GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Gabe Perreault scored twice and 6 different gamers had a objective because the U.S. routed Latvia 7-2 Tuesday to advance to the semifinals of the IIHF world junior championship.
Perreault, the New York Rangers’ 2023 first-round decide, additionally had an help as a part of a dominant recreation by his line. Fellow 18-year-olds Will Smith, the No. 4 decide by San Jose, and Ryan Leonard, No. 8 to Washington, mixed for 3 factors.
The Americans’ victory got here after match favourite Canada was knocked out in beautiful vogue with a 3-2 quarterfinal loss to Czechia. St. Louis Blues prospect Jakub Stancl scored the go-ahead objective with 11.7 seconds left.
“It feels like the world’s ending a bit,” Canada captain Fraser Minten mentioned. “Such an unbelievable opportunity for all of us in our careers. You never really know if you’re going to get another look representing your country or playing on such a global stage.”
The Canadians carried the play for many of the closing 40 minutes earlier than Stancl fired a shot on objective within the dying seconds of regulation that deflected off the leg of Canada defenseman Oliver Bonk – the son of Czech-born former NHL ahead Radek Bonk – and beat goaltender Mathis Rousseau.
“Felt like I gripped my stick a bit too tight,” mentioned Matthew Poitras, whom the Boston Bruins loaned to Canada for the match. “I feel like I kind of let some of these guys down, let the country down.”
PHOTOS: US advances to world junior semifinals. Canada will get knocked out by Czechia
Canada had received every of the earlier two world junior tournaments and three of the previous 4. The solely participant again from the 2023 championship workforce, Owen Beck, mentioned he and his teammates weren’t certain how they misplaced after erasing a two-goal deficit.
“Our heads are kind of just spinning right now,” Beck mentioned. “It’s a horrible way to end things off here.”
Finland beat Slovakia 4-3 in time beyond regulation to hitch the U.S. and Czechia within the semifinals. Host Sweden confronted Switzerland within the final quarterfinal recreation.
