The U.S. National Junior Team won 7-1 over Germany in its second and final pre-tournament game in preparation of the 2020 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship. Cole Caufield (Stevens Point, Wis.) led USA with four goals, including the eventual game-winner.

“It was a good game for us, again we saw some things that were good and some things we need to keep getting better at,” said head coach Scott Sandelin (Hibbing, Minn.). “Any time you win a hockey game guys have a good feeling moving into the tournament, but it’s going to get a lot harder.”

Eleven seconds into the game, Caufield found himself on a breakaway chance but was denied. Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.) made two critical saves going the other way, including one off his stick that turned into a Trevor Janicke (Maple Grove, Minn.) breakaway. However, Germany would hold strong through the majority of the opening period.

Caufield would eventually find the back of the net, while on a five-on-three power play, high over the stick of German goaltender Hendrik Hane with only 56 seconds remaining in the period. Alex Turcotte (Chicago, Ill.) assisted on the opening goal.

With 1:04 remaining on the power play, the U.S. started the second period on the man advantage. Germany killed the penalty and went on the offensive, tying the game 1-1 on a two-on-one breakaway opportunity. USA spent much of the second period on the penalty kill, effectively thwarting Germany’s man advantage.

The score remained 1-1 until Caufield scored his second goal of the night, this time from a Ty Emberson (Eau Claire, Wis.) rebounded shot 14:44 into the second period.

U.S. took over play in the third period when Nick Robertson (Northville, Mich.) split across the German defense and fired a shot from the high slot. Jack Drury (Winnetka, Ill.) tipped an Emberson shot to make the score 4-1, four minutes before an Oliver Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass.) one-timer found the back of the net.

Caufield scored his third of the game, a one-time shot from an Emberson pass at 13:53, putting the U.S. lead at five goals. Caufield’s fourth goal of the game came while on the man advantage, with just one minute remaining, to finalize the U.S. victory at 7-1. Knight played all 60 minutes for the U.S. holding Germany to one goal.

NOTES: The U.S. finished 2-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in pre-tournament play … Follow Team USA throughout the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship here.