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Gameday: U.S. Faces Sweden in U18s Preliminary Round

By USAHockey.com, 04/21/18, 8:45PM EDT

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Puck drop set for 3:30 p.m. local (6:30 a.m. ET)

The U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team faces Sweden this afternoon in its third of four preliminary round matchups in Group A play at the 2018 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship here in Magnitogorsk, Russia. Puck drop is set for 3:30 p.m. local and 6:30 a.m. ET and will be televised in the U.S. live on NHL Network.

MATCHUP VS. SWEDEN

Sweden is 2-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) and sits tied with Canada atop the Group A leaderboard following its 4-3 victory against Belarus on Saturday (April 21). They also defeated Switzerland 3-1 in their opener (April 19). Forward Jonatan Berggren, currently ranked 30th in NHL Central Scouting International Skaters for the 2018 draft, leads Sweden in points and goals (3-2-5) through two games. Defenseman Adam Boqvist (#2 ranked among international skaters) is second on the team in points with four after a three-point game (1-2-3) in the win against Belarus. 

All-time, the U.S. is 12-2-0-2-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) against Sweden and has outscored them 76-34. In the previous eight preliminary matchups against Sweden, Team USA has 6-0-0-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L) and has outscored them 38-21. The two countries met in three consecutive gold medal games (2010-2012) with the U.S. claiming gold in all three.

The two teams last met a year ago in the semifinals of the 2017 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship. Sean Dhooghe (Aurora, Ill./University of Wisconsin) scored the game-winning goal with :21 remaining in overtime to give Team USA a 4-3 victory against Sweden.

THINGS WORTH MENTIONING

The United States has only lost 18 preliminary round games in the history of this tournament and has only lost two preliminary round game to Sweden ... Jack Hughes (Orlando, Fla./USAH NTDP)currently leads the tournament in points with six (3-3-6) through two games and is tied with Oliver Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass./USAH NTDP) and two others for the tournament lead in goals with three ... The underage (2001 birth year) skaters (Cole Caufield (Stevens Point, Wis./USAH NTDP), Hughes, Alex Turcotte (Island Lake, Ill./USAH NTDP) and Cam York (Anaheim Hills, Calif./USAH NTDP) have combined for 13 points through two games for Team USA ... The U.S. is averaging 46 shots per game through two games and is only allowing opponents to 22 shots per game.

HUGHES STARTS WITH A BANG

Forward Jack Hughes has started the 2018 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship by recording three points in each of his first two games. The 2001 birth year forward's six points (3-3-6) have him atop the leaderboard through three days. He is also tied with three other skaters, including linemate Oliver Wahlstrom or the goal scoring lead with three.  He was named Team USA's Player of the Game in the preliminary win against Switzerland and recording two goals, including the game-winner.

WAHLSTROM CLOSING IN ON GOAL SCORING RECORD

Following his third goal of the 2018 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship in the victory against Switzerland, forward Oliver
Wahlstrom
has cracked the top ten list for goals scored by U.S. skaters. Wahlstrom scored four goals in last year's tournament and is now tied for seventh all time with six other Americans (see page 9 for full list) with seven goals. Phil Kessel (2004/2005/Pittsburgh Penguins) holds the U.S. record with 16 goals in 12 games.

SET UP MAN

Defenseman Cam York is currently tied with Switzerland forward Gian-Marco Wetter for the tournament lead in assists with four through three days of competition. York recorded one assist against Canada and then added three more in the victory against Switzerland. His four points also leaves him tied with Sweden's Adam Boqvist for the scoring leaders among defensemen. 

ESPECIALLY SPECIAL TEAMS

Through two games and three days of competition, the U.S. is tied with Finland for the tournament lead in power play efficiency (37.5%). The U.S. has recorded three goals, all by Wahlstrom, in eight attempts. Team USA also sits alone at the top of the leaderboard in penalty kill efficiency (100%) after shutting down Canada and Switzerland's combined eight power play attempts. 

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U.S. Schedule

Date Opponent Round Time (Local/ET)/Results Location Television
Sun., April 15 France Exhibition W, 15-0 Traktor Ice Rink
Chelyabinsk, Russia
NHL Network
Thurs., April 19 Canada Preliminary L, 4-6 Metallurg Ice Rink
Magnitogorsk, Russia
NHL Network
Fri., April 20 Switzerland Preliminary W, 8-5 Metallurg Ice Rink
Magnitogorsk, Russia
NHL Network
Sun., April 22 Sweden Preliminary L, 1-3 Metallurg Ice Rink
Magnitogorsk, Russia
NHL Network
Tues., April 24 Belarus Preliminary W, 8-0 Metallurg Ice Rink
Magnitogorsk, Russia
NHL Network
Thurs., April 26 Russia Quarterfinals W, 5-1 Traktor Ice Rink
Chelyabinsk, Russia
NHL Network
Sat., April 28 Czech Republic Semifinals W, 4-1 Traktor Ice Rink
Chelyabinsk, Russia
NHL Network
Sun., April 29 Finland Gold Medal Game L, 2-3 Traktor Ice Rink
Chelyabinsk, Russia
NHL Network

2018 U18 Men's Worlds News