Poland appeared to open the scoring 2:48 into the contest, but after a challenge by Team USA, it was determined the play was offside.

Aided by three power play opportunities, Poland recorded 11 shots on goal in the opening period, but Team USA goaltender Trey Augustine (South Lyon, Mich./Michigan State University) stood tall. 

Team USA had many good chances of its own in the first 20 minutes, including a shorthanded break off the stick of Luke Kunin (Chesterfield, Mo./San Jose Sharks) with 1:30 to play, but Poland netminder John Murray stopped all 12 U.S. shots. 

Midway through the second period, Michael Kesselring (New Hampton, N.H./Arizona Coyotes) staked the U.S. to a 1-0 lead. Tkachuk took advantage of a Poland pinch in the neutral zone and skated into a 3-on-1 opportunity entering the offensive zone. Kesselring rocketed a shot into the upper corner of the net from the high slot after a feed from Tkachuk. 

With just 43 seconds remaining in the period, Tkachuk doubled the U.S. lead. Shane Pinto (Franklin Square, N.Y./Ottawa Senators) ripped a shot from the right circle that after a pad save from Murray, rebounded right to Tkachuk who carried the puck, and himself, into the net. Jake Sanderson (Whitefish, Mont./Ottawa Senators) also drew an assist on the play. The U.S. outshot Poland by a 25-5 count in the stanza. 

GAME PHOTOS

Caufield gave the U.S. a 3-0 lead 1:11 into the final frame scoring into the upper corner of the net in front after a nice backhand feed from Tkachuk.  

After Poland’s Grzegorz Pasiut beat Augustine from between the faceoff circles at 6:26, Caufield answered with his second of the game less than three minutes later putting in a rebound from the top of the crease. Pinto won a faceoff from the left circle back to Tkachuk who put a shot on net from the left hash marks, which Caufield found to account for the 4-1 final. 

Augustine recorded 20 saves in net to pick up his first career men’s world championship victory. 

Team USA continues preliminary round play on Sunday (May 19), facing off against Kazakhstan at 4:20 p.m. local time (10:20 a.m. ET). The game can be seen live on NHL Network.  

NOTES: Cole Caufield was named the U.S. Player of the Game ... Team USA outshot Poland, 57-21 ... The U.S. was 0-1 on the power play, while Poland was 0-4.  

HIGHLIGHTS