U.S. Men’s National Team Earns 7-1 Victory Over Hungary at Men’s Worlds

By USA Hockey, 05/14/23, 8:15AM EDT

U.S. to face Germany tomorrow at 9:20 a.m. ET on NHL Network

TAMPERE, Finland – Captain Nick Bonino (Unionville, Conn.) scored twice and Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor, Calif.) had a goal and two assists as the U.S. Men’s National Team earned a 7-1 victory over Hungary here today in its second preliminary round game at the 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championship.

“We got off to a little bit of a slow start, but got going in the second period,” said David Quinn, head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team. “We need to get some rest now and be ready for what will be another battle with Germany. In the end, there are no easy games in this tournament.”

Hungary got on the board first at the 4:07 mark of the opening stanza, but the U.S. evened things just under two minutes later after Alex Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) snapped a one-timer over the shoulder of Hungarian netminder Dominik Horvath off a net-front pass from Grimaldi.

Bonino added a second to the U.S. tally with 1:38 left in the first, intercepting a pass at the point and connecting with Grimaldi, who sent it back to Bonino for a goal right on the doorstep.

Bonino notched his second of the night with a power-play marker 3:29 into the middle frame. Scott Perunovich (Hibbing, Minn.) found Conor Garland (Scituate, Mass.) below the goal line, who moved it to Bonino stationed in front. Bonino bounced the puck off the skate of a Hungarian defender and into the net.

Cutter Gauthier (Scottsdale, Ariz.) made it 4-1 with 6:21 remaining in the second, beating Horvath five-hole. Lane Hutson (Chicago, Ill.) picked up the loose puck in the defensive zone and found Matt Coronato (Greenlawn, N.Y.), who sent it to a streaking Gauthier for the tally. The U.S. outshot Hungary 19-3 in the second period.

GAME PHOTOS

Connor Mackey (Tower Lakes, Ill.) scored 1:23 into the third period, traveling down the ice with Mikey Eyssimont (Littleton, Colo.) and burying a quick shot from the slot. Garland picked up an assist on the play as well.

Grimaldi added a sixth for Team USA 2:41 later, sending a wrist shot blocker side past Horvath off a turnover in the zone, and Luke Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) capped the scoring on a wrister from the left circle with 3:03 to play for the 7-1 final.

Cal Petersen (Waterloo, Iowa) finished with 13 saves in the U.S. net.

The U.S. continues preliminary round play in the 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championship tomorrow (May 15) against Germany with puck drop set for 4:20 p.m. local time/9:20 a.m. ET and the game can be seen live on NHL Network.

NOTES: Nick Bonino was named U.S. Player of the Game … The U.S. was 1-2 on the power play and took no penalties … The U.S. outshot Hungary by a 50-14 count … Conor Garland had two assists … Defenseman Ronnie Attard had six shots on goal, the most of any player in the contest … Team USA won 64% of the faceoffs in the game.