United States 6, Slovakia 5: James Hagens (Boston Bruins) scored two goals for the United States, who remained undefeated in Group A at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The United States scored twice in the opening 4:34 of the third period to take its first lead.

Hagens made it 5-4 on a snap shot from the left hash marks 18 seconds into the third period, and Will Zellers (Bruins) scored a power-play goal at the right post to make it 6-4 at 4:34.

“I mean, that’s a good team over there, but we knew we were better. I feel like we gave them a lot of the chances that they got off turnovers, some unlucky penalties,” Zellers said. “When me, [Hagens] and [Brodie Ziemer] got out there first shift (of the third period), our mindset was just getting it deep, getting it behind them, and just having a junkyard shift. Get it low to high and just get a greasy one there. So, that was kind of our mindset the whole time. We just stuck to our plan. They’re not all going to be pretty, so you just make sure that you find a way.”

Zellers has a team-leading four goals in three games for the United States.

“I think it’s just hanging around that net. I mean, if you’re not scoring, just go to the net,” Zellers said. “You’ll find a way to get one off your skate, off your shoulder. So, just happy that that one went in.”

Zellers, A.J. Spellacy (Chicago Blackhawks) and Brendan McMorrow (Los Angeles Kings) each had a goal and an assist, and Caleb Heil made 14 saves in his second start for the United States (3-0-0-0).

Tomas Chrenko (2026 eligible) scored two goals, Andreas Straka (2026 eligible) had two assists, and Michal Pradel made 25 saves for Slovakia (1-0-0-2).

Tobias Pitka (2026 eligible), Slovakia’s captain, gave his country a 1-0 lead at 8:53 of the first period on a wrist shot from the slot.

Chrenko pushed it to 2-0 with a wrist shot from the left face-off circle through a screen at 11:15.

Spellacy cut it to 2-1 with a short-handed goal after skating down the slot at 1:50 of the second period.

Adam Belusko gave Slovakia a 3-1 lead with his own short-handed goal at 6:46, scoring with a wrist shot from the right face-off circle.

McMorrow made it 3-2 on a shot at the right post at 8:33.

Ryker Lee (Nashville Predators) tied it 3-3 with a power-play goal at 11:00, burying a shot from the bottom of the left circle.

“I think I got the puck there and (forward) L.J. Mooney (Montreal Canadiens) did a great job drawing guys in and freezing guys, and it opened a lot of space for me,” Lee said. “So, I had time to look and I saw the goalie kind of move a little bit off his post, and I just threw it up there and it went in. It was awesome.”

Slovakia regained the lead, 4-3, when Michal Svrcek (Detroit Red Wings) scored a power-play goal on a scramble in the slot at 14:44.

Hagens scored his first goal of the tournament at 19:15, tying it 4-4 with a snap shot from the high slot.

“We were a little bit scared after the goal, and they were pushing us and it was hard game for both teams, I think,” Chrenko said.

After the United States extended its lead to 6-4, Chrenko scored during a 6-on-5 advantage with Pradel pulled for an extra attacker with 1:54 remaining in the third period.

“I loved the resiliency,” United States coach Bob Motzko said. “… We’re down bodies, and Chase Reid (2026 eligible) played (19:58) tonight. I can tell you, players are playing more minutes than if we wouldn’t have had the injuries, and that’s what you have to have in this tournament. You have to have certain players like Ziemer, Hagens, Cole Hutson (Washington Capitals) be your guys, but other guys have to grow in the tournament, and we think that that’s what’s happening.”

The United States was without Hutson, who was removed from the ice on a stretcher during a 2-1 win against Switzerland on Saturday after he was hit in the back of the head by a puck. The defenseman, who was hospitalized briefly but rejoined the team, remains day to day. Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen (2026 eligible), a healthy scratch on Saturday, returned to the lineup in his absence.

U.S. forward Max Plante (Detroit Red Wings) missed the third period with an undisclosed injury. Motzko did not have an update after the game.

Slovakia will conclude its preliminary round schedule against Switzerland on Wednesday (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN). The U.S. will finish its preliminary round against Sweden in a battle of undefeated teams on Wednesday (6 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN).