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LIVE GAME BLOG: USA vs Czech Republic

By USAHockey.com, 01/02/13, 2:45AM EST

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Read all the live blog updates from Team USA's 7-0 victory over Czech Republic in the quarterfinals.

Game Links & Downloads

TV Information: Game will be aired live on NHL Network-U.S. Full TV Info

Webcast: A live webcast is available on NHL.com

Live Stats: Full live stats are available on IIHF.com

Live Game Blog

Final Score: USA 7 - CZE 0

That's the game! Team USA wins big and rolls into the semis with momentum. We'll be back soon with a full recap, videos and more from this shutout victory!

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1:12 - Hrbas checks Vesey from behind. Another 5-on-3. The U.S. isn't pushing the issue though with the huge lead.

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5-on-3 ... Galchenyuk has a chance but fires wide. Now it's a 5-on-4

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Back to a power play for the U.S. They are coasting now on the way to a rematch with Canada. The Czechs are on a parade to the penalty box, another high sticking call this one on Nemec.

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3:33 - High sticking call against Beran on Murphy. Back to 4-on-4 for 39 seconds, then a U.S. power play for 1:21

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4:54 - Hartman called for interference. 4-on-4 for 30 seconds then the Czechs will have a power play

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5:48 - Now it's a power play for the U.S. for 1:25. Grimaldi, Murphy Reilly, Biggs and Trocheck

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6:24 - Vrana blatantly slashes Hartman and is ejected (10 minute misconduct). He throws his stick in anger as he leaves the ice. 4-on-4 now

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That unit does a good job and kills off the first minute. Now Trouba, Jones Bardreau and Pietila take their turn

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So it's Team USA leading 7-0 and Biggs, Murphy, Trocheck and Sieloff on the penalty kill

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7:54 - More shoving after the whistle near the benches. I think Galchenyuk took a shot then his linemates piled in and the end result is Vesey in the box along with Galchenyuk and the Czechs on a 5-on-4 power play. Housley is not pleased and is asking for an explanation.

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Stat leaders today: Gaudreau with 3 goals, Jones and Trouba have 4 assists each. Trouba is, at the moment, tied with Galchenyuk for the team tournament lead with 8 points.

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9:38 - Grind Line wins a draw in the Czech end.

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11:57 - Giant scrum on top of Gibson with sticks slamming everywhere but the puck stays out and the U.S. ends up with a 3-on-1 the other way. Galchenyuk hit Barber with a pass from the right side and he shot across the grain to the post glove side, but Machovsky made the snare.

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12:58 - Grimaldi nearly connects with Biggs as the power play expires.

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First penalty ends. Housley sends out the Grind Line on the power play

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Now another penalty for cross checkingon Faksa. The Czech player took a run on Grimaldi. 5-on-3 for 15 seconds.

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The other Czech penalty was for delay of game. Still on the power play

USA 7 - CZE 0

15:52 - GOAL! Trouba's blast off of a one-touch no look pass from Jones bounces off Miller in front and in. That had to hurt Miller, but it ends up in the net. 5-on-3 power play goal

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Miller, Trocheck and Gaudreau with Jones and McCabe. This unit has been lights out on the power play so Housley throws them back out there.

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16:27 - Tripping call so the U.S. goes back on the power play

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McCabe breaks up a rush.

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Against Slovakia the U.S. came out in the third a bit sloppy with the big lead. They have let a couple shots in on Gibson, but the goaltender certainly hasn't slowed down.

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19:13 - Gibson makes a save off the mask!

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20:00 - We're back to the game! Housley sends out the Grind Line to start with McCabe and Jones.

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IIHF has the shots at 24-23 for Team USA but I am wondering how that can be when the U.S. has controlled so much of the play. The Czechs have had their chances and a few power plays, but a lot of shots have been blocked. Either way the only stat that matters is that it's 6-0 entering the third period.

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The most recent hat tricks for Team USA are as follows:

2012 - Austin Watson (Natural, 7-point game)
2011 - Charlie Coyle
2008 - Colin Wilson (Natural)

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That's three power play goals for Gaudreau to notch the hat trick. No hats hit the ice here at Ufa Arena, but it still counts. Very strong period for Team USA. I'll be back in a bit to answer questions and throw some stats at you including the most recent hat tricks in WJC history.

End of Second Period: USA 6 - CZE 0

00:13 - GOAL! Hat trick for Johnny Gaudreau! Jones to Miller on the wall and he finds Gaudreau with a beautiful pass across the slot.

