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2018 MWC Gameday: U.S. Faces Czech Republic in Quarterfinals

By USAHockey.com, 05/17/18, 5:00AM EDT

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Puck drop is set for 10:15 a.m. ET live on NHL Network

The U.S. Men's National Team meets the Czech Republic today in its quarterfinal game of the 2018 IIHF Men's World Championship here in Herning, Denmark. Puck drop is set for 4:15 p.m. local time (10:15 a.m. ET) at the Jyske Bank Boxen and will be televised live in the U.S. exclusively on NHL Network.

THINGS WORTH MENTIONING
Team USA is the home team and will wear its blue jersey ... Patrick Kane (6-11--17) has tallied at least one point in every game while Charlie McAvoy (3-5--8) has registered a point in all three games he's played ... All six of Kane's goals have come on Team USA's tournament-best power play unit (40.0%) ... The U.S. has won its last two meetings against the Czech Republic ... To date this season, five of six U.S. teams competing in IIHF or IPC play have advanced to the semifinal round ... Seventeen members of Team USA  have faced the Czechs in 12 IIHF playoff round meetings, including one gold medal game (win), two bronze medal games (both wins), two semifinal game (both win) and seven quarterfinal games (five wins). Kane scored the overtime game-winner against the Czechs in the semifinals of the 2006 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship.

THE SERIES VS. CZECH REPUBLIC
Team USA is 5-2-1-6-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) against the Czech Republic in tournament play. Of the 15 meetings, six have occurred in the playoff rounds, including the last four match-ups. Three of those games came in the quarterfinals while the other was the 2015 bronze medal game, which the U.S. won, 3-0. 
    Its most recent meeting came in the 2016 quarterfinals, where Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz.) scored twice, including the shootout winner, and Keith Kinkaid (Farmingville, N.Y.) made 31 saves and turned aside all three Czech Republic shootout attempts to lead the U.S. to a 2-1 win. In addition to Kinkaid, returnees from that year's team include Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) and Connor Murphy (Dublin, Ohio).

THE U.S. IN QUARTERFINALS
Quarterfinal games have been played in the IIHF World Championship since 1992 with the exception of 1997, 1998, and 1999. Of the 22 years quarterfinals have been played, the U.S. has qualified for the quarterfinal game all but twice.
     The current tournament format, with seven games in the preliminary round, began in 2012. In the seven years since, the U.S. has finished second or better in group play five times (1st - 2015, 2017; 2nd - 2012, 2014, 2018). Team USA, which is 2-1-0-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in its last five quarterfinal games, holds an all-time record of 5-3-3-10 in 21 contests.

FAMILIAR FOE FOR 17 ON TEAM USA
Fourteen players and three coaches on Team USA have previous experience in facing the Czech Republic at the playoff stage of an IIHF competition. Of those meetings specifically, the U.S. has posted a record of 9-1-0-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in 12 meetings against the Czechs. 

2018 Men's U18's - USA 4, CZE 1 (Semifinals)
Seth Appert

2018 World Juniors - USA 9, CZE 3 (Bronze Medal Game)
Quinn Hughes

2016 Men's Worlds - USA 2, CZE 1 (SO) (Quarterfinals)
Keith Kinkaid, Dylan Larkin, Connor Murphy

2016 World Juniors - USA 7, CZE 0 (Quarterfinals)
Alex DeBrincat, Charlie McAvoy, Sonny Milano, Colin White

2015 Men's Worlds - USA 3, CZE 0 (Bronze Medal Game) 
Nick Bonino, Dylan Larkin, Anders Lee, Connor Murphy, Dan Byslma

2015 Men's U18's - USA 7, CZE 2 (Quarterfinals)
Charlie McAvoy, Tage Thompson, Colin White, Don Granato

2014 Men's Worlds - CZE 4, USA 3 (Quarterfinals)
Connor Murphy, Don Granato

2014 Olympics - USA 5, CZE 2 (Quarterfinals)
Patrick Kane, Dan Bylsma

2014 Men's U18's - USA 5, CZE 2 (Gold Medal Game)
Dylan Larkin, Sonny Milano
Larkin, Milano both scored; Milano was U.S. Player of Game

2013 World Juniors - USA 7, CZE 0 (Quarterfinals)
Johnny Gaudreau, Connor Murphy
Gaudreau scored hat trick; tabbed U.S. Player of Game

2011 Men's Worlds - CZE 4, USA 0 (Quarterfinals)
Chris Kreider

2006 Men's U18s - USA 4, CZE 3 (OT) (Semifinals)
Patrick Kane
Kane scored the game-winner 6:50 into overtime


U.S. Homepage

U.S. Roster

Sights & Sounds

Tournament Website


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