Alex DeBrincat (Farmington Hills, Mich.) tallied three points, including the game-winning goal, and four other U.S. players scored as the U.S. Men's National Team defeated Germany, 5-2, in its lone pre-tournament game ahead of the 2019 IIHF Men's World Championship.
“Germany made it hard on us and it was a real good test as we head into the world championship,” said Jeff Blashill, head coach of the 2019 U.S. Men’s National Team and also the head coach of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. “It was a great atmosphere here tonight and we appreciate the hospitality we’ve received while we’ve been in Mannheim.”
The United States will open tournament play on Friday (May 10) against host Slovakia. Puck drop is slated for 8:15 p.m. local time (2:15 p.m. ET) and broadcast live in the U.S. on NHL Network.
After a scoreless 10 minutes of play, Germany jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Markus Eisenschmid one-timed a shot from the right faceoff dot through the arm of U.S. goaltender Corey Schneider (Marlbehead, Mass.).
The U.S. evened the game three minutes later off the stick of Noah Hanifin (Norwood,Mass.). DeBrincat started the play, dishing the puck to Hanifin in the slot for a shot that was initially blocked by a defender before bouncing back to Hanifin for a second-chance effort that sailed into the top-right corner.
Two minutes later, Germany reclaimed its lead when Dominik Kahun snuck one past the left pad of an outstretched Schneider. With 22 seconds remaining in the first period, Schneider made a big save to keep the U.S. deficit at 2-1 after two minutes.
Team USA evened the game seven minutes into the middle frame when Clayton Keller (St. Louis, Mo.) scored off a pass from Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass.). With a faceoff to the left of Germany's goal, Eichel pounced on a loose puck and dished it to an open Keller for a quick-wristed tally.
Just minutes later, Team USA had back-to-back breakaway scoring chances from Johnny Gaudreau (Salem, N.J.) and Eichel, but neither were able to convert.
DeBrincat gave the U.S. its first lead of the game four minutes into the final stanza when his shot from the top of the right circle deflected off a German defenseman and into goal for a 3-2 U.S. lead.
With less than 10 minutes to play, James Van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.) doubled the U.S. lead when he finished a nice feed from behind the net by Jack Hughes (Orlando, Fla.).
Gaudreau added an empty-net goal with 2:40 to play in regulation to seal a 5-2 U.S. win. Schneider made 15 saves on 17 shots in the first two periods of play while Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif.) turned aside all eight shots he faced in the third period.
NOTES: Johnny Gaudreau (Salem, N.J.) was named the U.S. Player of the Game ... The U.S. outshot Germany, 31-25, went 0-for-2 on the powerplay and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. For game statistics, click here ... Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.) is serving as captain of the U.S. Men's National Team for the second consecutive year after helping lead the U.S. to a bronze medal a year ago in the world championship ... The U.S. has medaled in three of the last six IIHF Men's World Championships (bronze in 2013, 2015, 2018), its best medal stretch since the 1950s ... For complete coverage of the U.S. Men’s National Team, visit teamusa.usahockey.com/2019mensworlds … The official IIHF home of the 2019 IIHF Men’s World Championship is 2019.IIHFWorlds.com.
Date | Opponent/Round | Time (Local/ET)/Result | Location | Television | U.S. Player of the Game |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tues., May 7 | Germany Pre-Tournament |
W, 5-2 | SAP Arena Mannheim, Germany |
Live Stream | Johnny Gaudreau |
Fri., May 10 | Slovakia Preliminary |
L, 1-4 | Steel Arena Kosice, Slovakia |
NHL Network | Jack Eichel |
Sun., May 12 | France Preliminary |
W, 7-1 | Steel Arena Kosice, Slovakia |
NHL Network | Alex DeBrincat |
Mon., May 13 | Finland Preliminary |
OTW, 3-2 | Steel Arena Kosice, Slovakia |
NHL Network | Brady Skjei |
Wed., May 15 | Great Britain Preliminary |
W, 6-3 | Steel Arena Kosice, Slovakia |
NHL Network | Patrick Kane |
Sat., May 18 | Denmark Preliminary |
W, 7-1 | Steel Arena Kosice, Slovakia |
NHL Network | Dylan Larkin |
Sun., May 19 | Germany Preliminary |
W, 3-1 | Steel Arena Kosice, Slovakia |
NHL Network | Alec Martinez |
Tues., May 21 | Canada Preliminary |
L, 0-3 | Steel Arena Kosice, Slovakia |
NHL Network | Cory Schneider |
Thurs., May 23 | Russia Quarterfinal |
L, 3-4 | Ondrej Nepela Arena Bratislava, Slovakia |
NHL Network | Jack Hughes |