Isaac Howard scored in the seventh round of a shootout Friday to lift Team USA to a 4-3 victory over Czechia for its third consecutive victory at the world junior hockey championships in Frolundaborg, Sweden.
Team USA wins seven-round shootout to remain unbeaten at world junior hockey tournament
Gophers defenseman Ryan Chesley had the tying goal in regulation, and Isaac Howard had the winner in the shootout.
December 29, 2023 at 9:28PM
The sophomore winger for Michigan State also scored in regulation as the American team got two of a possible three points for the game.
The U.S. trails Slovakia, which has won three games in regulation, by a point in the Group B standings so Sunday's winner between the teams claims first place in the group before next week's quarterfinals.
Jacob Fowler had 20 saves in regulation for the Americans, who also got goals from Will Smith and Gophers defenseman Ryan Chesley.
Czech goalie Michael Hrabel, who plays for UMass, had 30 stops in regulation. The U.S. had a power play in the five-minute overtime, but couldn't convert.
The tournament's shootouts go five rounds. Jiri Kulich scored in the fourth round for Czechia and Gabe Perrault scored on backhand off Hrabel's pads in the fifth round, forcing extra rounds. Kulich, the Czech captain who has played this season for the Buffalo Sabres, and Perreault both missed. After Eduard Sale was stopped by Fowler, Howard beat Hrabel between the wickets.
Fowler played a second consecutive game with top U.S. goalie Trey Augustine sidelined because of illness. Fowler, Smith and Perreault all play for Boston College.
Chesley scored the final goal of regulation on a slap shot from between the circles with six minutes remaining in the second period.
The Gophers need to replace Jess Oakland, who transferred to Duke. They’ll be counting on Sydney Schwartz and Taylor Krapf.
