World U17: Team USA vs Team Quebec – Game Story

 Photo JC Pinheiro, Hockey Canada Images

January 4^th Team USA Vs. Team Quebec

This game started out pretty slow and sloppy but as it went on USA started to pick up their game and was really controlling most of the play in the Quebec zone and pressing hard. Alex Tuch displayed some really nice hands to move the puck into the slot for a chance, and Sonny Milano had some nice moves as well to walk around the defender and make a nice centering pass to an open man in the slot and then drove the net hard looking for loose pucks and opportunities. Milano and Glover looked pretty good together on a few shifts as Glover would come up in the play and took a great drop pass from Milano for a nice opportunity on a shot from right in the slot. For Quebec, Audette was driving the puck really well wide and protecting it to cut in towards the net for a good chance on a real power forward move. Quebec went to the power play but was kept to the perimeter for the most part and couldn’t get their shots through the shot blocking of the United States. After the penalty Tuch had his speed, hands and agility on full display in the offensive zone, and Anders Bjork showed some really exceptional speed to blow by a defender off the wing to put a good shot on net short-side for another good chance for the States. Tuch and Hitchcock together had some chemistry as Tuch was able to spot Hitchcock in the slot for a nice chance, and Turgeon made it look easy as he just came right into the high slot for a good shot on net off the rush. [sociallocker]

But with all the pressure the USA was putting on and all the chances they had on net it was Quebec who opened the scoring on a scramble play in front as Marois banged the puck in, in what looked like a disorganized play in front of the USA net with 4 minutes to go in the period. But USA went to the power play late in the period as Quebec took 2 penalties at the same time and on the advantage MacInnis made a great pass from down low to Milano in front who took the shot and as the goaltender went down the rebound came out front to Poganski who was able to score on a nice back-hand shot that he got up and over the goaltender with just 16 seconds left in the period to send this one to the intermission all tied up at 1.

In the second period Audette came out flying for Quebec coming in off the wing to put a good shot off and then got the puck back and walked into the slot for another chance. It appeared that Quebec’s strategy was to get shots off from the high slot and to have 2 men driving hard to the net for rebounds as they got a couple chances off this play. Wilkie did a nice job reading the shot from the high slot as he blocked the shot which allowed the puck to exit the zone and Milano took the puck back up the ice for a rush and made a nice drop pass to MacInnis for a great shot on net. Poganski was also getting some nice shots off the rush as he put on a nice low shot to try and generate rebounds. On the penalty kill for Quebec Anthony Richard displayed some really good speed putting great pressure on the puck carrier to rush him and force turnovers. But it wasn’t enough to stop the skills of Sonny Milano who showed some incredible hands and puck skills to dangle by defenders and get in tight towards the net with good speed for an excellent chance. The power play ended without USA scoring and Quebec then started to pour on the pressure for the next few minutes until finally USA was forced to take a delay of game penalty under some intense pressure. The power play for Quebec was no better as they were unable to score and then with just over 4 minutes to go in the period Larkin took a nice shot off the side wall which generated a rebound for Poganski who was driving hard to the net to bang in the 2^nd goal of the game for USA and give them the lead for the first time in the game. USA kept pressing as Milano made a really nice pass to Wilkie to find him alone in front of the net, as Wilkie made a nice move on the goaltender but was stopped in the end. Quebec came back the other way and Audet made an excellent move as he looked like he was going to drive the puck wide and then at the last second cut in to beat the defender and take the inside track for a really great shot on net creating a strong chance on net but was stopped by the goaltender. Finally with only a minute and 20 seconds left in the period Bahl made a nice pass down low for Neill who took a one-timer on the side of the net to score and tie up the game on a great shot to send the game into the 2^nd intermission tied up at 2.

The third period started again with Audette making some plays, however he was walking in to the side slot on the power play to put on a wrist shot that had little chance of going in and I would like to see more creativity to get the puck to more dangerous scoring areas on the power play. He was picking off some turnovers by reading the play well as well. USA came back the other way and it was Hitchcock who made a nice pass to Tuch on a 2-on-1 chance but Tuch just missed the net on the opportunity. A few minutes later midway through the period on the power play Poganski was able to take a turnover deep in the offensive zone to walk out front and jam in the 3^rd goal of the game to give USA the lead. Just 40 seconds later Hitchcock made an excellent pass to MacInnis in front of the net who was able to make a nice move to score the teams 4^th goal of the game to take a 2 goal lead. USA was moving the puck around well in the offensive zone getting some good shots off on their power play and it was Audette with some good shot blocking in his own end. MacInnis displayed some really nice hands to walk into the slot off the side wall for a great shot on from scoring position, as USA was getting to the slot for chances far too easily. Audette then took over for the next few plays as he showed some really good speed and pressure put on the puck carrier to force turnovers, get into the slot and put some good shots on quick shots, and made a really excellent wide drive while protecting the puck to drive towards the net. Just as the game was dwindling down Quebec got a resurgence of hope as Perron got the puck in the slot and put an incredible shot on with only 34 seconds left in the game to score Quebec’s 3^rd goal of the game and to make this game into an exciting finish. Into the dying seconds Neill made a great shot from the point that looked like it might go in but USA kept it out to hold on to the lead and win this game.

HockeyProspect.com 3 Stars of the game:

57 Austin Poganski: Poganski was all around the net tonight, not intimidated to drive hard and have that nice net-front presence as he scored a hat trick and each of his goals came from being in tight to the net. He showed some good chemistry with MacInnis and Hitchcock on a few shifts and they were moving the puck well and getting to good scoring areas to create chances.

48 Sonny Milano: Milano only got 1 assist in this game but he was really flying all night long. He made some really incredible moves displaying excellent hands and puck skills and was dangerous every time he stepped onto the ice to make something happens. He is a smart player and moves the puck well, and gets to good scoring areas. He just needs to watch that he isn’t turning the puck over trying to dangle his way through the opposition every time.

18 Alexis Pépin: Pepin was a force to be reckoned with in this game. He is a big body who does all the little things from finishing his checks and blocking shots to driving the puck to the net to create scoring chances. He protects the puck very effectively and plays with huge heart and soul every shift, working hard and trying to help the team in any way that he can.

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