The United States National Junior Team (3-0-1-0) will play Switzerland (1-0-0-3) in the quarterfinals at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday afternoon.
Gametime is 2:30 p.m. and, as with every other game in this tournament, it will air on NHL Network or you can live steam on ESPN+, fubo TV (add-on, FREE trial), Sling TV (add-on, discount) and DirecTV Stream (add-on, FREE trial and discount).
The U.S., the defending champ, finished first in Group A with a 4-1 win over Canada on Tuesday.
Danny Nelson scored the eventual game-winner in the third period and Trey Augustine made 38 saves.
Cole Hutson and Cole Eiserman each had a goal and an assist for the Americans. Ryan Leonard scored into an empty-net.
The United States is looking to repeat as WJC gold medalist for the first time. Seven players who got into at least one game last year return, led by Augustine (Detroit Red Wings), who made 38 saves in the win against Canada. He looked more like the goalie who allowed seven goals in four games to help the U.S. win the gold medal at the 2024 WJC rather than the one who allowed eight goals in his first two games in Ottawa.
“He had his best performance of the event,” U.S. coach David Carle said afterward. “We know that to do what we want to do here he’s going to have to replicate that or potentially even play better.” The U.S. will also need more the power play that went 3-for-7 against Canada not the one that was 2-for-11 in its first three games.
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Hutson (Washington Capitals) drove the U.S. offense, tying for the tournament scoring lead with eight points (two goals, six assists), including the first goal against Canada.
“Very dynamic,” Carle said of Hutson. “I knew he was good with the puck. I didn’t quite know he was that good, the deception and the ability to attack.”
United States goaltender Trey Augustine (1) makes a save against Canada’s Gavin McKenna (9) as United States’ Drew Fortescue (5) defends during third-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)AP
Switzerland reached the medal round after a 3-1 win against Kazakhstan on Tuesday. The Swiss lost 2-1 to Slovakia on Dec. 27 in a game that was tied until 3:16 was left in the third period and then scored four power-play goals in the third period of a 7-5 loss to Sweden on Sunday.
Finland vs. Slovakia will follow this game at 5 p.m. and Czechia will play Canada at 7:30 p.m. Sweden opened the afternoon with a noon game against Latvia.
NHL Network is carrying all of these games, which you can live steam on ESPN+, fubo TV (add-on, FREE trial), Sling TV (add-on, discount) and DirecTV Stream (add-on, FREE trial and discount).