Zucker Scores In 3-2 USA Victory Over Finland

(above) Jason Zucker is congratulated by teammates on the USA bench after scoring in the second period

(above & left) Jason Zucker celebrates his second period goal against Finland with teammate Chris Brown

From: USA Hockey

The USA defeated Finland 3-2 in Overtime on the opening day of the World Junior Championships in Buffalo. University of Denver prodigy Jason Zucker scored a spectacular goal in the second period that gave the USA a 2-1 lead in the second period.

Finland gave the defending champions fits all night with a tight defensive system that took away scoring chances. The shot totals favored Finland 34-30 for the game and the Finns dominated a series of shifts in the second period.

Finland had several chances, including hitting the side of the net on an open shot, before they took advantage of a Team USA turnover with a Joonas Nattinen goal at the 13:50 mark of the second period.

Team USA responded to the adversity not by pressing for a goal or changing what had worked so far in the game, but by sticking to its game plan of solid defense and quick breakout passes. Goaltender Jack Campbell came up with two of his 32 saves immediately following the goal to keep the score tied. Then Zucker collected a loose puck off a Chris Brown check in the Finland zone and fired a goal to regain the lead.

Team USA's resolve again was tested in the third period when Finland surged to tie the game 13 minutes into the frame. Campbell again recovered from the setback with key saves and the teams went to overtime where Team USA won on Nick Bjugstad's goal with less than 2 minutes to play.

TSN's Bob McKenzie is reporting via Twitter late Sunday night that USA Hockey fears Chicago Blackhawks star Jemamy Morin may have suffered shoulder injury when he was struck by a puck. TSN is also reporting that North Dakota forward Brock Nelson may have also injured his shoulder. Neither player practiced on Monday, but they may play later in the Tournament.

The next game for Team USA is against Slovakia on Tuesday night at 6 PM MT.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bjugstad got the overtime game winner. He plays in the WCHA for the Minnesota Gophers. He is good at hockey.

Anonymous said...

Surprised to see that Zucker and Shore were on the 4th line. That's a tremendous amount of talent to have buried that deep on the depth chart. This team is deep. Which gives me some hope that we could overcome some injuries in the tournament. Although, I really hope that Morin and Nelson are okay, they looked really good out there (especially Morin).

Anonymous said...

I would take Zucker over Crosby or Ovechkin in heart beat it is not even close

dggoddard said...

USA Lines To Start The Game

Forwards:
Coyle - Kreider - Palmieri
Nelson - D’Amigo - Etem
Morin - Bourque - Bjugstad
Brown - Shore - Zucker
Callahan

Defensemen:
Ramage - Merrill
Dumoulin - Faulk
Leddy - Forbort
Wey

Goaltenders:
Campbell
Iles

Zucker and Shore got more minutes as the game went along. Possible injuries to Morin & Nelson may cause further line shuffling.

Doubtful that Zucker will be starting too many more games of the "4th Line" but you can't question the results on Sunday night.

Anonymous said...

11:46 (i.e. a CC fan) - you're soooooo right dude! Zucker could skate cirles around those chumps! They should be his waterboys.

How about a new post about how Schwartz sucks so bad he couldn't even make team USA?

Anonymous said...

Wow dude chill out Im a Pio fan and a student get a grip