GOTHENBURG, Sweden – Today marks the second of four preliminary round games of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship for the U.S. with a matchup against Switzerland. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m. local/11 a.m. ET and the game can be seen live on NHL Network.

The U.S. and Switzerland have met 25 previous times in the World Juniors and Team USA has won 23 times with two ties. The team’s met a year ago in the preliminary round of the tournament with the U.S. earning a 5-1 victory, led by two points apiece from Cutter Gauthier, Jimmy Snuggerud and Logan Cooley in a game that Team USA outshot the Swiss by a 42-19 count.

The U.S. is coming off a 4-1 win over Norway in a game where the first goal didn’t come until midway through the second period off the stick of Jimmy Snuggerud. Netminder Trey Augustine was sharp throughout and stopped many good Norway scoring chances in the game. Augustine improved his career record in IIHF world championships, including the men’s U18s and world juniors, to 13-1-0-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L).

U.S. head coach David Carle also has Jacob Fowler, who is 13-3-1 on the season for top-ranked Boston College, at his disposal in goal. Fowler, who last season helped the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL to the Clark Cup championship, has a 2.16 goals against average and .925 save percentage at BC this year.

Switzerland played its first game yesterday and despite a 36-20 shots advantage, dropped a 3-0 decision to Slovakia.

The U.S. had a short practice yesterday at the new practice rink that opened just a week ago and is adjacent to Frolundaborg.