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B ř e c l a v - The U.S. team started well and scored the opening goal early in the first period. Despite falling behind early, however, the Czechs didn´t give up, improved their game, and created some good chances. They were unable to capitalize on any them, though, and the game finished 1-0.
Penalties: 4:9. PP goals: 0:0. SH goals: 0:0.
Referees: Homola, Hradil – Gebauer, Tošenovjan. .
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The Czechs didn’t begin the game in a good fashion. Right away they found themselves under pressure from the USA´s second line. They resisted for a while, but the goal came soon enough. Dominic Turgeon on a rebound as he spun around with the puck in the slot and found space just inside the far post. Apart from a chance for Filip Pyrochta, the host team didn´t threaten in the first period. the Americans nearly went up two goals when Paul Bittner, returning from penalty box, got into a two-on-one with Cody Milan. The pass to Milan was off the mark, however, and Czech goaltender Jan Pechek made a nice poke-check to prevent a shot.
The Czechs eventually got some life on the power play, the dangerous Jakub Vrána showed his skills. First, he wove his way to the front of the goal, but US starting goalie Alex Nedjelkovic denied him. On the next power play, Vrána fired a one-timer that was labelled for the top corner, but Nedjelkovic made a huge glove save.
For Jakub Petr’s lads, the second period was no different when it came to the man advantage, as the American goalie was faultless again. In the 25th minute of the game, a neutral-zone turnover sent Austin Poganski and Kyle Connor in two-on-nothing against Pechek. Poganski passed to Connor, who deked the goalie but failed to find the space between the pipes.
Both teams changed goalies in the second period - Vít Vaněček replaced Pechek in the 31st minute, while Blake Weyrick substituted for Nedjelkovic six minutes later. Vaněček was tested right away when he turned away a quick one-timer from Bittner, who was lurking alone at the far post. Late in the period, Weyrick had to be sharp on a chance from Jakub Kotal.
The home team was in some serious trouble at the beginning of the final frame, but the penalty killing was successful thanks to a couple of blocked shots and a man named Vaněček. In the course of time, though, the Czechs started to build up pressure. Vrána and Jiří Černoch posed a threat, when the latter’s shot was partially blocked in front and then dribbled wide of the post by milimetres. As the time passed, the Czechs began taking more chances, which left them open to the counter-attack. Pavel Zacha got a great chance, but Weyrick was brilliant. Just as the Czechs were about to replace Vaněček with a sixth attacker, they got a penalty called against them, which effectively ended their threat.
The Czechs now have a day off in Břeclav on Sunday before opening the tournament on Monday against Canada. The Americans travel to Piešťany, where they begin against Finland.