Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016
TORONTO – Team USA will look to end the World Cup of Hockey with a win tonight as it faces the Czech Republic at Air Canada Centre. Opening faceoff is set for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2).
It will mark the final game of the World Cup for both the U.S. and Czech Republic as neither team has a chance to advance to this weekend’s semifinal round.
Ben Bishop will get the call in goal tonight for the U.S. Bishop has played six total games in a Team USA uniform previously, including five (3-0-0-2-0, 2.83, .876) for the bronze medal-winning 2013 U.S. Men’s National Team at the IIHF Men’s World Championship. He also appeared in one game at the 2010 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
Back in the lineup tonight are forward Brandon Dubinsky and defenseman Jack Johnson. Both were healthy scratches against Canada on Tuesday. Forward David Backes and defenseman Erik Johnson will not play this evening (healthy scratches).
Team USA has never met the Czech Republic in World Cup/Canada Cup play, however, is 3-0-0-1-1 (w-otw-otl-l-t) in five previous games against Czechoslovakia. The last meeting came on Sept. 5, 1991, a 4-2 U.S. win in the preliminary round of the Canada Cup.
NOTES: The U.S. dropped its first two games of the World Cup – 3-0 to Team Europe and 4-2 to Team Canada … Members of Team USA will depart Toronto tomorrow and return to their respective NHL teams where training camps are underway.