OSTRAVA, Czech Republic, May 8 – Avon native Ben Smith is getting more comfortable on Team USA at the world hockey championships. Smith, a forward from the San Jose Sharks, has seven shots on goal in the last two games.
Smith hasn’t scored but he is helping as the Americans beat Denmark on Friday, 1-0, for their fourth win in five games at the world championships. The Americans rebounded from a 5-2 loss to Belarus on Thursday for their first defeat in the tournament.
With two games remaining in the preliminary round, Team USA (4-1) is in good position to be one of the eight teams qualifying for the quarterfinals. The Americans lead the eight-team Group B with 12 points. The top four teams in Group A and B earn spots in the quarterfinals.
Team USA plays Slovenia Sunday morning at 10:15 a.m., EST and concludes round robin play on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. against Slovakia. Both games will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN).
Smith had three shots on goal in the second period of Friday’s victory over Denmark. Against Belarus on Thursday, he had three shots on goal in the first period and four in the game.
Teammate Brock Nelson (N.Y. Islanders) scored the game’s lone goal against Denmark with 7:54 remaining in the second period. Following a flurry in front of Denmark goaltender Sebastian Dahm, Nelson scooped up the loose puck, wheeled behind the net and jammed it into the open net with a wrap-around.
U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck (St. John’s/AHL) stopped 21 shots to earn his third win in three outings in net.
“It was a big three points for us,” said Todd Richards, head coach of the U.S. men’s national team. “It wasn’t easy, but in the end we got the job done. I thought our goaltender played extremely well and was a big reason for our success.”
“It was a tough game, tight checking and not a lot of chances both ways, but we found a way to win,” said Nelson, who has at least one point in all five U.S. games at the world championship and is the team’s leading scorer. “That’s the main thing right now. It’s a big bounce back game for us and a big three points.”
The U.S. couldn’t widen the gap in the third period despite 14 shots and held onto its 1-0 lead thanks largely to nine saves by Hellebuyck, including several from point-blank range.
Nelson and Torey Krug (Boston Bruins) had goals in the loss to Belarus while Jack Eichel (Boston University) had two assists. The Americans outshot Belarus, 13-7 in the first period with Smith and captain Matt Hendricks (Edmonton Oilers) each getting three shots on net.
NOTES: Smith has nine shots on net in five games. His playing time has remained consistent throughout the tournament. Against Denmark, he had 16 shifts and played 11:08 while against Belarus, he had 17 shifts with 12:30 of ice time. … One tough moment came with the Americans trying to kill off a 5-on-3 power play early in the third period of the loss against Belarus. Alexei Kalyuzhny’s shot from the corner deflected off Smith’s stick and past U.S. goalie Jack Campbell, increasing the Belarus advantage to 4-1. … Smith is one of three Connecticut natives on the team. Farmington’s Nick Bonino (Vancouver Canucks) and Milford’s Marc Arcobello (Arizona Coyotes) each had scored a goal in the tournament. Arcobello had the game-winning goal in the American’s 4-2 win over Russia and Bonino scored in 5-1 win over Finland.
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