“You haven’t seen our best hockey. The team that wins the tournament is the team that gets better every game. You have to improve every game.”
Wise words spoken from Team USA captain Jake McCabe after their quarter final victory against the Czech Republic. The United States rallied behind McCabe’s words this morning as they handily defeated the Canadian squad 5-1 in the semi-finals of the World Junior Championships.
The Americans, who lost to Canada last Sunday by a score of 2-1, were strong all over the ice today.
McCabe opened scoring for the U.S. only 7:18 into the game. They built on the early lead when McCabe struck again with just under four minutes remaining in the first period.
Early in the second period, John Gaudreau gave the U.S. a 3-0 lead after a solid toe drag and snipe over the glove of Malcolm Subban. With 7:16 remaining in the second, it was Jim Vesey who tallied to give his team a 4-0 lead. Subban was pulled after the fourth goal in favor of Jordan Binnington.
Ty Rattie put Canada on the board early in the third period, after a bit of controversy. His first shot hit the crossbar, and then the official blew the whistle just before Rattie buried his own rebound. After a brief review, the goal counted and Canada was ready to try to mount a comeback. Late in the final period, however, Gaudreau added his second of the game to close the door on any possible comeback.
The loss for Canada means their gold medal drought will continue another year. The last time they won was in 2009, the last of five consecutive wins in the tournament.
On Saturday, the United States will take on Sweden in the gold medal game. Each team is trying for their third gold medal in the history of the tournament.
Canada will play the host country Russia in the bronze medal game. In their previous matchup of the tournament, Canada defeated Russia 4-1.
