The game opened with pace and speed as the teams traded opportunities back and forth throughout the first 20 minutes. Czechia edged the U.S. in shots, 12-7 as the teams entered the first intermission scoreless.
In the opening minutes of the second, Team USA had the first power play opportunity of the game, but despite continuous pressure, was unable to score.
Just moments after killing off the U.S. power play, Czechia had a power play opportunity of its own and took just :16 to capitalize when a one-timer from the top of the zone deflected off Pavel Zacha’s torso and trickled over the goal line for the first score of the game.
A late power play for the U.S. as time expired in the middle frame included a number of chances by Team USA, including a fluttering shot from the slot from Cole Caufield (Stevens Point, Wis./Montreal Canadiens) that was gloved by Czechia’s Lukas Dostal.
Opening the final period with 47 seconds left on the power play, the U.S. posted a flurry of offense to open the third. With time expiring on the power play, Matt Boldy (Mills, Mass./Minnesota Wild) corralled a rebound from a point-blank shot from Brady Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo./Ottawa Senators) at the hash marks, but Dostal was once again there to keep the Americans scoreless.
