The U.S. jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 4:37 into the game. A Luke Hughes (Canton, Ohio/New Jersey Devils) outlet pass from inside the defensive blue line found Brock Nelson (Warroad, Minn./New York Islanders) cross-ice through the neutral zone, and after his initial shot hit the far post, a streaking Matt Boldy (Mills, Mass./Minnesota Wild) was there to put the rebound in.  

Brady Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo./Ottawa Senators) doubled Team USA’s lead on a power play at 7:16 in the first, tipping in a one-timer from the center point from Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe, Mich./Columbus Blue Jackets). Gaudreau picked up the secondary assist on the play.  

With 3:50 remaining in the first period, Nelson put home the rebound of a Jake Sanderson (Whitefish, Mont./Ottawa Senators) shot from the center point to put the U.S. ahead 3-0. The goal marked Nelson’s 19th all-time men’s worlds score, tying him with Russell Johnson as the leading all-time American goal scorer in the world championship.  

Tkachuk added his second of the game in the waning minutes of the first, also on a power play, cleaning up a rebound off a Werenski shot from Gaudreau to give Team USA a 4-0 lead heading into the first intermission.  

GAME PHOTOS

The U.S. scored twice in the opening 3:32 of the middle frame to extend it lead. Gavin Brindley (Estero, Fla./Columbus Blue Jackets) tallied his first career men’s worlds goal, pushing the puck home from the crease after a point shot from Matthew Kessel (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./St. Louis Blues) at 1:39. Boldy then tallied his second of the day, this time on a power play, with Gaudreau picking up his third assist of the game.  

Luke Kunin (Chesterfield, Mo./San Jose Sharks) recorded his first goal of the tournament, a snipe from the high slot off a backhand feed from Boldy at 11:04 to give Team USA a 7-0 advantage after 40 minutes. 

Tkachuk recorded his hat trick goal on the power play at 5:21 of the third. Boldy and Gaudreau tallied the assists. With the assist, Gaudreau set a new American career assists mark with his 30th all-time helper. 

Just 21 seconds later, Kevin Hayes (Dorchester, Mass./St. Louis Blues) got in on the action, tipping in a point shot from Jeff Petry (Ann Arbor, Mich./Detroit Red Wings) to put the U.S. ahead 9-0.  

Kazakhstan broke the shutout with 13:03 left in the game.  

Gaudreau scored the final goal of the game with 9:54 left in the contest to set the all-time career American points record in the men’s world with his 43rd point. Boldy picked up an assist, his sixth point of the game. 

Alex Nedeljkovic (Parma, Ohio/Pittsburgh Penguins) recorded 13 saves in net to pick up the victory. 

HIGHLIGHTS