“Austrian? Well Then G'Day, Mate": USA vs Austria World Juniors LIVE BLOG
Who: Team USA (0-1) vs Austria (0-0)
What: World Juniors Group B Preliminary Round
When: 9:30pm ET
Where: The House That McDavid Built
Why: Because Stone Cold said so.
As a man of integrity, I can't lie here. Last night sucked a considerable amount of ass. There's never anything fun about USA losing a game of men's competitive hockey to the Russians. If there's any positive spin I can put on last night's 5-3 loss to open the tournament for the Americans, it's that Canada lost to Russia last year on their way to winning gold. That's the only thing I've been telling myself over and over again today to make that loss sting a little less. That and a handful of Double IPA's.
But the past is the past. And tonight Team USA has a chance to get themselves going against a team that is most likely just happy to be in the tournament in the first place. Austria were winners of the Division 1A tournament last year so they got promoted to the real deal this year. This is the first time they've played in the top division since 2010. So USA should definitely have their way with them tonight. If there's anything to be worried about, it would be Marco Rossi taking over and keeping Austria in the game for as long as he can. Dude is a certified weapon.
But as long as you contain Marco Rossi, Team USA should be able to get everyone involved here and put this one away early. So here's to hoping you can mostly check out of this game by the time the 3rd period rolls around. In the meantime, make sure to check back in for period by period updates. Live Blog is officially activated. Ferda.
(Also you can follow along on twitter @JordieBarstool for live highlights)
End of the 1st: USA 1 - Austria 0
Gotta be honest, that was a super uneventful period. Not what you'd like to see out of a US team that needs to get things going after losing in regulation last night. The only goal of the period was quite possibly the ugliest goal scored in World Juniors history.
Pass deflected off the skate at the top of the slot and somehow ends up in the back of the net. Looks gross, but counts the same as a bardown snipe. The don't ask how, they ask how many. But yeah. Other than that, not much going on in that period. Team USA is controlling the game, for sure, but it's not like they're getting a ton of quality scoring chances. At best I'd say it should be 2-0 at this point. 40 more minutes to get the boys involved.
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End of the 2nd: USA 7 - Austria 0
Well, folks, the floodgates have finally been opened. It was Trevor Zegras getting the party started in the 2nd period with this sniiiiiiipe to go up 2-0.
I swear to god, Trevor Zegras doesn't score goals unless they're put in an elevator and strictly hit the highest number button in the joint. Straight to the penthouse, baby. Don't you fucking dare make that elevator stop on floor 7. And to further prove his point, he scored this goal later in the period.
Wheel. Snipe. Celly.
A couple of goals from Zegras, a couple of goals from Boldy, Farinacci on the board, Brisson on the board. Great period from the boys there. Just have to keep getting everybody some touches in the 3rd to make sure all 4 lines build that chemistry heading into the Czech game on Monday.
3rd Period Updates: USA 9 - Austria 0
2 goals in the first 3ish minutes of the 3rd period. Time to call it for the Live Blog. I just hope they leave some goals left in the tank for the Czechs on Tuesday. Czechs are pesky. They gave Sweden some trouble in the 1st period earlier today. Granted, Sweden won 7-1. But still.
Great win for the boys tonight. See all you beauts on Tuesday. Ferda.