The U.S. Men's National Team (1-0-0-1/W-OTW-OTL-L) returns to action Monday (May 13) when it continues preliminary round play against Finland. Puck drop is set for 4:15 p.m. local time (10:15 a.m. ET) at Steel Arena in Kosice, Slovakia. That game, and every U.S. game, will be broadcast live in the U.S. on NHL Network.

The U.S. boasted a 3-0 lead after the opening frame, outshooting France 14-4 in the first. Alex DeBrincat (Farmington Hills, Mich.) kickstarted the scoring for the U.S 4:05 into the game after France’s Damien Fleury headed to the box for high-sticking. On the first faceoff of the U.S. man-advantage, Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.) fed the puck down to James van Reimsdyk (Middletown, N.J.) who threaded a pass to DeBrincat waiting on the back door step for the game’s opening goal. 

Frank Vatrano (East Longmeadow, Mass.) doubled Team USA’s lead 1:43 later with a low-ranged spinning shot off an initial attempt from the point by Alec Martinez(Rochester Hills, Mich.).

Sixteen seconds later, DeBrincat added another tally for Team USA with his second goal of the day. After blocking a shot at the blue line, DeBrincat scooped up the puck, skated the length of the ice and tucked a quick-wristed shot glove-side past France’s goaltender Sebastian Ylonen. 

France came out strong out of the break, outshooting the U.S. 5-1 in the first three minutes of the second stanza as U.S. goaltender Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif.) turned aside every chance he faced. His best effort came with back-to-back saves, the latter of which included being patient and outlasting a chance from Charles Bertrand to keep the score, 3-0 for the U.S.

With just over 10 minutes to play in the second, DeBrincat almost completed the hat-trick, but his shot rang off the post. Kane followed that up with a pair chances of his own, but couldn’t find the back of the net as his best chance came when he sped past a French defenseman to skate in uncontested for a backhanded effort that was denied.

Colin White (Hanover, Mass.) extended Team USA’s lead to 4-0 off with six minutes to play in the frame. Quinn Hughes (Orlando, Fla.) started the play at the blue line, carried the puck down the left wall and behind the net before finding an unmarked White in the slot for a one-time goal.

Less than two minutes later, Kane got on the scoreboard when he shoveled in the rebound off a shot from Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) to make it 5-0 in favor of the U.S. 

In the closing minutes of the period, Demko stood tall on a partial breakaway to keep France off the board entering the second intermission.

Team USA made it 6-0 just 55 seconds into the third period when Chris Kreider (Boxford, Mass.) knocked in a rebound off an initial shot from Larkin.

The final frame opened with France tallying 6:36 into the frame after a scrum at the top of the crease ended with Anthony Rech lifting a shot past Demko.

White picked up his second goal of the day with just over five minutes to go to give the U.S. a 7-1 lead. After the initial shot from Vatrano, White picked up the rebound, pulled it between his legs and scored while being knocked down.

In his first tournament start, Demko registered 23 saves on 24 shots to help secure the 7-1 win.

Alex DeBrincat

Colin White

NOTES: Alex DeBrincat (Farmington Hills, Mich.) was named the U.S. Player of the Game ... The U.S. outshot France 42-24, went 1-for-1 on the powerplay and killed off the only France powerplay opportunity. For complete game statistics, click here ...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.