ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Nick Foligno (Buffalo, N.Y.) scored twice and added an assist to lead the U.S. Men’s National Team to a 5-1 victory against Hungary in a preliminary-round matchup here today at the International Ice Hockey Men’s World Championship. Team USA set a new U.S. tournament record for fewest shots allowed in a game by limiting Hungary to eight shots on goal.
“It was an important three points for us to get today against a very well-coached team,” said John Hynes, head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team. “We’ll take tomorrow off after playing back-to-back games and get ready for our game against Germany on Sunday.”
The U.S. had a full two minutes of five-on-three power play time in the back half of the opening period. While Team USA had a series of chances in close, Hungary netminder Adam Vay turned away every U.S. attempt.
The first period was scoreless despite the U.S. outshooting Hungary, 15-1.
Foligno fired a shot into the top corner of the net with the U.S. on a power play at 4:37 of the second period after a long up-ice pass from Chris Wideman (St. Louis, Mo.) to make it 1-0. Just :18 later, Hudson Fasching (Apple Valley, Minn.) sent a pass to Vinnie Hinostroza (Bartlett, Ill.), who buried a one-timer from the right faceoff dot to double the U.S. lead to 2-0.
Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) made it 3-0 when he skated into the Hungary zone below the goal line and banked the puck off the back of Vay at 14:12 of the middle period.
With 7:53 to play in the game, Foligno intercepted the puck at the Hungary blue line, skated in alone and snapped a shot from the high slot for his second tally of the game.
Connor Murphy (Dublin, Ohio) made it 5-0 just 3:13 later as he took a shot from the right point that trickled in between Vay’s pads after deflecting off a Hungary defender in front. Foligno and Pat Maroon (St. Louis, Mo.) were credited with assists on the play.
A power-play goal by Hungary’s Istvan Sofron with 2:01 left to play accounted for the 5-1 final.
Team USA (3-0-0-2-0, W-OTW-OTL-L-T) will play its sixth of seven preliminary round games at 9:15 a.m. ET on Sunday (May 15) against Germany. The game will be streamed live on NBC Sports Live Extra and air on a delayed basis on NBC Sports Network at 3 p.m. ET that day.
NOTES: Nick Foligno was named the U.S. Player of the Game … Keith Kinkaid (Farmingville, N.Y.) made seven saves in the win, while Vay stopped 32 … The U.S. outshot Hungary, 37-8. For complete game statistics, click here … Today’s game was only the second ever meeting between the two teams at a IIHF Men’s World Championship. The first meeting was in 1939, a 3-0 U.S. victory … Dylan Larkin extended his point streak to four games, while Auston Matthews and Frank Vetrano saw their point streaks end at three games.
