The U.S., winners of Group B, meets Slovakia, fourth-place in Group A, here today in the quarterfinals. Team USA will be the home team and will wear its blue jerseys for the third time.
THE SERIES VS. SLOVAKIA
The U.S. owns a 4-2-1-4-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) record in 12 tournament meetings against Slovakia. In 2019, the two teams opened tournament play in Kosice, Slovakia, where the host nation skated to a 4-1 victory. Today marks just the second-ever quarterfinal meeting between the U.S. and Slovakia. On May 11, 2000, Slovakia defeated the U.S. by a 4-1 and went on to reach the gold-medal game where they fell to the Czech Republic, 5-3.
10TH-STRAIGHT QUARTERFINAL APPEARANCE
This is the 10th straight Men’s World Championship the U.S. has advanced to the quarterfinal round. All-time, Team USA is 6-3-3-11 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in 23 appearances and has won three of its last five quarterfinal berths (2-1-0-2). Quarterfinal games have been played in the tournament since 1992 with the exception of 1997, 1998 and 1999. Of the 23 years quarterfinals have been played, the U.S. has qualified all but twice.
