• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
International Hockey

Eichel, Team USA Survive Slovakia to Win Group at Worlds

By Dan Mount May 12th, 2015

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Team USA and Jack Eichel won Group B at the world championships, but it wasn’t easy.

The Americans were streaky and sloppy in its 5-4 overtime win over Slovakia to close out the preliminary round of the 2015 IIHF World Hockey Championships. It wasn’t pretty, but the Americans got the job done to set up a showdown with Switzerland in the quarterfinals

Game Recap

First Period

Team USA got off to a fast start with a pair of goals early. The first score came two minutes, 36 seconds into the game when Ben Smith tipped in a John Moore point shot.

Recent International Hockey Posts

[catlist categorypage=”yes” numberposts=3 excludeposts=this]

The Americans then got a second goal on the power play when Eichel made a great pass to a cutting Seth Jones. The goal came at 4:11 and chased Slovakia goalie Jan Laco. Slovakia brought in Julius Hudacek to relieve him.

Team USA almost went up 3-0 when Dylan Larkin rang a shot off the post nearly nine minutes into the period. The Americans continued the pressure, but did not get a third goal in the frame.

Dylan Larkin

Dylan Larkin just missed out on scoring for Team USA against Slovakia. –  (Photo: Tom Sorensen)

Slovakia was undisciplined and took some really silly penalties. The second USA goal came after Marian Gaborik was sent to the penalty box for slashing.

Second Period

Team USA started the second period just like the first with an early goal. Anders Lee tipped in a Justin Faulk point shot to give the Americans a seemingly safe 3-0 lead just 27 seconds into the second period.

View image | gettyimages.com

However, that’s when the game changed. Slovakia got on the board when Gaborik got a power-play marker 6:29 into the period to make it 3-1. The Slovaks were energized by the semi-home crowd, and made it 3-2 after Adam Janosik’s shot deflected off of the stick of Brock Nelson.

Vladimir Dravecky put home a rebound and sent the pro-Slovak crowd in Ostrava into a frenzy. The Americans were again victimized by the defense not clearing out a rebound in front of goalie Connor Hellebuyck.

Slovakia then scored its fourth straight goal to make it 4-3 after Milan Bartovic beat Hellebuyck. The goal was made possible by a superb feed from Dominik Granak.

The young Americans quickly struck back after new guy Charlie Coyle scored just 46 seconds after Slovakia took the lead. Coyle’s goal would be the third tip-in goal by Team USA.

Third Period

The game tightened up and tempers began to boil over when two separate scrapes between the Slovaks and the Americans.

I think it was just two teams battling for the win,” Anders Lee said. “Both teams really wanted it and sometimes tempers flare a little bit and you get into guys. It’s part of the game and I don’t think anyone took offence.”

Coyle and Steve Moses missed late chances to get the Americans the full three points.

Overtime

It looked the game would go to a shootout, but Team USA phenom and potential second overall pick Jack Eichel fired in a shot from the side boards past Hudacek.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vej1b33dzUA

The goal came with 28 seconds left and showcased the great individual skills of Eichel. Trevor Lewis provided enough of a screen so Eichel’s shot could slip into the goal.

Team USA Game Notes

  • The Americans continued to rely on a strong forecheck to cause turnovers. Team USA may not have experience, but they’re speed helps them out.
  • Three of the four goals came on deflections. It’s good to see the U.S. just put traffic in front and cause goalies to have to work to make saves.
  • Team USA’s defense did not do a good job clearing out rebounds during Slovakia’s surge.
  • Four goals was the most that Hellebuyck has given up in a game.
  • Vancouver Canucks forward Nick Bonino left the game in the second period with an arm injury after crashing into the net.

Next Game

Quarterfinals Vs. Switzerland

Thursday, May 14

9:15 a.m. EDT

Will be shown on NBCSN, along with all other Team USA games.

Dan Mount is a Nashville Predators staff writer for The Hockey Writers. You can follow him on Twitter, @DanMountSports.

  • Tags
  • 2015 World Championship
  • Jack Eichel
  • Team Slovakia
  • Team Switzerland
  • USA Hockey
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 26th 6:20 PM
Calgary Flames

Tkachuk Shows His Ignorance Discussing Maple Leafs’ Campbell Injury

Jan 26th 6:10 PM
Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights Reaping the Rewards of Zach Whitecloud’s Development

Jan 26th 6:00 PM
Buffalo Sabres

Sabres Outlook After First 6 Games of 2020-21

Jan 26th 5:50 PM
Winnipeg Jets

Jets’ 2021 Offseason Free Agent Preview

Jan 26th 5:05 PM
Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Unlikely to Call Up Former Fan Favourite Darling

Jan 26th 4:40 PM
Archives

The NHL’s Best Farm Systems Ranked – 2020-21 Season Update

Jan 26th 4:32 PM
Archives

Jimmy Howard’s Red Wings Legacy

Jan 26th 4:25 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins Not Playing to Full Potential in Comeback Wins

Jan 26th 4:15 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Mediocre Avalanche Road Trip Plagued by Inconsistency

Jan 26th 4:05 PM
Buffalo Sabres

Sabres Coach Ralph Krueger is a Jack of All Trades

Editor’s Picks
Wayne Gretzky - The Great One's 10 Most Unbreakable Records

Wayne Gretzky - The Great One's 10 Most Unbreakable Records

Test Your Wayne Gretzky Knowledge With Our Quiz

Test Your Wayne Gretzky Knowledge With Our Quiz

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information