US National Team Tops Belarus; IIHF Men’s

MINSK, Belarus – Jacob Trouba (Rochester, Mich./University of Michigan/Winnipeg Jets) scored twice and Johnny Gaudreau (Carneys Points, N.J./Boston College/Calgary Flames) had a goal and two assists to help the U.S. Men’s National Team past Belarus, 6-1, in its opening game of the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship here today. Goaltender Tim Thomas(Flint, Mich./University of Vermont/Dallas Stars) made 20 saves.

Leading 1-0 late in the second period, Team USA had a three-goal outburst over a 2:43 span to seize command of the game.

“Tonight was a very close game and in the first period it was ultra competitive,” said Peter Laviolette, head coach of the 2014 U.S. Men’s National Team. “I thought that Belarus played extremely hard and I liked the competitiveness of our guys as well. In the second period, the play was being taken to us and then a few goals went our way. I thought the power play was good tonight.”

Brock Nelson (Warroad, Minn./University of North Dakota/N.Y. Islanders) gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead with a power-play marker 12:22 into the first period. Tyler Johnson (Spokane, Wash./Tampa Bay Lightning) started the scoring play when he took a pass at the top of the right circle, walked in and fed the puck toCraig Smith (Madison, Wis./University of Wisconsin/Nashville Predators) in the slot. Smith redirected the pass towards the net, and Nelson turned and batted it over Belarus goaltender Andrei Mezin’s leg.

The U.S. built a 4-0 lead by 17:42 of the middle frame thanks to a three-goal outburst in less than three minutes. Trouba gave Team USA a 2-0 lead at 14:59 when he one-timed a Danny DeKeyser (Clay Township, Mich./Western Michigan University/Detroit Red Wings) pass from the point just inside the far post. Gaudreau tallied 54 seconds later when he picked up a pass entering the zone, used the Belarus defender as a screen and picked a corner. Colin McDonald (Wethersfield, Conn./Providence College/N.Y. Islanders) knocked a cross-crease pass into a wide-open net at 17:42.

After a late second-period goal by Team Belarus cut the U.S. lead to 4-1, Trouba and Jake Gardiner(Minnetonka, Minn./University of Wisconsin/Toronto Maple Leafs) each notched power-play goals in the third period to give the U.S. a 6-1 victory.

The U.S. Men’s National Team (1-0-0-0) will continue preliminary-round action tomorrow (May 10) against Switzerland. Puck-drop is schedule for 1:45 p.m. ET and can be viewed live on NBC Sports Network.

NOTES: Tonight’s box score, photos and more comments from Head Coach Peter Laviolette are available here … Jimmy Hayes was named Team USA’s Player of the Game … Eleven players factored into the scoring tonight … Jake Gardiner, Johnny Gaudreau, Colin McDonald and Brock Nelson each scored a goal in their first career game with the U.S. Men’s National Team … The U.S. improved to 5-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) all-time against Belarus in the IIHF Men’s World Championship … Peter Laviolette is serving as head coach of the 2014 U.S. Men’s National Team for the third time (2004-bronze, 2005). The assistant coaches are Joe Sacco, Phil Housley and Don Granato … For Team USA’s roster, click here … Twenty of 25 announced members of Team USA played U.S. college hockey … Seven of the 25 players are products of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, including Jimmy Hayes, Seth Jones, Jake McCabe, Peter Mueller, Connor Murphy, Drew Shore and Jacob Trouba … Thirteen NHL teams are represented on the roster: Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets … The staff and players of the 2014 U.S. Men’s National Team are selected by the U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group, led by Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. Other members, all affiliated with National Hockey League teams, include Stan Bowman (Chicago), Brian Burke (Calgary), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia), Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles), David Poile (Nashville), Ray Shero (Pittsburgh), Dale Tallon (Florida), and Don Waddell (Pittsburgh). Tom Kurvers (Tampa Bay) will be part of the advisory group for this year’s championship … USA Hockey’s international council, chaired by Gavin Regan, vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams … Sixteen teams are competing at the 2014 IIHF Men’s World Championship, divided into two groups of eight. Teams will play a round-robin format among their group with the top four teams from each group advancing to quarterfinals … NBC Sports Network is televising and streaming all Team USA games in the 2014 IIHF Men’s World Championship.