RESULTS: Men’s Hockey USA vs Slovakia

The USA men’s team played their first game of Group Play, and if they intended to make a statement they succeeded with a dominating 7-1 win over Slovakia. Zdeno Chara and Team Slovakia saw 6 different American players put the puck behind two of their goaltenders. Jaroslav Halak got the start for Slovakia, but was chased after allowing 5 goals on 25 shots (a 0.800 save percentage). While Slovakia was able to hold Team USA to only 8 shots after Peter Budaj replaced Halak, two of them were goals (a 0.750 save percentage). Paul Stastny was the leading goal scorer with 2, coming from only 3 shots in his 16 shifts. Phil Kessel contributed a goal and two assists and saw John Carlson, Ryan Kesler, David Backes, and Dustin Brown add goals. In total, eleven different players contributed offensively for Team USA.

Team Slovakia put 23 shots on Jonathan Quick who stopped 22 of them for a 0.957 save percentage. The only goal scorer for the Slovakians was Tomas Tatar. Overall Team USA’s defense played strong and balanced in front of Quick while Carlson’s goal helped the defense contribute offensively as well.

Team USA’s next game is Saturday morning against Russia, who defeated Slovenia 5-2 in a game that was close through two periods before Russia ran away with the win. Saturday’s game will be the highlight of Group A play. The statement made by the American’s in their opener is sure to make the match-up against the Olympic hosts a thriller.