in the box for tripping Anthony Deangelo got his first goal of the tournament beating a sprawling Eric Comrie. Jack Eichel and Sonny Milano got an assist on the goal.
The Canadian’s added a third goal with ten minutes remaining in the game as Curtis Lazar had a puck bounce off him when he was crashing the net after a Connor McDavid shot.
Dylan Larkin made it a one-goal game again with 2:34 remaining in the game as he received a pass from Hudson Fasching and buried it in the net before Comrie could get over to block the shot. Milano got his second assist of the game.
Sam Reinhart added an empty net goal with 55 seconds remaining in the game to put the Canadian’s back up by two.
The American’s did not give up as Dylan Larkin put the them back within one as he rifled a shot from the right side with 42 seconds to go.
Team Canada sealed the game with Thatcher Demko on the bench again to Domi added a fifth goal for the Canadian’swith 5 seconds remaining in the game.
Team USA finished the preliminary rounds with a 2-1-0-1 record getting eight points for second in pool A while Canada went 4-0-0-0 for 12 points and the top seed coming out of pool A.
Thatcher Demko skated away with player of the game honors for Team USA Max Domi got the honors for Team Canada.
The two teams now wait for the remaining preliminary games to wrap up before finding out who they play next.
Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images
