MONCTON, New Brunswick – The U.S. National Junior Team will play its second of four preliminary round games in the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship here today against Slovakia. Opening faceoff is set for 5 p.m. local/4 p.m. ET at the Avenir Centre, and the game will be broadcast live by NHL Network.

Team USA is coming off a 5-2 win over Latvia on Monday (Dec. 26), where it used three third-period goals to break a 2-2 tie after 40 minutes. Alternate captains Sean Behrens and Red Savage each had a goal and an assist, while the U.S. also got goals from Jimmy Snuggerud, captain Luke Hughes, and the game-winner from Chaz Lucius.

Slovakia played its first game of the World Juniors yesterday (Dec. 27) and dropped a 5-2 decision to Finland.

SERIES HISTORY

The U.S. and Slovakia will meet today for the 20th time in World Juniors history with Team USA earning victories in 14 of the first 19 meetings. The teams last met in the quarterfinals of the 2021 championship where the U.S. gained a 5-2 victory and went on to win the gold medal. Slovakia’s last win against the U.S. was in the 2018 tournament with a 3-2 triumph in the preliminary round.

Following today’s game, the U.S. will be back on the ice tomorrow (Dec. 29) to face Switzerland at 5 p.m. local/4 p.m. ET. All Team USA games will be aired live on NHL Network.