U.S. cruises to win
By Andrew Podnieks |
12 MAY 2019
Team USA's Patrick Kane scores on French netminder Sebastian Ylonen.
photo: Matt Zambonin / HHOF-IIHF Images
The Americans came out firing on all cylinders this afternoon at Steel Arena, scoring three times in a two-minute span early in the game and cruising to a 7-1 win.
Alex DeBrincat led the scoring with two goals in that initial outburst, and Colin White added a brace later in the game. They were but two of six players who had two points in the game.
The win evens the U.S. record at 1-1 while France falls to 0-2. The U.S. is right back at it with an exciting game against Finland tomorrow while the French get a day off before playing Germany.
"It was a big win for us, especially going into tomorrow against Finland," White said. "We built some confidence and it was a good team effort."
"I think we played pretty well today," DeBrincat concurred. "We came out with a lot of speed, controlled the puck for most of the first period."
Less than two minutes later, Frank Vatrano made it 2-0 when he knocked in a loose puck after a point shot was blocked in front. Both goals came as a result of faceoff wins in the France end.
And then, just 16 seconds later, the Americans made it 3-0 thanks to another by DeBrincat. This time it was a turnover at the U.S. blue line that was France’s undoing, and Vatrano went in alone and beat Sebastian Ylonen with a wrist shot from the high slot.
Alex DeBrincat led the scoring with two goals in that initial outburst, and Colin White added a brace later in the game. They were but two of six players who had two points in the game.
The win evens the U.S. record at 1-1 while France falls to 0-2. The U.S. is right back at it with an exciting game against Finland tomorrow while the French get a day off before playing Germany.
"It was a big win for us, especially going into tomorrow against Finland," White said. "We built some confidence and it was a good team effort."
"I think we played pretty well today," DeBrincat concurred. "We came out with a lot of speed, controlled the puck for most of the first period."
The Americans fired 42 shots on newcomer Sebastian Ylonen while France sent 24 at Thatcher Demko.
"It was my first start in the World Championship, so maybe there was a bit of pressure," Ylonen noted, "but they played really well the first period. I think they wanted to win the game right at the start. We tried in the second period but we missed some chances, and they’ve got some pretty good players. It was a tough game, but we played yesterday, and now we’ve got to focus on the next one in two days."
Less than two minutes later, Frank Vatrano made it 2-0 when he knocked in a loose puck after a point shot was blocked in front. Both goals came as a result of faceoff wins in the France end.
And then, just 16 seconds later, the Americans made it 3-0 thanks to another by DeBrincat. This time it was a turnover at the U.S. blue line that was France’s undoing, and Vatrano went in alone and beat Sebastian Ylonen with a wrist shot from the high slot.
USA vs. France - 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship
USA vs. FRA
But give France credit. They didn’t fold, and in the second they came out and created several fine scoring chances. It was only a bit of luck and some solid goaltending from Thatcher Demko that kept the score steady at 3-0.
Damien Fleury streaked down the right side, creating a partial break, but his shot was right at Demko. Moments later, Charles Betrand rang a shot off the post, and he was stopped nicely by Demko on another chance moments later.
That inability to get on the board came back to haunt the French as their opponents added two more goals later in the period. Colin White snapped a nice shot from the slot after Quinn Hughes did all the heavy lifting, taking the puck end to end and making a nice pass to the unguarded White.
Two minutes later, Kane tapped a loose puck in after Ylonen bobbled a long shot form Dylan Larkin.
Anthony Rech had a great chance late to get the French on the scoresheet, stripping the puck from Hughes at the U.S. blue line, but Rech was stoned by Demko.
The U.S. added to their lead early in the third when Chris Kreider converted another loose puck after a nice steal by Larkin, making it 6-0. The French got their goal at 6:36 after video review upheld the call on ice. A point shot by Rech on the team's first power play of the day made it to Demko, and a mad scramble ensued. The goalie thought he had the puck, but the French players jammed away and Kevin Hecquefeuille banged it in.
White made it 7-1 on a sweet little move. He followed a Vatrano rush to the net and whiffed on the rebound, but with his back to the net and his stick between his legs he took another swipe at it and batted it in.
"That was the only way I could get to it, so I went for it and was lucky enough to grab it between the legs," White said.
Damien Fleury streaked down the right side, creating a partial break, but his shot was right at Demko. Moments later, Charles Betrand rang a shot off the post, and he was stopped nicely by Demko on another chance moments later.
That inability to get on the board came back to haunt the French as their opponents added two more goals later in the period. Colin White snapped a nice shot from the slot after Quinn Hughes did all the heavy lifting, taking the puck end to end and making a nice pass to the unguarded White.
Two minutes later, Kane tapped a loose puck in after Ylonen bobbled a long shot form Dylan Larkin.
Anthony Rech had a great chance late to get the French on the scoresheet, stripping the puck from Hughes at the U.S. blue line, but Rech was stoned by Demko.
The U.S. added to their lead early in the third when Chris Kreider converted another loose puck after a nice steal by Larkin, making it 6-0. The French got their goal at 6:36 after video review upheld the call on ice. A point shot by Rech on the team's first power play of the day made it to Demko, and a mad scramble ensued. The goalie thought he had the puck, but the French players jammed away and Kevin Hecquefeuille banged it in.
White made it 7-1 on a sweet little move. He followed a Vatrano rush to the net and whiffed on the rebound, but with his back to the net and his stick between his legs he took another swipe at it and batted it in.
"That was the only way I could get to it, so I went for it and was lucky enough to grab it between the legs," White said.
USA vs. France - 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship
OF