Wednesday, May 17, 2017
3 p.m. local time

COLOGNE, Germany – As you might expect, after an inspiring 5-3 win over Russia yesterday afternoon, the atmosphere was upbeat this morning around Team USA.

The team had an up-tempo and fun 45-minute skate late this morning at LANXESS Arena in preparation for tomorrow’s quarterfinal game against Finland. Opening faceoff is set for 4:15 p.m. local time (10:15 a.m. ET) and the game can be seen live on NBCSN in the U.S. and will be streamed live on the NBC Sports app and on NBCSports.com.

After practice, several players and head coach Jeff Blashill met with members of the media and then players and staff set out for rest, relaxation and to enjoy the rest of what is a beautiful and sunny 80-degree day here.

The team will gather tonight for a meeting to further prepare for tomorrow’s all-important quarterfinal. A win ensures the U.S. will play for a medal for the fourth time in five years, while a loss means Team USA’s tournament will be finished.

WHAT BEATING RUSSIA MEANT FOR THE U.S.
Yesterday afternoon’s 5-3 win over Russia secured the top spot in Group A for Team USA and ensured that the U.S. will play its quarterfinal game here in Cologne, where the semifinals and medal games will also be conducted. A loss would have meant having to go to Paris to play the quarterfinal game, including moving the entire lockerroom, along with the players, staff, and their guests. And then after the quarterfinal game, everything would have to be moved back to Cologne.

Typically, the top two teams in each Group get to stay in the city they play their preliminary round games for the quarterfinal contest, and the third and fourth place teams are forced to travel.  However, teams agreed a year in advance of the tournament, that if either Germany or France advanced to the quarterfinals, they would get to play that game in their host country. So, while France had no chance to get to the quarterfinals heading into the final day of preliminary round play yesterday, that was not the case for Germany. Their game last night against Latvia determined the fourth and final quarterfinal team from Group A. And with an 8:15 p.m. start and a game that ultimately went to overtime and then a shootout, it was well after 10:30 p.m. before many teams knew their final fate.

With host Germany winning, it means that Canada, which won Group B, was forced to travel to Cologne this morning to face Germany tomorrow in a quarterfinal game, and Russia, which finished second in Group A, had to go to Paris for its quarterfinal matchup with the Czech Republic.

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SIX IN A ROW

The U.S. has won six straight games in this year’s world championship heading into tomorrow’s quarterfinal game against Finland. No U.S. Men’s National Team has ever won seven straight games in a single world championship. As a matter of fact, only one other team has won six straight games in a single world championship and that happened in 1990 in Bern and Fribourg, Switzerland. That year, the U.S. lost its first four games of the preliminary round, before winning the final three. The U.S. then won its final three games of the tournament, which were in the relegation round.

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Inside Story with Team USA Forward Kevin Hayes

Favorite Hockey Moment
Winning the national championship at Boston College in 2012.

Favorite Youth Hockey Moment
Playing on the same team as my brother (Jimmy). I believe I was 10 and he was 13. We played for the Dorchester Chiefs at Devine hockey rink.

Best thing about hockey
Teammates

Favorite Olympic sport outside of hockey
Men’s Soccer

Best Movie You’ve Seen Recently
Lone Survivor

Favorite Streaming Show
Entourage

Go-To Music
Rap

A look back at Team USA's path to winning Group A at the IIHF Men's World Championship