World Championships: Canada, USA Victorious Tuesday Morning
Three Buffalo Sabres players were in action early Tuesday morning in the IIHF World Championships. Cody Hodgson and Tyler Myers suited up as Team Canada faced Norway, while Jake McCabe and his fellow American teammates faced Germany.
USA PULLS OFF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS WIN OVER GERMANY
McCabe registered two penalty minutes, two shots on goal and finished the game a minus-1 as the United States defeated Germany by a score of 5-4.
After a scoreless first period, the United States got on the board just 1:44 in with a goal by Justin Abdelkader.
From here, the goals would come often and plentifully.
First, Germany would tie it up on a goal by Alexander Weiss. Less than four minutes later, Drew Shore scored shorthanded to regain the lead for the United States.
The teams continued to exchange goals, with Kai Hospelt tying it up for Germany. Matt Donovan gave the United States another lead before NHL draft prospect Leon Draisaitl tied it at three later in the second.
The United States would break the streak in the third, scoring two consecutive goals to take a 5-3 lead. Johnny Gaudreau and Justin Abdelkader notched their second and third goals of the tournament, respectively.
Tobias Rieder would score for Germany a few minutes later, but ultimately, the United States was able to hold on for the win in the team’s final preliminary round game of the World Championships.
Tim Thomas had 24 saves, while Germany’s Danny Aus den Birken had 31 saves.
Gaudreau was named best player of the game for the United States. He had one goal, three assists and four shots in 14:42.
The win leaves the United States at second in Group B standings, behind only the undefeated Russia. The US won 5 of its 7 preliminary round games in the World Championships, including four regulation wins. Playoff rounds begin on Thursday with quarterfinals.
CANADA DEFEATS NORWAY 3-2 IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Meanwhile, Hodgson and Myers were facing Norway along with their Canadian teammates. Both Sabres players were held pointless in Canada’s win on Tuesday. Hodgson won 40 percent of his faceoffs and had two shots in 15:07. Myers had three shots and finished the game a minus-1 in 17:25.
Norway opened the scoring thirteen minutes into the first period with a goal by Anders Bastiansen, and that would be all for the opening frame.
Canada tied things up on Joel Ward‘s first goal of the night, a power-play mark at the 3:36 point of the second period.
Norway would take the lead once more on a goal by Mads Hansen later in the second, but Canada would once again tie it up, this time on a goal by Mark Schiefele. Ward would add his second power-play goal of the game in the third period to give Canada the 3-2 edge and eventual win.
James Reimer had 14 saves, while Norway’s Steffen Soberg had 39 saves on 42 shots faced.
Ward was named Canada’s best player of the game, with two goals and one assist. Canada finishes the preliminary round of the World Championships having won six of its seven games, including five regulation wins.
They sit atop the Group A standings, tied in points with Sweden. Canada has the edge in goals for-goals against ratio.
Once again, playoff rounds begin on Thursday with quarterfinals. The World Championships continue through Sunday.