The hockey stars are gone from the Olympics, however the American youngsters look able to take benefit.
The youngest staff within the match went toe to toe, skate to skate with its chief rival and held off Canada, 4-2, in an necessary group-play face-off Saturday in Beijing.
When it seemed as if Group USA was in hassle, following a busy finish to the second interval, it was Kenny Agostino, from Morristown, N.J., whose one-timer trickled by Canadian goalie Eddie Pasquale and allowed the Individuals to breathe within the third.
Former Rangers coach David Quinn’s Group USA (2-0) has positioned itself nicely with one preliminary recreation remaining and appears poised to be a high seed getting into the elimination spherical.
Forward of the clincher from Agostino — who had performed with the Devils in 2018-19 — Group USA obtained targets from captain Andy Miele (who performed with the Coyotes from 2011-14), Ben Meyers (College of Minnesota) and Brendan Brisson (College of Michigan).
“We really feel actually good about that effort,” ahead Brian O’Neill, who assisted on Miele’s rating, mentioned on the NBC telecast. “Clearly had first recreation, however to construct on that, acquire some confidence — hopefully that provides us some momentum going into the third recreation.”
If the nerves acquired to the Individuals, who function 5 youngsters and are composed principally of school gamers, it confirmed early. A turnover within the impartial zone led to a throw-in from Canada’s Mat Robinson squeaking by 1:24 into play.
However the Purple, White and Blue answered again simply over a minute later, the primary of three straight targets. Canada (1-1) sliced the hole to 3-2 within the second interval and had a possibility for former Islander Josh Ho-Sang, who confronted an open web — however couldn’t hit the puck cleanly.
The Canadians had their probabilities, together with back-to-back energy performs and a short 5-on-3 within the third interval, however American goalie Strauss Mann (35 saves) was an excessive amount of.
The Individuals cruised within the Olympics opener with an 8-0 victory over China, and Canada started group play with a 5-1 win over Germany. Group USA will end up its preliminary-round play in opposition to Germany on Sunday and ought to be well-positioned getting into the elimination spherical in these bizarre Video games.
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The NHL, on the final minute, opted in opposition to letting its gamers enter the Olympics amid coronavirus issues.
The NHL additionally disallowed its gamers from competing within the 2018 Olympics, which opened the door for the Russian nationwide staff — with its skilled leagues accommodating an Olympic break — to win gold.
American males haven't gained a Video games because the storied victory at Lake Placid in 1980. They final medaled (a silver) in Vancouver in 2010 — which additionally had been their most up-to-date victory over Canada within the Olympics.
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