OSTRAVA, Czech Republic — Trevor Lewis (Salt Lake City, Utah/Los Angeles Kings), Torey Krug (Livonia, Mich./Boston Bruins), Mark Arcobello (Milford, Conn./Arizona Coyotes) and Brock Nelson (Warroad, Minn./N.Y. Islanders) each scored to help the U.S. Men’s National Team defeat Russia, 4-2, here today before a sellout crowd of 8,882 in preliminary round play at the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship.
The win gives the United States its best start at the IIHF Men’s World Championship since opening the event with the same 3-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record at the 1997 tournament.
“The credit goes to our players,” said Todd Richards, head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team. “They played a terrific game and I couldn’t be more proud of our effort. It was a well deserved win. We’ll take tomorrow off and be back at it with practice on Wednesday before we play Belarus on Thursday.”
Lewis put Team USA on the board just 6:22 into the contest when he batted a rebound over Russian goaltender Sergei Bobrovski’s shoulder. After Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass./Boston University) cleanly won a draw in the offensive zone, Seth Jones (Plano, Texas/Nashville Predators) sent a shot through traffic that hit Bobrovski and bounced right to Lewis at the edge of the crease. Lewis fought through a Russian defender and knocked the loose puck into the top corner of the net.
Russia tied the game 3:40 into the second period when Anton Belov skated into the circle and scored, but Krug found the back of the net on a five-on-three power play three minutes later to help the U.S. retake the lead. The play started when Jones managed to hold the offensive blue line after a Justin Faulk (South St. Paul, Minn./Carolina Hurricanes) one-timer went wide and around the wall. Jones chipped the puck to Krug in the left circle, who moved to the middle, paused and fired a shot up high over Bobrovski’s glove.
Arcobello buried one with 11:52 gone in the third stanza to make the score 3-1 in favor of Team USA. Jimmy Vesey (North Reading, Mass./Harvard University) blocked a Russian attempt to move the puck up ice in the neutral zone and Arcobello grabbed the loose puck, moved through the right circle and placed a wrist shot just inside the near post.
The Russians scored at 16:19 to cut the U.S. advantage to 3-2 and pulled Bobrovski late, but Nelson scored into the empty net to clinch the victory for Team USA.
Goaltender Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich.), playing in his first game at the IIHF Men’s World Championship, turned aside 15 shots in the winning effort.
“It was far more fun than I ever thought it could be,” said Campbell. “It was a fast game with a lot of great players so it’s just an honor to be out there and get the win with these guys.”
The U.S. Men’s National Team continues its preliminary round schedule Thursday (May 7) against Belarus at 4:15 p.m. (10:15 a.m. ET). The contest can be seen live on NBCSN in the U.S. and will be available online via NBC Sports Live Extra.
NOTES: Torey Krug was named the U.S. Player of the Game … Jack Eichel won 15 of 21 faceoffs in the game … Justin Faulk logged 25:48 of ice time to lead Team USA … Krug’s four shots on goal topped all players in the game … Team USA will have tomorrow completely off and return to practice on Wednesday before its game Thursday against Belarus … Team USA has held its first three opponents without a power-play goal, killing off all 11 man-advantage opportunities … The U.S. gained its first power-play goal of the world championship today with a 5-on-3 goal by Krug in the second period. The U.S. is now 1-for-10 in man-advantage situations … Dean Lombardi, a member of the U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group, will arrive in Ostrava on Wednesday (May 6).
Team USA 2015 IIHF Men’s World Championship Schedule/Results
May 1-17 • Ostrava, Czech Republic
Date Opponent Venue
Time (Local/EDT)/Result
Tues., April 28 Austria (ex.) Eissportzentrum Kagran W, 4-1
Fri., May 1 Finland CEZ Arena W, 5-1
Sat., May 2 Norway CEZ Arena W, 2-1
Mon., May 4 Russia CEZ Arena W, 4-2
Thurs., May 7 Belarus CEZ Arena 4:15 p.m./10:15 a.m.
Fri., May 8 Denmark CEZ Arena 8:15 p.m./2:15 p.m.
Sun., May 10 Slovenia CEZ Arena 4:15 p.m./10:15 a.m.
Tues., May 12 Slovakia CEZ Arena 4:15 p.m./10:15 a.m.
Thurs., May 14 Quarterfinals TBD TBD
Sat., May 16 Semifinals O2 Arena TBD
Sun., May 17 Medal Round Game O2 Arena TBD
*Eissportzentrum Kagran in Vienna, Austria; CEZ Arena in Ostrava, Czech Republic; O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic.