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Grind Line with Jones and Murphy ... Wow, what a pass backhanded rom Hartman to Pietila in the slot then Bardreau tries to finish the play off the rebound but it goes high. They draw a penalty when Musil throws the puck out of play.

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2:08 - Grimaldi catches a puck mid air and breaks in on Machovsky but can't beat the goaltender. Good defensive effort to read the play. He nearly scored bloge side low. Then Biggs has a chance and barely misses five hole

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Kuraly is leveled in the right faceoff circle as he tried to reach for a puck that was behind him. He looks OK though.

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Team USA's speed has been the major advantage today. They can open the Czechs up with long passes off the boards because their forwards have that big of an advantage

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Miller, Vesey and Gaudreau on the ice with McCabe and Jones

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5:17 - Grind Line's Bardreau has a chance but can't get the handle on the puck with a guy draped on him. The other way it's Gibson making a tremendous save on a second attempt then his defense clears the puck. for as solid as the offense has been the D has been very good as well.

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6:52 - USA has 2 more chances. They are still hungry for more. Housley and his coaches have stressed the need for a full 60-minute effort today and so far no lapses even with a five goal lead.

USA 5 - CZE 0

7:47 - GOAL! Just as the penalty ends Barber tips the puck to himself and breaks away, he dekes forehand and drops Machovsky to the ice before sliding the backhand goal into the net. Great effort to break away and a very sweet deke. Jones credited with an assist.

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McCabe with a big shot block! The U.S. has been very good in that area today

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1 minute left in the kill

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9:48 - Trocheck called for hooking. Penalty kill back to work. Just before that the Czechs barely missed a goal, but I think it was blocked by Jones while he tried to clear the net.

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Jones was a little shaken up but looks to be fine on the bench. Gibson flashes the leather and snares the puck labeled for the top shelf!

USA 4 - CZE 0

11:16 - GOAL! - USA makes the Czechs pay for the hit, Galchenyuk weaves his way through the defense by splitting two defenders and drawing a third away before going against the grain to Barber for the power play goal.

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Gibson makes a save on a shot from his left, then two on a shot from the point and rebound. Jones was on his knees and was slammed by Sedlak, the Czech captain while he was down. Hit to the head at the least, but it's just a roughing call. 5-on-4 power play

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Gaudreau back on the ice. Good to see him uninjured.

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13:00 - Gibson makes a shoulder save blocker side and covers up.

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Trouba buries a player behind Gibson. He continues to be one of the best defensemen in the tournament.

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14:58 - Post whistle shoving behind John Gibson looks like it's going to lead to some penalties. After some sorting out it's 2 players in each box and we're 5-on-5. For Team USA it's Reilly and Hartman in the box.

Gaudreau looks to be OK. He's on the bench.

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15:40 - Gaudreau went to the bench slow after a hit near the Czech bench. Staff are looking at him now.

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16:53 - Grimaldi leaves a drop pass on the outside of the right faceoff dot and he whiffs on the shot attempt, then Grimaldi's shot deflected out of play.

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Bardreau picks up the second assist. Czechs swap goaltenders and send out Machovsky. The Grind Line does it again

USA 3 - CZE 0

18:52 - GOAL! Trouba's wrist shot turns into a big rebound and Hartman smacks it in from the right faceoff circle, beating Bartosak to the open net.

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McCabe and Miller get the assists. McCabe threw it on net from the point and it bounced off Miller before finding Gaudreau

USA 2 - CZE 0

19:32 - GOAL! Gaudreau benefits from another broken play that ended up on his stick at the side of the net! He scores his second power play marker of the game.

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20:00 - We're underway in the second period. Housley sends out a power play of Jones, Trocheck, Gaudreau, Miller and McCabe

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Team USA will have 1:14 of power play when the 2nd period begins. They outshot the Czechs 9-8 in the first period. The assists on Gaudreau's goal (his third) were to Jones (third assist, fourth point) and Trouba (first assist, fifth point).

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Good first period for Team USA overall. They have the lead and controlled nearly the entire period except for one Czech power play and a brief period with about 6 minutes to go. I'll be back in a bit to answer any questions and update statistics. Post any questions or comments to the right. Thanks for reading!

End of First Period - USA 1 - CZE 0

00:19 - Grimaldi shows some attack on the 4-on-4.

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The U.S. stays with the aggressive PK that has so far worked in this tournament. Pietila steals the puck then flat out beats the defense on a breakaway and draws a slashing call. Close to a penalty shot in my opinion. 47 seconds left

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2:00 - Trouba called for holding as he was fighting for the puck behind the U.S. net.

