U.S. beat – The defending champion United States routed Hungary 7-3 in Zurich to stay alive in the ice hockey world championship group stage. Matthew Tkachuk scored twice and set up two, while Justin Faulk and Ryan Leonard each added two goals and the U.S. secured the win
ZURICH — The United States didn’t just win on Monday at the ice hockey world championship. It delivered a statement big enough to keep the quarterfinal dream from slipping away.
Defending champion the United States topped Hungary 7-3 to preserve its hopes of advancing from Group A at the tournament in Zurich. Matthew Tkachuk scored twice and set up two more. and captain Justin Faulk and Ryan Leonard each netted twice as well. Tommy Novak assisted on five goals, while goaltender Joseph Woll made 14 saves.
The Americans’ seventh and final Group A game comes Tuesday against Austria. If the U.S. wins, it earns a spot in the quarterfinals.
The result kept a streak intact, too. The United States has made the last eight every year since 2011.
From the start, the game tilted quickly. Faulk one-timed a low slap shot for a 1-0 lead midway through the opening period. Tkachuk then doubled the advantage with a shot between the pads of goaltender Adam Vay on a power play with 1:38 remaining.
By the time the first half of the matchup had fully settled, the scoreboard was already sending a warning to Hungary. The U.S. surged to 4-0 before the midpoint of the middle period, with Leonard scoring from the slot and Faulk roofing one into the net with his second power-play goal.
Hungary finally found the net before the second period ended, with captain Csanad Erdely scoring for the first time. Leonard answered with his second on a power play with 1:47 left.
Even with the deficit mounting, the final period brought no collapse. Erdely scored his second and Gabor Tornyai added a goal to pull Hungary to 5-3. But the U.S. responded immediately: Tkachuk added an empty-net goal and Max Plante finished it off to seal the 7-3 margin.
Tkachuk’s two-goal night also marked a sharp stretch for the forward since joining the team on Tuesday. It was his second goal in three games since he joined.
Elsewhere on Monday, the quarterfinal picture shifted. In Fribourg, Norway upset Czechia 4-1 to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2012. The Czechs and Group B leader Canada had already qualified. leaving the fourth and final quarterfinal spot in Group B to be decided Tuesday between Sweden and Slovakia.
Back in Fribourg, Italy faced Slovenia on Monday to determine who stays in the top division. Already-relegated Britain met Germany in Zurich later Monday.
U.S. hockey Hungary Matthew Tkachuk Justin Faulk Ryan Leonard Joseph Woll Adam Vay ice hockey world championship Zurich Austria quarterfinals