Renars Krastenbergs got Latvia on the board just a minute later when he capitalized with a wrist shot on an odd-man rush to make it a 3-1 game. The U.S. killed off a full two-minute five-on-three Latvia power play late in the second period to preserve a 3-1 advantage after 40 minutes.
Just 15 seconds into the third, Boldy slid a back-hand shot from the slot five-hole to put Team USA up 4-1. Werenski and Seth Jones (Frisco, Texas/Chicago Blackhawks) picked up helpers on the play.
Latvia’s Eduards Tralmaks scored off a rebound at the 4:44 mark, and just 16 seconds later Roberts Mamcics made it a one-goal game after capitalizing with a shot from the point that deflected off a U.S. stick before finding the back of the net.
Team USA regained a two-goal advantage when Caufield buried a short-side snipe off a wraparound for his second tally of the game with 11:14 to play.
Joel Farabee (Cicero, N.Y./Philadelphia Flyers) added an empty net goal in the final minute to account for the 6-3 final score.
Charlie Lindgren (Lakeville, Minn./Washington Capitals) made 27 saves in net to pick up the victory.
With the win, the U.S. wraps up preliminary round play with a 5-0-1-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record, ranking second in Group B with 16 points. Team USA will play in the quarterfinals Thursday (May 23), live on NHL Network. Quarterfinal matchups, times and game locations will be known after the final preliminary round games of the day.
NOTES: Matt Boldy was named U.S. Player of the Game … Team USA outshot Latvia 43-30 … The U.S. was 1-3 on the power play, while Latvia was 0-6 … Team USA has yet to give up a power play goal through seven games of the world championship
