U.S. begins gold-medal defense with convincing win over Germany
The reigning World Junior Hockey Championship gold medalists are off to a hot start.
Team USA cruised to victory to open its tournament Tuesday night in Edmonton, defeating Germany 5-1.
The game was much more one-sided than the score indicated as the Americans outshot the Germans 50-11. German goaltender Nikita Quapp, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect, was the only reason the game didn't get more out of hand.
Luke Hughes, Landon Slaggert, Riley Duran, and Sasha Pastujov led the way offensively for the United States, recording two points apiece. Hughes, the No. 4 pick by the New Jersey Devils in 2021, was named player of the game. He accomplished something neither of his older brothers - Jack and Quinn - did by scoring a goal in the world juniors.
Germany's only goal came late in the third period off a coast-to-coast beauty by Joshua Samanski.
German forward Bennet Rossmy was ejected in the first period for a high hit on Dominic James, who stayed in the game.
The United States will be back in action Thursday at 10 p.m. ET against Switzerland. Germany gets right back at it Wednesday versus Austria.