The United States continues Group B play at the 2023 World Juniors as the Americans take on Slovakia on Wednesday afternoon.
On Monday, it got off to a slow start, but the USA cruised to a 5-2 win over Latvia to start their tournament. After a scoreless first period, the two teams traded goals midway through the frame to head into the final 20 minutes tied at two. The USA scored three unanswered goals in the third period to secure the win.
Five different players found the back of the net, with Red Savage and Sean Behrens leading the way with a goal and an assist each. Trey Augustine earned the win in net, stopping 15 of 17 shots.
MORE: Watch World Juniors 2023 live with fuboTV (free trial, US only)
“We just settled down in the third and played with more character,” USA head coach Rand Pecknold said. “I thought in the first two periods, we were nervous and made a couple of mistakes that ended up in the back of the net. But we had a lot of chances, so we just talked about letting our character expand in the third “.
Slovakia lost their first match of the tournament on Tuesday, falling to Finland 5-2. After both teams found the back of the net once in the first, the Finns scored three goals in the second to build a 4-1 lead and held on for the win in the third.
Peter Repcik scored both goals for Slovakia, while goaltender Patrik Andrisik was pulled after allowing four goals on 15 shots.
Sporting News will provide live updates and highlights of the USA-Slovakia match at the 2023 World Junior Championship.
MORE: Team USA roster, schedule for 2023 World Juniors
USA vs Slovakia result
| 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | F | |
| USA | 2 | 0 | — | — | — |
| Slovakia | 1 | 3 | — | — | — |
USA vs. Slovakia live updates, 2023 Junior World Cup highlights
(All Eastern eras.)
Second period
17:27 — GOAL! Another goal from Slovakia, this time it’s Mesar. His shot from the circle deflects off Charlie Stramel’s post and Mbereko has no chance of stopping. Three goals in 3:19 and Slovakia went from down 2-1 to leading 4-2 here in the second.
Filip Mesar gets a lucky rebound off Charlie Stramel’s stick! Now it’s 4-2 Slovakia!! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/evGtJbJodh
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2022
17:25 — GOAL! Robert Baco gives Slovakia the lead with a short-sided goal over Mbereko. Baco rushes in from his own area after a clear break from Slovakia and heads the American keeper over his left shoulder. 3-2 Slovakia, two goals less than two minutes apart.
Robert Baco finds some short space! Slovakia leads 3-2! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/tJvt74XcVM
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2022
17:20 — GOAL! Dalibor Dvorsky comes through with Slovakia’s lead to tie the game. The 2023 draft prospect takes a shot over Mbereko’s blocker from the slot with an excellent screen in front of Adam Sykora. There are less than 10 minutes left in the half, and the score is 2-2.
Dalibor Dvorský counters on the power play as Slovakia ties the game at 2! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/gbjvTfxPrb
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2022
17:18 – Petrovsky hooks a penalty on Hutson and Slovakia goes on the power play for the second time tonight.
17:16 – Slovakia with their best chance of the period. Filip Mesar threads a plate pass to a cutting Servac Petrovsky who escapes a backhand attempt but a great save by Mbereko.
17:13 – A much more even pace in this period than in the first. Both Slovakia and the United States push the rush game. Not a ton of extended offensive zone time for either side, lots of back and forth.
17:06 – Slovakia kills the rest of Nemec’s penalty, regaining strength.
17:03 – USA starts the second with just over a minute left on the power play.
End of first period: USA 2, Slovakia 1
16:45 – After a goal-filled first five minutes, both teams settled down and the USA took a 2-1 lead after the first. The Slovakian goal woke up the Americans early and they controlled the game from then on. The USA will start the second period with 1:12 left on the man advantage.
16:44 – Now, the USA is back on the power play moments after ending Snuggerud’s trip. Simon Nemec is called for a journey of his own.
16:43 – A very structured penalty that shows USA as Slovakia fail to convert on the man advantage.
4:40 p.m. – Slovakia goes on their first power play when Jimmy Snuggerud sits for two minutes to trip.
16:37 – USA has Slovakia playing reserved. It can be said that the speed of the Americans is a concern for the Slovaks. They are willing to sit back and play conservatively rather than get caught up in the transition game.
16:31 – Not the USA’s cleanest final few minutes in its own zone, as multiple turnovers allowed Slovakia to keep the puck. But no high-danger scoring chances were allowed.
16:24 – The US is boiling now. They almost scored again on the changeover after Brindley’s goal, but the whistle finally blows after a good five seconds of pucks loose in the crease with Gajan at his back.
