(WGR 550) \u2013\u00a0Sabres forward Tage Thompson was responsible for two of Team USA\u2019s goals on Sunday helping them to a 5-1 win over Germany.<\/p>\n
In the second period on a power play, Thompson came through the neutral zone with speed along with former teammate Jack Eichel. He used Eichel as a decoy and gained the zone starting a passing play that ended up with captain Auston Matthews winning a battle in the crease to make it 2-0.<\/p>\n
In the third period Team USA was nursing a 3-0 lead when Dylan Larkin set up Thompson for one of his booming one-timers from the high slot and he blew it past Maximilian Franzreb.<\/p>\n
I found it interesting Germany decided not to use Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer who in two games had a goals against of 2.56 and a save percentage of .917.<\/p>\n
Speaking of goaltenders, Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves on 24 shots. In two games he has a goals against of 1.00 and has a .952 save percentage. St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington was in net for Canada\u2019s 10-2 pounding of France and had at least one goal he\u2019d want back. He too has a goals against of 1.00, but his save percentage is .950.<\/p>\n
Back to Thompson, he now has two goals for Team USA in three games. He again only got 9:23 of ice-time, but his linemate for the first two games, Kyle Connor went to the press box so Clayton Keller could play his first game. Keller played 9:51. Vincent Trocheck again worked into the line and played 9:12. J.T. Miller is getting ice-time when he should be sitting home in his living room playing 12:37.<\/p>\n
Matthews leads Team USA with three goals and two assists for five points. Eichel, who I think has been the Americans best player, has a goal and three assists.<\/p>\n
In Canada\u2019s win Connor McDavid, Macklin Celebrini, Sidney Crosby and Mark Stone all had three points. The 19-year-old Celebrini has four goals in three games including one on a penalty shot on Sunday. His six points are second overall to McDavid who has two goals and seven assists for nine points. Montreal 21-year-old winger Juraj Slafkovsky is tied with Celebrini with three goals and three assists. Slafkovsky was the first overall pick in 2022 while Celebrini had the same honor in 2024.<\/p>\n
Both the United States and Canada get a bye to the Quarterfinals on Wednesday as do Finland and Slovakia. Even though the U.S. is the second seed, they\u2019ll have the hardest path from here on out because they\u2019ll likely face Sweden who must play Latvia on Tuesday. Canada gets the Czechia\/Denmark winner, Slovakia gets the Germany\/France winner and Finland gets the Switzerland\/Italy winner. Now that would all change if Latvia upsets Sweden. If the U.S. wins that game, they\u2019d likely get Finland in the semi finals.<\/p>\n
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