(video) USA vs. Czech Republic

Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College) has been on fire the last two games for team USA as he has scored five goals. Gaudreau also leads team U.S.A. with five goals.

Today, was a pretty good effort for team USA, as they shutout the Czech Republic and avenged a 5-2 loss to the Czechs from last years 2012 WJC.

Rocco Grimaldi (North Dakota) who was the 13 forward and didn't play a shift during USA's last game, played and played pretty well. I believe that the USA coaching staff was trying to send him a message, and to motivate him for the medal round. The move appears to have worked.

On Defense, I think that both Seth Jones (Portland WHL) and Jacob Trouba (University of Michigan) were again very good and did a great job setting up the power play. Jones (0g-4a--4pts) and Trouba (0g-4a--4pts) each had four points in today's game.

[Box Score]

First Period – Scoring: 1, USA, Gaudreau (Trouba, Jones), 11:45 (5x3 pp). Penalties: USA, Hartman (roughing), 3:50; CZE, Sidlik (slashing), 4:07; USA, Biggs (boarding), 6:46; CZE, Musil (slashing), 6:46; USA, Bardreau (goaltender interference), 7:11; CZE, Jenik (hooking), 9:49; CZE, Jaskin (hooking), 11:23; USA, Trouba (holding), 18:00; CZE, Musil (slashing), 19:13.

Second Period – Scoring: 2, USA, Gaudreau (Miller, McCabe), 0:28 (pp); 3, USA, Hartman (Bardreau, Trouba), 1:08; 4, USA, Barber (Galchenyuk, Trouba), 8:44 (pp); 5, USA, Barber (Jones), 12:13; 6, USA, Gaudreau (Miller, Jones), 19:47 (pp). Penalties: USA, Hartman (roughing), 5:02; USA, Reilly (roughing), 5:02; CZE, Hrbas (roughing), 5:02; CZE, Frk (roughing), 5:02; CZE, Sedlak (boarding), 8:22; USA, Trocheck (hooking), 10:12; CZE, Musil (delaying the game), 19:10.

Third Period – Scoring: 7, USA, Miller (Jones, Trouba), 4:08 (5x3 pp). Penalties: CZE, Hertl (tripping), 3:33; CZE, Jenik (delaying the game), 3:39; CZE, Faska (cross-checking), 5:24; USA, Vesey (roughing), 12:06; USA, Galchenyuk (interference), 12:06; CZE, Musil (roughing), 12:06; CZE, Frk (slashing), 13:36; CZE, Frk (misconduct), 13:36; USA, Hartman (interference), 15:06; CZE, Beran (high-sticking), 16:27; CZE, Nemec (high-sticking), 17:25; CZE, Hrbas (cross-checking), 18:48.

USA's Shayne Gostisbehere cup checks Matus Matis of Team Slovakia

I think this is one of the weakest calls that I have ever seen, notice Matis didn't even go down till he realized I better drop to the ice and flail around so I can draw a major penalty.

This is the typical example of European hockey. I have to be honest, I have begun to tire of some of the on ice antics of the European players, during the 2013 WJC. That's not to say that Shayne Gostisbehere doesn't deserve a penalty for checking to see if Matus Matis is wearing a cup, but In my opinion this isn't worthy of an extra game. What do you think?

NHL Network remains exclusive home of IIHF WJC

Image via Wikipedia Here is the hockey schedule for the WJC tourney that starts the day after Christmas. All of the games will be on the NHL Network. That's channel 215 on DirecTV.


2012 IIHF World Junior Championship - NHL Network-U.S. Broadcast Schedule
Dec. 26 - Jan. 5   

Date	Game	Time (EST)
Mon., Dec. 26	Canada vs. Finland	3:30 p.m.
	USA vs. Denmark	8 p.m.
Tues., Dec. 27	Denmark vs. Czech Republic	8 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 28	Finland vs. USA	3:30 p.m.
	Czech Republic vs. Canada	8 p.m.
Thurs., Dec. 29	Canada vs. Denmark	8 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 30	Czech Republic vs. USA	3:30 p.m.
	Finland vs. Denmark	8 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 31	USA vs. Canada	8 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 2	Quarterfinal #1	5:00 p.m.
	Quarterfinal #2	9:00 p.m.
Tue., Jan. 3	Semifinal #1	5:00 p.m.
	Semifinal #2*	9:00 p.m.
Thur., Jan. 5	Bronze-Medal Game	3:30 p.m.
	Gold-Medal Game	8:00 p.m.