Avon native Ben Smith
OSTRAVA, Czech Republic, May 3, 2015 –Avon native Ben Smith made his debut with the U.S. national ice hockey team at the IIHF world championship on Friday against Finland. Smith hasn’t gotten a lot of ice time with the Americans but he is doing his part for Team USA, which has won its first two games.
Trevor Lewis (L.A. Kings) had a goal and an assist and goalie Connor Hellebuyck (St. John’s, AHL) made 22 saves as the Americans won their second game in three days with a 2-1 win over Norway. On Friday, Team USA won its tournament opener with a 5-1 win over Finland.
“This was a tough game,” said Todd Richards, head coach of Team USA, “and we knew it would be. I thought Norway had the better of the play in the first period and we were fortunate to get out of that period tied at one. We got better as the game went on, but it went right down to the wire and really could have gone either way. Our guys battled, and in the end, we were fortunate enough to come away with the win.”
Smith, who is playing right wing, played 6:29 against Norway on 14 shifts and got off a shot on goal. In the opener against Finland, he skated on 10 shifts and played for 5:49.
Smith (San Jose Sharks) is one of three Connecticut natives on Team USA. Nick Bonino of Farmington (Vancouver Canucks) and Mark Arcobello of Milford (Arizona Coyotes) are centers on the squad. Bonino had a goal in the win over Finland. Against Norway, he had 30 shifts and played 20:10.
Brock Nelson (N.Y. Islanders) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal 5:58 into the second period when he deflected a Tory Krug (Boston Bruins) shot from the point. Lewis also drew an assist on the play.
“I think the most important thing is that everybody collapses and protects the house,” said U.S. defenseman Seth Jones (Nashville Predators), who logged 23:14 of ice time. “We had all five guys working hard to get pucks in and out. Guys were laying their bodies on the line to block shots and win the game.”
U.S. captain Matt Hendricks (Edmonton Oilers) said Hellebuyck (22 saves) played a key role in the victory. “He’s just so calm back there … it’s like he has some ice in his veins,” said Hendricks. “I’m not a goaltending coach, but he seems square to the puck, his rebound control is very good and there’s a calming presence back there.
The U.S. will next face Russia on Monday (May 4), with opening faceoff set for 4:15 p.m. (10:15 a.m. ET). NBCSN will televise the game live in the U.S., and it will also be streamed live through NBC Sports Live Extra.
NOTES: Hellebuyck was named the U.S. Player of the Game … The U.S. has won its first two games of the world championship for the 11th time in the last 12 years … Team USA is now 17-1 against Norway all-time in the world championship. … Upcoming games for the Americans are Thursday, May 7 vs. Belarus (10:15 a.m., EST); Friday, May 8 vs. Denmark (2:15 p.m., EST), Sunday, May 10 vs. Slovenia (10:15 a.m., EST) and Tuesday, May 12 vs. Slovakia (10:15 a.m., EST). Each game will be televised live on NBC Sports Network. … The Americans are playing in Group B and the top four teams in the eight-team division advance to the quarterfinals.
