U.S. men’s hockey group reaches planet championship semifinals

The U.S. men’s hockey group beat Czechia three- to attain the semifinals at the planet championship, winning its eighth consecutive game to start out the tournament.

The Americans got targets from Calgary Flames forward Matt Coronato, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix and increasing Boston College sophomore Cutter Gauthier. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Casey DeSmith saved all 15 shots at worlds co-hosted by Finland and Latvia.

The U.S. plays Germany in Saturday’s semifinals, hunting to clinch its initial gold or silver medal at worlds given that 1950 (silver). Its only gold at a standalone worlds came in 1933.

The U.S. lost all 11 of its semifinals at worlds given that the IIHF reinstituted a bracketed playoff round in 1992, like final year.

This year’s U.S. group, which consists of 3 2022 Olympians, has zero players with NHL All-Star encounter for the initial time at worlds given that 2010. In most years, there have been a single or two players with All-Star encounter whilst most pick out rest following a seven-month NHL campaign or are nonetheless playing in the NHL playoffs.

But the U.S. has won all eight games below San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn, who also coached the group at the 2022 Olympics (quarterfinals) and 2022 Worlds (fourth spot). Ahead of this year, the U.S. had by no means won additional than six consecutive games to start out a worlds.

NHL players didn’t participate at the final two Olympics but continue to be eligible for worlds and could return for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Games.

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