USA – Slovakia 6: 1, Slovakia – USA | HOCKEY ONLINE: Slovaks fight the USA in the quarterfinals, Germany will fight against Switzerland

United States hockey players rejoice at the goal

Ints Kalnins, Reuters

The Americans stepped in with the certainty of participating in medal matches during the opening period, which they won 3: 0. All three goals were scored between the 14th and 20th minutes. Twice, Colin Blackwell and Conor Garland made their mark among the shooters. After two recordings, defender Christian Wolanin and forwarders Kevin Labanc, Eric Robinson and Trevor Moore collected.

The Slovaks, who played the playoffs for the second time since the silver medal from the 2012 World Championships in Helsinki and Stockholm, only prevailed after half of the match, when Peter Cehlárik reduced to 1: 3, who was the most productive player with 10 points (4 + 6) out of seven duels. basic groups. As in 2013, however, the quarterfinals were finally their final.

The overseas favorite flew into the match in style. Right in the opening seconds came a quick action, at the end of which was Labanc, but at the end of the uncovered goal, he hit only the outside left pole behind the back of the goalkeeper Húsky. Already at the end of the third minute, the US selection had 106 seconds of a five-on-three power play, but the opponent was able to defend himself. In difficult times, he pulled out the fantastic Húska intervention when Moore ended up close against him.

In the 14th minute, however, Captain Boyle stepped on and from the throw-in circle he opened the score with a perfectly accurate shot on the far post, from which the puck bounced into the net. In the 16th minute, the Americans showed a great counter, when Robinson took the disc, Labanc redirected his pass to Blackwell and he did not give Húsk a chance from the space between the rings. Petersen then caught Kelemen and added the third goal of the Americans Garland half a minute before the break.

With a more than promising lead in the back, the American hockey players significantly withdrew from their offensive maneuvers and rather waited for the Slovaks to offer them space in an attempt to reverse. Roman and Moore didn’t move their position, but in the 33rd minute Cehlárik surprised Petersen by trying to get closer and reduced.

The Slovak goalkeeper did not achieve this attempt

Ints Kalnins, Reuters

Blackwell took away the Slovaks’ hope

But instead of the contact goal, after Rosandič’s chance came a great combination of Americans, at the end of which was Blackwell and scored his second goal today. In the third act, the overseas team made no sign of any complication.

He watched the lead safely, while Chmelevski and Garland increased the difference in score, for whom it was also the second hit in the match. After the seventh consecutive victory in the Latvian capital, the Americans were able to celebrate the promotion among the best quartet of the championship after three years.

In 2018, they reached bronze in Denmark when they defeated Canada in third place.