16:23 — GOAL! Gavin Brindley shows excellent hand-eye co-ordination and heads Lane Hutson’s shot over Gajan’s shoulder. The Slovakian goalkeeper could do nothing. The United States takes its first lead of the game with 13:12 left in the period.
Gavin Brindley scores Lane Hutson’s point as USA take the lead! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/DvYtYWGvA9
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2022
16:22 – Great pressure from the second PP unit for the US. Jackson Blake had a chance with Gajan down and out, but it hit the outside of the net. It could be argued that to start this tournament, the second group has been better than the top US PP unit.
16:19 – Good goal confirmed. It was a Slovakian defender who hit Boucher on Gajan. 1-1 game early. Due to the missed challenge, Slovakia is awarded a penalty and the USA returns to the power play.
16:17 – Slovakia challenges the game for goalkeeper interference.
16:16 — GOAL! Seconds from the man advantage and Tyler Boucher scores a rebound. Smooth pass from Cutter Gauthier to Rutger McGroarty in the slot, who deflected it into the net and Boucher hit the loose puck. Tie with 15:18 left.
Tyler Boucher finds the puck loose in front as USA ties the game on the power play! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/IBZbJKMFRY
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2022
4:15 p.m. – The U.S. gets a power play opportunity less than five minutes into the game as Alex Ciernik is called for fouling. USA went 0-for-2 on the PP against Latvia.
16:11 — GOAL! Slovakia gets the opener as Libor Nemec heads home his third attempt. His first two shots were blocked, but his third shot at the puck went through Mbereko’s five-hole. Slovakia 1-0 just over two minutes into the game.
Libor Nemec crashes the net and pushes it over the line! Slovakia breaks the ice in Moncton! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/bIrAPFNhky
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2022
16:08 – The puck has dropped and the USA-Slovakia showdown is underway.
Before the game
15:20 – Slovakia lines up against USA Adam Gajan starts in net after being the other goaltender in the game against Finland. Both Patrik Andrisik and Matej Marinov saw action in the first goal.
Lines for Slovakia vs USA.
Adam Gajan (2023, Slovakia) and Kaidan Mbereko (2023, USA) are the goalkeepers. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/ptG3PRsqWR
— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) December 28, 2022
3 pm – The United States deploys the same forward lines and defensive pairings that they did against Latvia. Kaiden Mbereko, who started in the summer games, is expected to get his first of the tournament after Trey Augustine played in the first game.
The USA is going with the same lineup against Slovakia as Latvia, except for Kaidan Mbereko, who will start. pic.twitter.com/hG5vIlVNT4
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) December 28, 2022
What channel is USA vs Slovakia on today?
- United States: NHL Network
- Canada: TSN 1/5
TSN has all the World Juniors action in Canada, while in the United States, viewers can find the games on NHL Network.
Stephen Nelson will provide play-by-play coverage for NHL Network. He will be joined on the broadcasts by analyst Dave Starman and reporter Jon Rosen.
Dennis Beyak and Craig Button will be called for USA games for TSN. Laura Diakun and Dave Reid will be in the studio.
How to live stream World Juniors hockey games
US fans can stream the tournament on fuboTV (which includes a free trial), NHL.tv or the NHL app.
Fans in Canada can stream all World Juniors games on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
USA vs Slovakia kick off time
- Start time: 4 pm ET (5 pm AST)
The puck will drop at 4 pm ET from the Avenir Center in Moncton, NB, home of the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL.
MORE: Team USA 2023 world junior roster, results
It is the second match of the tournament for both teams and the first match at the world juniors on Wednesday.
USA vs. Slovakia Odds
- USA: -2.5 (-159)
- Slovakia: +2.5 (+114)
- O/U: 6.5
According to Sports Interaction, the USA opened as 2.5-goal favorites on the puck line for their game against Slovakia.
USA World Juniors 2023 schedule
(All Eastern eras)
| date | opponent | result | Time (ET) | TV information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 26 | Latvia | W, 5-2 | 4 p.m | TSN, NHLN |
| December 28 | Slovakia | — | 4 p.m | TSN, NHLN |
| December 29 | Swiss | — | 4 p.m | TSN, NHLN |
| December 31 | Finland | — | 4 p.m | TSN, NHLN |
| January 2 | TBD (Quarterfinals) | — | TBD | TSN, NHLN |
| January 4 | To be determined (semi-finals) | — | TBD | TSN, NHLN |
| January 5 | TBD (Gold Medal Game) | — | TBD | TSN, NHLN |
