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2018 MWC Gameday: US. Meets Host Denmark In Second Prelim Game

By USAHockey.com, 05/05/18, 4:45AM EDT

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Puck drop is set for 2:15 p.m. ET live on NHL Network

The U.S. Men's National Team faces host Denmark tonight in its second preliminary round game of the 2018 IIHF Men's World Championship here in Herning, Denmark. Puck drop is set for 8:15 p.m. local time (2:15 p.m. ET) at the Jyske Bank Boxen and will be televised live in the U.S. exclusively on NHL Network.
    The U.S. and Denmark, which met in an exhibition game (USA, 3-2) on Tuesday (May 1) at the KVIK Hockey Arena here in Herning, have met six times previously in the world championship. Team USA has a 4-0-1-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) series advantage.
    The United States enters the 2018 IIHF Men's World Championship seeking its 12th tournament medal and first since 2016, when it claimed a bronze medal. All-time, the U.S. has won gold once (1933), silver four times (1950, 1939, 1934, 1931) and bronze six times (2015, 2013, 2004, 1996, 1952, 1949).    

THINGS WORTH MENTIONING
Keith Kinkaid
's 40 save performance yesterday was the most by a U.S. netminder since May 6, 2011, when Ty Conklin turned aside 48 shots in a 4-3 preliminary round shootout loss to Canada ... After today's game, the U.S. will have one practice day before returning to action on Monday, May 7 against Germany ... Team USA has finished in the top five of an IIHF Men's World Championship four of the last five years ... The U.S. roster currently sits at 23 ... Jeff Blashill is head coach for the second straight year ... Yesterday, USA Hockey announced 21 players chosen to join USA Hockey's National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Mich. The 2002 birth-year players will compete for the U.S. National Under-17 Team for the 2018-19 season ... Eight members of Team USA are USA Hockey NTDP alums.

THE SERIES VS. DENMARK
Last Tuesday (May 1), Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis.) collected a goal and two assists as the U.S. earned a 3-2 victory over Denmark in its lone exhibition game ahead of the 2018 IIHF Men's World Championship. Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) tallied the eventual game-winning goal with Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Butcher tallying assists. Cam Atkinson (Riverside, Conn.), who scored Team USA's second goal off a deflection, was named the U.S. Player of the Game.
    The last tournament meeting between the two teams came a year ago at the 2017 IIHF Men's World Championship where Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller (St. Louis, Mo.) netted a hat trick and current U.S. forward Anders Lee (Edina, Minn.) scored twice for Team USA's first victory of the 2017 tournament.

INTERNATIONAL POINT-GETTERS
A number of U.S. players continue to collect points on the international stage. Leading all U.S. skaters internationally in points is Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.), whose assist last night gives him 44 points (18-26) in 37 international games across IIHF, Olympic and World Cup of Hockey play. Ranking second is Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) with 33 points (13-20) in 40 IIHF games. In his last three meetings against Canada, Larkin has tallied four points (2-2). Sitting third in the U.S. point totals is Johnny Gaudreau (Salem, N.J.), who now has 31 points (16-15) in 24 IIHF games played. Of Johnny's 31 points, 22 have come in 17 IIHF Men's World Championship games.

LAST GAME: USA 5, CAN 4 (SOW)
Cam Atkinson (Riverside, Conn.) scored both goals in the shootout, Dylan Larkin(Waterford, Mich.) added two goals in regulation and Keith Kinkaid (Farmingville, N.Y.) made 40 saves as the U.S. edged Canada, 5-4, for a shootout win in the team's opening game of the tournament. Anders Lee (Edina, Minn.) and Johnny Gaudreau (Salem, N.J.) also scored in the win while Chris Kreider (Boxford, Mass.) tallied two assists and four others tallied helpers.
    "This was a great way to kick off the tournament," said Jeff Blashill. "We started a little slow, but I think once we got our feet under us we proved we could compete. There were some great performances by our guys tonight and we'll look to build on this as we move forward."

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U.S. Schedule

Date Opponent Round Result Location
Tues., May 1 Denmark Exhibition W, 3-2 KVIK Hockey Arena
Herning, Denmark
Fri., May 4 Canada Preliminary W, 5-4 (SO) Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Sat., May 5 Denmark Preliminary W, 4-0 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Mon., May 7 Germany Preliminary W, 3-0 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Thurs., May 10 Latvia Preliminary W, 3-2 (OT) Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Fri., May 11 Korea Preliminary W, 13-1 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Sun., May 13 Norway Preliminary W, 9-3 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Tues., May 15 Finland Preliminary L, 2-6 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Thurs., May 17 Czech Republic Quarterfinals W, 3-2 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Sat., May 19 Sweden Semifinals L, 0-6 Royal Arena
Copenhagen, Denmark
Sun., May 20 Canada Bronze-Medal Game W, 4-1 Royal Arena
Copenhagen, Denmark

2018 Men's Worlds News