Team USA offence too much for Korea
By John Sanful |
11 MAY 2018
Team USA's Derek Ryan (#7) scores on Korea goalie Matt Dalton.
photo: Matt Zambonin / HHOF-IIHF Images
Team USA quickly erased an early deficit to score four goals in the first period that sparked a 13-1 win. The victory keeps the Americans atop Group B. Patrick Kane and Charlie McAvoy both scored two goals and five points highlighting Team USA’s offensive might.
Today, Korea’s lack of discipline hurt them. They took too many penalties and the Americans made them pay by scoring six power play goals.
Team USA quickly got some early scoring chances but it was Korea opening scoring. Johnny Gaudreau was called for an offensive zone penalty as he bumped the goaltender. Korea has not fared well on the power play. Before tonight, they scored one goal on ten chances and have given up three shorthanded goals. But Jin Hui Ahn made good with Gaudreau in the box, scoring at 5:23 to put his team up.
Korea moved the puck well and when Ahn found a loose puck in the crease. He barely got enough of his stick on it pushing the puck forward to see it slowly slide it over the goal line. It was the first time in the tournament Korea scored first or played with a lead. But the lead would be short lived. It would stand for 3:12 anyway.
"Give them credit they were moving the puck around well to score, but we felt it was a matter of time before the floodgates were open and our offence got going," said Cam Atkinson who scored twice.
A backhand shot by Dylan Larkin was saved by Korea’s Matt Dalton but the ensuing rebound went to Anders Lee for the equalizer.
The United States almost scored another when a Colin White’s redirection of an Alec Martinez shot was snared just in time by Dalton.
Today, Korea’s lack of discipline hurt them. They took too many penalties and the Americans made them pay by scoring six power play goals.
Team USA quickly got some early scoring chances but it was Korea opening scoring. Johnny Gaudreau was called for an offensive zone penalty as he bumped the goaltender. Korea has not fared well on the power play. Before tonight, they scored one goal on ten chances and have given up three shorthanded goals. But Jin Hui Ahn made good with Gaudreau in the box, scoring at 5:23 to put his team up.
Korea moved the puck well and when Ahn found a loose puck in the crease. He barely got enough of his stick on it pushing the puck forward to see it slowly slide it over the goal line. It was the first time in the tournament Korea scored first or played with a lead. But the lead would be short lived. It would stand for 3:12 anyway.
"Give them credit they were moving the puck around well to score, but we felt it was a matter of time before the floodgates were open and our offence got going," said Cam Atkinson who scored twice.
A backhand shot by Dylan Larkin was saved by Korea’s Matt Dalton but the ensuing rebound went to Anders Lee for the equalizer.
The United States almost scored another when a Colin White’s redirection of an Alec Martinez shot was snared just in time by Dalton.
USA vs. Korea
USA vs. KOR
A series of lapses cost Korea and led the Americans to put the game away. Sangwook Kim was called for hooking and then 1:17 later Hyonho Oh was called for high sticking and the team was called for a too many men on the ice bench minor.
Patrick Kane scored with :23 remaining in the first penalty. Taking a pass from Gaudreau, Kane picked his spot and fired the puck home. Team USA was now working with a lead they would not relinquish.
McAvoy added his first goal :33 later, also on the power play, with a one-timer to the right side of Korea’s net. McAvoy, who was added to the team after the Boston Bruins were eliminated from the playoffs, arrived this morning in time to suit up.
McAvoy added a second goal at 19:16. Chris Kreider tipped Larkin’s shot. The puck fell to the left side of the crease where McAvoy, who was breaking towards the net, coolly tapped it in.
In addition to McAvoy’s heroics, Gaudreau had three assists in the period, setting up all but the last USA goal. Larkin had two assists.
Brock Radunske has Korea’s second best chance in the waning seconds. Radunske stole the puck in front of the net from Blake Coleman and tested Scott Darling who made the save with his colorful USA flag themed pads. Keith Kinkaid was given the night off. Darling made his first start of the tournament and in World Championship competition.
Four second period goals opened up the game further and put it out of Korea’s reach. Derek Ryan skated in two-on-one and opted to shoot. Dalton was helpless to stop it. Coleman scored on another two-on-one, carrying the puck in, faking a shot to draw the defenceman to go down. Coleman got a better look on goal and scored.
Korea head coach Jim Paek replaced Dalton with Sungje Park who was quickly introduced to the fast paced Team USA attack.
Kane scored his second of the game and Cam Atkinson got on the board to make it 8-1. Both goals were scored on the power play, giving them four such goals in the contest.
"We switched a couple of things up today putting different guys on different units." Atkinson said. "We got an opportunity to see how those units worked today but it was one of those games that no matter the score you still need to be alert, play hard and the right way."
The onslaught continued in the third as Tage Thompson scored his first and Atkinson his second of the game. Neal Pionk and Sonny Milano both scored their first tournament goals further widening the lead. Derek Ryan also added his second of the game. The US now gets a day off before facing Norway.
"We have to just keep playing the right way." Atkinson said of what's next. "We took some steps in the right direction. What we can control at this point is manging our work ethic and keeping at it."
Patrick Kane scored with :23 remaining in the first penalty. Taking a pass from Gaudreau, Kane picked his spot and fired the puck home. Team USA was now working with a lead they would not relinquish.
McAvoy added his first goal :33 later, also on the power play, with a one-timer to the right side of Korea’s net. McAvoy, who was added to the team after the Boston Bruins were eliminated from the playoffs, arrived this morning in time to suit up.
McAvoy added a second goal at 19:16. Chris Kreider tipped Larkin’s shot. The puck fell to the left side of the crease where McAvoy, who was breaking towards the net, coolly tapped it in.
In addition to McAvoy’s heroics, Gaudreau had three assists in the period, setting up all but the last USA goal. Larkin had two assists.
Brock Radunske has Korea’s second best chance in the waning seconds. Radunske stole the puck in front of the net from Blake Coleman and tested Scott Darling who made the save with his colorful USA flag themed pads. Keith Kinkaid was given the night off. Darling made his first start of the tournament and in World Championship competition.
Four second period goals opened up the game further and put it out of Korea’s reach. Derek Ryan skated in two-on-one and opted to shoot. Dalton was helpless to stop it. Coleman scored on another two-on-one, carrying the puck in, faking a shot to draw the defenceman to go down. Coleman got a better look on goal and scored.
Korea head coach Jim Paek replaced Dalton with Sungje Park who was quickly introduced to the fast paced Team USA attack.
Kane scored his second of the game and Cam Atkinson got on the board to make it 8-1. Both goals were scored on the power play, giving them four such goals in the contest.
"We switched a couple of things up today putting different guys on different units." Atkinson said. "We got an opportunity to see how those units worked today but it was one of those games that no matter the score you still need to be alert, play hard and the right way."
The onslaught continued in the third as Tage Thompson scored his first and Atkinson his second of the game. Neal Pionk and Sonny Milano both scored their first tournament goals further widening the lead. Derek Ryan also added his second of the game. The US now gets a day off before facing Norway.
"We have to just keep playing the right way." Atkinson said of what's next. "We took some steps in the right direction. What we can control at this point is manging our work ethic and keeping at it."
USA vs. Korea
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