United States advances to the quarterfinals in the Ice Hockey World Championship
HERNING, Denmark – The United States national team secured its place in the quarterfinals of the ice hockey world championship with a resounding 6-1 victory over Kazakhstan on Sunday, following a scoreless first period.The American team is tied at the top of Group B with the Czech Republic, both with 14 points, surpassing Switzerland by one point. The Czechs and Swiss, already qualified, have two more games to play in the preliminary phase. The United States will close the group stage against the Czech Republic on Tuesday.
Despite a scoreless first period in Herning, the United States took a commanding five-goal lead in the second period.
Frank Nazar opened the scoring at 6:58 of the second period with a shot from the left circle, beating goaltender Sergei Kudryavtsev. The forward also added two more assists later in the game.
Defender Jackson Lacombe scored the second goal with a shot from the blue line, taking advantage of the traffic. The next two goals came in a span of 58 seconds.
Tage Thompson scored his fifth goal of the tournament, after receiving a pass from Zeev Buium, putting the score at 3-0 with 6:00 minutes remaining. Matty Beniers extended the lead to four goals from the left circle, before Michael Kesselring scored with a high shot from a tight angle.
United States defensive star Zach Werenski skated towards the net before beating substitute goalie Maxim Pavlenko, who entered at the start of the final period.
Goaltender Jeremy Swayman made 16 saves for the United States.
In Stockholm, Austria defeated Slovenia 3-2 in the penalty shootout, keeping their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals alive for the first time. Austria is tied for fourth place with Slovakia in Group A.
The top four teams from each group will advance to the next round.
Later on Sunday, Switzerland will face Hungary in Herning and Slovakia will play against Latvia in Stockholm.
