Today features two games, as Canada first takes on Finland at 1pmET. Following the conclusion of that game, the U.S. will take on Sweden at 4pmET. Both games can be viewed live on NHL Network.
Kirby Dach (CHI, '19, 1st rd., 3rd overall) and Nolan Foote (TBL, '19, 1st rd., 27th overall) each registered three points to lead Canada past the United States, 4-1, in its first game of the Showcase. Cole Caufield (MTL, '19, 1st rd., 15th overall) scored a powerplay goal for the United States while Dustin Wolf (CGY, '19, 7th rd., 214th overall) finished with 18 saves. Canada's Olivier Rodrigue (EDM, '18, 2nd rd., 62nd overall) stopped all 17 shots he faced while Hunter Jones (MIN, '19, 2nd rd., 59th overall) made 13 saves on 14 shots in the third period. You can read a full recap here.
A year ago, the U.S. and Sweden skated in a thrilling preliminary- round tilt. Both entering the game undefeated with a pair of wins apiece, Sweden stormed to a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes of play. With 10:26 to play in regulation, U.S. captain Mikey Anderson scored off a pass from Ryan Poehling. Five minutes later, Poehling would tally his first of three-straight goals for a natural hat trick that sent the game into overtime. With Sweden's unbeaten preliminary-round streak on the line, a goal from Adam Boqvist secured Sweden's 47th-straight preliminary-round win.
As we enter today's competition in Plymouth, the U.S. features three players in the top five in scoring. John Beecher leads all scorers with three goals and one assist for four points. Right behind him are fellow forwards Joel Farabee, with two goals and one assist, and Alex Turcotte, who has a goal and two assists. Spencer Knight ranks third among goaltenders with a 1.00 GAA and a .963 save percentage.