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Team USA Edges Czech Republic, 3-2, in Quarterfinals

By USAHockey.com, 05/17/18, 10:15AM EDT

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Kane scores twice; U.S. to play in semifinals Saturday (May 19)

HERNING, Denmark – Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.)  scored twice and Keith Kinkaid (Farmingville, N.Y.) made 24 saves to lead the 2018 U.S. Men's National Team past the Czech Republic, 3-2, in its quarterfinal game of the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship

“That was a great hockey game that could’ve gone either way and we’re thrilled to be moving on,” said Jeff Blashill, head coach of the 2018 U.S. Men’s National Team. “I liked our composure tonight and thought we had a number of guys rise to the occasions. We’ll enjoy this tonight before traveling to Copenhagen tomorrow and turning our attention to what we expect will be a hard-fought semifinal game.” 

The United States (5-2-0-1/W-OTW-OTL-L) will meet the winner of the Sweden-Latvia quarterfinal in the semifinal round on Saturday (May 19) at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen. The game, which will either take place at 3:15 p.m. local time (9:15 a.m. ET) or 7:15 p.m. local time (1:15 p.m.), will be televised live on NHL Network.

Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) nearly opened the scoring 9:35 into the first period when Derek Ryan (Spokane, Wash.) sprung him on a shorthanded breakaway opportunity that was turned aside by Czech netminder, Pavel Francouz.

On its next scoring attempt a minute later, Kane converted from the right hash mark to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead. The goal started with Ryan collecting the puck in the neutral zone and dishing it to Kane at the far blue line where he curled up the ice and carried it towards goal before sending a shot off the left post and in.

Team USA doubled its lead 1:43 later when Cam Atkinson (Riverside, Conn.) tucked a backhanded effort between the left post and pad of Francouz. Johnny Gaudreau (Salem, N.J.) generated the play by carrying the puck along the left wall and into the offensive zone before sliding to to Nick Bonino (Hartford, Conn.) who found Atkinson alone in front for his seventh goal of the tournament.

In the middle stanza, Michael Repik converted on a 3-on-2 opportunity to cut the U.S. deficit to one. Bonino nearly regained a two-goal lead for Team USA on the ensuing face-off but saw his two chances at a bouncing puck in the Czech crease turned aside.

With 9:05 to play in the frame, the Czech Republic evened the score, 2-2, when Martin Necas redirected a pass over the glove of Keith Kinkaid (Farmingville, N.Y.). The U.S. continued to press for the go-ahead goal as it outshot the Czechs 14-8 in the period, but saw the game enter the second intermission tied.

The final frame saw Kane regain Team USA’s lead 6:58 into the period. Ryan was again behind the play, this time sending a stretch pass up the ice where Kane collected it and skated around a Czech defender before rifling a wrist shot under Francouz’s blocker for the go-ahead goal.

With just over four minutes to play, Larkin nearly gave the U.S. another two-goal lead as he intercepted a pass at the Czech blue line, but saw his shot gloved by Francouz.

In search of the game’s tying goal, the Czechs pulled Francouz with 2:29 remaining in favor of the extra attacker, but Kinkaid and Team USA stood tall to secure the quarterfinal win.

NOTES: Patrick Kane was named the U.S. Player of the Game … For complete game stats, click here ... For the complete roster, click here ... Jeff Blashill (Detroit Red Wings) is serving as head coach for the second straight year ... The staff and players of the 2018 U.S. Men's National Team are selected by Bill Zito (Columbus Blue Jackets), general manager of the 2018 U.S. Men's National Team, along with members of the U.S. Men's National Team Advisory Group that includes Stan Bowman (Chicago Blackhawks), David Poile (Nashville Predators), Ray Shero (New Jersey Devils), Dale Tallon (Florida Panthers), and Jeff Gorton (New York Rangers) ... For complete coverage of the U.S. Men’s National Team, visit teamusa.usahockey.com/2018mensworlds … The official online home of the 2018 IIHF Men’s World Championship is 2018.IIHFWorlds.com … The U.S. has finished in the top four of the world championship in three of the last five years ... USA Hockey's international council, chaired by Gavin Regan (Potsdam, N.Y.), has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams ... NHL Network is the exclusive U.S. rightsholder for the tournament.

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U.S. Schedule

Date Opponent Round Result Location
Tues., May 1 Denmark Exhibition W, 3-2 KVIK Hockey Arena
Herning, Denmark
Fri., May 4 Canada Preliminary W, 5-4 (SO) Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Sat., May 5 Denmark Preliminary W, 4-0 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Mon., May 7 Germany Preliminary W, 3-0 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Thurs., May 10 Latvia Preliminary W, 3-2 (OT) Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Fri., May 11 Korea Preliminary W, 13-1 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Sun., May 13 Norway Preliminary W, 9-3 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Tues., May 15 Finland Preliminary L, 2-6 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Thurs., May 17 Czech Republic Quarterfinals W, 3-2 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Sat., May 19 Sweden Semifinals L, 0-6 Royal Arena
Copenhagen, Denmark
Sun., May 20 Canada Bronze-Medal Game W, 4-1 Royal Arena
Copenhagen, Denmark

2018 Men's Worlds News