It’s going to be the matchup that hockey fans around the world have been begging for. Team USA used another strong-second period surge to down Slovakia, 6-2, in the semifinal of the Men’s Olympic hockey tournament. The Americans scored four goals in the period to book its first spot in the Olympic final since 2002 in Salt Lake City.
Team USA will take on rival Canada in the final slated for Sunday morning. It’s a rematch of the 2002 Olympic Final and last year’s Four Nations Face-Off Final. Both of those matchups were won by Canada.
USA Hockey Advances to Gold Medal Final
Team USA Knows Jack in the Second Period
The United States has deadly in the middle frame this tournament. Team USA has outscored their opponents, 13-1 in the second stanza, with only Denmark able to score against the Americans in the second game of Group C play.
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin started the scoring just four minutes, 19 seconds into the game. The United States wasn’t able to crack Samuel Hlavaj again in the opening frame until a late-power play marker by Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson.
New Jersey Devils sniper Jack Hughes and Vegas Golden Knights star Jack Eichel posted goals in the second, with the elder Hughes scoring twice. Those three goals seemingly broke the back of Slovakia, which pulled Hlavaj in favour of Stanislav Skorvanek after Eichel’s goal made it 4-0.
The Americans have been dominant in the second period, and they’ll need that in they want to avenge those losses to Canada. The Canadians have also been spectacular in the middle period throughout the tournament.
Some Concerns for Team USA
One worry is that Thompson left the game after blocking a shot with this foot according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Thompson wasn’t on the bench and was held out for the rest of the game due to precautionary reasons. American hockey fans are hoping that Thompson can return for Sunday’s all-important game. Kyle Connor could slide into the lineup if Thompson isn’t ready to go.
Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck gave up a couple of goals in the third period, which is the first time that he’s given up more than two goals in his four starts. Those goals could be due to the Americans having the comfortable lead in the third.
However, he and Team USA will have to lock in order to turn the tables on their neighbours. Both teams know the stakes on Sunday.
Unstoppable Slaf
Despite the loss, Montreal Canadiens standout Juraj Slafkovsky continued to add to his scoring totals. The Slovak was finally able to solve Hellebuyck to get a third-period goal. Slafkovsky has one more game in the bronze-medal matchup against Finland to add to his tournament totals. The 21-year-old has four goals this tournament and has 11 across two tournaments.
Finland has already seen Slafkovsky up close and personal. The Slovak opened the tournament against the Finns with a pair of goals. He has a chance to Slovakia a chance at landing bronze for a second consecutive tournament.
Slovakia may not be playing for the gold medal. However, Slafkovsky and Slovakia have certainly arrived on the world stage.
Main photo by: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
