United States Defeats Norway in Thrilling World Hockey Championship Match
HERNING, Denmark – In a game filled with dramatic turns, the United States secured a 6-5 victory over Norway at the Ice Hockey World Championship, thanks to a goal by Tage Thompson in overtime.Thompson completed his hat trick with a power-play goal, securing the victory for the United States after the team squandered a four-goal lead.
Norway forced overtime when defenseman Stian Solberg scored with 1:27 remaining in regulation, also completing a hat trick.
Thompson, center for the Buffalo Sabres, scored the winning goal at 4:09 of overtime for the United States, which now has eight points in Group B, while Norway gets its first point.
For the United States, captain Clayton Keller contributed a goal and two assists. Cutter Gauthier and Michael McCarron also scored a goal each, allowing the team to recover from a loss against Switzerland.
Gauthier put the United States ahead 1-0 at 4:50 of the first period, before Keller increased the lead to 2-0.
Gauthier is tied with Canadian forward Bo Horvat at the top of the goalscorers’ table with four goals.
Solberg cut the deficit to 2-1 on the power play, before Thompson and McCarron completed the four-goal period for the United States.
Thompson added his second goal at 2:55 of the second period, extending the lead to 5-1.
However, Norway did not give up.
Solberg scored his second power-play goal for Norway, making the score 5-2, and Martin Ronnild added another on a breakaway.
Midway through the third period, Noah Steen made the score a one-goal game, before Norway pulled their goalie for an extra attacker, and Solberg scored to tie the game 5-5.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman, Zach Werenski, recorded an assist for the United States in his first game at the world championship. Werenski arrived on Monday, but his team was delayed and he was unable to play in the 3-0 loss to Switzerland that same day.
Werenski is one of three finalists for the Norris Trophy for the NHL’s best defenseman.
In Stockholm, Slovakia defeated France 2-1.
