May 15: Day 17

The U.S. Men's National Team fell to Finland, 6-2, in its seventh and final preliminary round game of the 2018 IIHF Men's World Championship here in Herning, Denmark. With its second-place finish in Group B, the U.S. will meet Czech Republic (Third, Group A) in Thursday's quarterfinal game at 4:15 p.m. local time (8:15 a.m. ET) live on NHL Network.

TODAY'S GAME: FIN 6, USA 2
Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Derek Ryan (Spokane, Wash.) both scored but the 2018 U.S. Men's National Team fell to Finland, 6-2.
     “I thought we came out and played good hockey at the start of the game before a few bounces didn’t go our way and that was the real difference,” said Jeff Blashill, head coach of the 2018 U.S. Men’s National Team. “We’ve said from the start that we want to learn and improve every game, and you can’t do that without facing some adversity. It’s important for us to learn from this and build as we turn our attention to Thursday and facing a real good Czech team.”
     For the complete game recap, click here.

KANE SETS TWO U.S. RECORDS
With a goal and assist today, U.S. captain Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.) set new U.S. records for both points (17) and assists (11) in a single Men's World Championship. Kane's 17th point moved him passed Richard Roberge, who set the record in 1962 when he tallied 16 points. Additionally, his 11th assist put him in sole possession of the assists record, passing both Max Pacioretty (2012) and Craig Smith (2013).

TRIO INCH TOWARD JOHNSON'S ALL-TIME POINTS RECORD
Three players on Team USA's roster continue to inch closer to the U.S. career record for most points in IIHF Men's World Championship play. Forward Johnny Gaudreau (Salem, N.J.) has now tallied 29 career points (9-20) in 23 tournament games, which is tied with Paul Coppo for fourth all-time. Just behind him is alternate captain Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.), who holds 28 points (7-21) in 35 games and is tied with Dustin Brown and Bob Miller for sixth. Additionally, Patrick Kane holds 27 points (9-18) in 14 games for a share of eighth-place with Aaron Broten. The record for most career points by a U.S. player in Men's World Championship history is Mark Johnson, 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team gold medalist, who tallied 33 (15-18) in 61 games.

ROSTER SPOTLIGHT: DEUTSCHLAND CUP, WJAC TIES
Three players on Team USA have skated for the United States' U.S. Men's Select Team that competes in the Deutschland Cup as well as two players that have skated for the U.S. Junior Select Team that plays in the World Junior A Challenge.
     Forward Derek Ryan (Spokane, Wash.) helped the U.S. win the 2013 Deutschland Cup while skating in Austria's EBEL league. The U.S. squad that competes in the Deutschland Cup is made primarily of U.S. players skating in European leagues.
     Additionally, defensemen Nick Jensen (St. Paul, Minn.) and Neal Pionk (Hermantown, Minn.) both skated for U.S. Junior Select Teams that captured World Junior A Challenge titles. In 2009, with current U.S. head coach Jeff Blashill serving the same role then, Jensen and the U.S. captured the 2009 title in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. Four years later, Pionk and Team USA accomplished the feat in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.