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A shot of the end boards bounces back onto Gibson and he covers. On the other end a Barber shot was kicked away at the last second. Close calls for both teams.

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Czechs hold the zone with a quick slap shot that's redirected onto Gibson. He makes the save but looked around for the puck!

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5:30 - So far special teams battle has been won by Team USA and the lead on the score board. Pietila kicks the puck to his stick and fires off a nice shot. Faceoff in Czech end.

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Cycling and working around the zone. Couple chances but the Czechs do a good job of clogging shooting lanes and blocking shots.

USA 1 - CZE 0

8:15 - GOAL! Jones to Trouba who tried to go back door through the D, but the puck deflected to the side of the net for Gaudreau to bury it! Still a power play since they scored right before the 2-man advantage ended.

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8:37 - Trouba is tripped by Jaskin so it's 5-on-3 for 26 seconds

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That unit can't get anything going so it's Reilly, Trouba, Galchenyuk, Kuraly and Barber with 47 tics left in the PP

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10:11: Kuraly feeds Barber but he's hauled down. Power play for U.S. now. McCabe, Jones, Gaudreau, Trocheck and Miller

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Back to even strength. Shot blocking and two saves by Gibson helped the Americans escape.

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Saved by Gibson. 4-on-3 ends. Now it's a short 5-on-4 for Czechs

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Blocked by Murphy! Then Trouba blocks 2 shots!

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Murphy, Trouba and Trocheck

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12:49 - Bardreau makes a good defensive play to spark a 2-on-1, but after his backhand try goes high he barrels into Bartosak and is called for goaltender interference. 4-on-3 for Czech Republic

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Fortunate for Team USA

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13:14 - Penalty coming on Biggs. Officials convene to determine whether to send off a Czech player who came in after the whistle and hit McCabe. They do so it's 4-on-4. Very undisciplined by Musil who negated a power play.

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Biggs, Grimaldi and Trocheck on the ice with mcCabe and Jones

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Back to full strength on both sides.

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USA will have an abbreviated power play when Hartmany's penalty ends

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Now it's Reilly, Murphy, Gaudreau and Miller

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Galchenyuk Kurally, Trouba and Sieloff on the PK, called for icing so they have to stay out there for a faceoff in the U.S. zone

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16:10 - Hartman sent to the box for roughing so the Czechs have the power play now ... but that ends quickly with Biggs on the forecheck and draws a slashing call. 4-on-4

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16:50 - Grimaldi on the ice in the hunt for his first goal of the tournament

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Miller bats at a fluttering puck on the doorstep but can't get anything on it.

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19:00 - Some back and forth but no shots so far

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Jones and McCabe on the back end

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20:00 - We're off! Housley sends out Pietila, Bardreau and Hartman "the Grind Line" to start.

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I wrote pre-game that special teams are the key part of today's game. Let's see if that holds true.

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I was looking down at some game notes when the crowd started to cheer. I assumed it was for Czech Republic, but it was for Team USA who took the ice first. The Russian fans have cheered for the U.S. a couple times, especially against Canada. Let's see if they are beind Team USA today against the Czechs.

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Fans are finding their seats on a nice sunny day in Ufa to start the 2013 portion of the tournament. Less than 5 minutes until puck drop.

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Warmups are over and we're 10 minutes away from puck drop. What are your thoughts on today's game? Where are you watching? Did you stay up all night or wake up early? Share your thoughts in the comment area to the right.

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Teams are in the middle of warmups right now.

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke is in the building for today's game and visited the USA locker room. He said he feels the Czech Republic power play is among the best in the tournament and, even though it hasn't scored much yet, has had lots of opportunities. He thinks the key to a U.S. victory is to stay out of the box, something the Americans haven't done yet.

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Starting goaltender is John Gibson, backup is Jon Gillies

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Defense pairings

McCabe/Jones, Sieloff/Trouba, Reilly/Murphy

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Forward lines:

Gaudreau/Miller/Vesey

Galchenyuk/Kuraly/Barber

Pietila/Bardreau/Hartman

Grimaldi/Trocheck/Biggs (Correction from Line Chart, Grimaldi is on the line, not Lucia who will be the 13th forward

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Team USA defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere is out of the lineup due to a one-game suspension for slashing against Slovakia.

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We're one hour from game time. We'll be back soon to give you the full breakdown of Team USA's starting lineup and prepare for the big game against Czech Republic.

Game Preview | Send Team USA Well Wishes

While we're waiting for the 4 a.m. ET puck drop, check out two videos below. There is a locker room tour and also a feature on Alex Galchenyuk's ability to speak English and Russian in media interviews.

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