Germany vs. USA: Trevor Zegras, Shane Pinto power Americans to first victory at 2020 World Juniors

Tommy McArdle

•
Germany vs. USA: Trevor Zegras, Shane Pinto power Americans to first victory at 2020 World Juniors image

Trevor Zegras, Dustin Wolf and Shane Pinto put the United States on their backs on Friday and led the team to victory.

Zegras' four assists powered the Americans to their first victory, a 6-3 win over the Germans at the 2020 IIHF World Juniors just one day after the team fell to top rival Canada. Pinto (Ottawa Senators) netted his third goal of the tourney along with two assists and Wolf, a Calgary Flames prospect, made 17 saves including some big ones late in the game.

Germany put up a fight in its first world juniors game at the top level since they were relegated to Division 1A 2015. Four years later, the Germans entered the game armed with high-end NHL prospects Moritz Seider (Detroit Red Wings) and Dominik Bokk (St. Louis Blues).

Bokk, in particular, made life difficult for the Americans through the first two periods by registering a point on all three of Germany's goals. His team led the Americans 3-2 as late as midway through the second period by taking advantage of a shaky USA penalty kill — both of 2020 draft prospect J.J. Peterka 's goals in the first and second periods came with a man-advantage.

Germany's good fortunes could not last forever, though. Third-period goals from Bobby Brink (Philadelphia Flyers) and Oliver Wahlstrom (New York Islanders) put the game out of reach, and the Americans finally found an effective penalty kill when two players landed in the box with just minutes left to play.

After two days of games, the Americans get a rest on Saturday before meeting another major power in Russia on Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. ET. Germany, meanwhile, gets right back at it against host country Czech Republic on Saturday at 9 a.m. ET.

Sporting News has all the results and highlights from the United States win on Friday below.

Germany vs. USA scores, highlights from 2020 World Juniors

(All times are Eastern)

Final score — USA 6, Germany 3

3:29 p.m. — It's all over. Germany put together a well-played game, but similar to how Canada overwhelmed the Americans on Thursday, the USA takes its first victory of the tournament.

Germany's star forwards impressed in this one. Dominik Bokk (one goal, two assists) and J.J. Peterka (two goals) will keep proving difficult to stop for the rest of the world juniors. Peterka was named Germany's player of the game, while Trevor Zegras (four assists) took home the honor for the United States.

3:22 p.m. — After a few shot attemps, the Germans get another break — a five-on-three power play after Mattias Samuelsson is called for a high stick. Germany takes a timeout to discuss tactics.

The Americans make some efficient shot blocks and succesfully kill off both penalties by clogging up passing lanes.

3:17 p.m. — Wahlstrom gets a two-minute penalty for roughing after getting tied up with Seider. It's a big opportunity for Germany to mount a late-game comeback, and they go right to work on the man-advantage.

3:13 p.m. — GOAL. OLIVER WAHLSTROM!

The Americans break the game open when Wahlstrom, the New York Islanders 2018 first-round pick, completely undresses Germany's Ancicka to give the USA a three-goal cushion. It's been a back-and-forth game, but the Americans' first win of the tournament is in their sights now with under 10 minutes to play in the game.

3:07 p.m. — PP GOAL. Curtis Hall draws a penalty to send the Americans to the power play when German d-man Niklas Heinzinger hooks him behind the net. Philadelphia Flyers prospect Bobby Brink quickly takes advantage of that power play by helping to move the puck around the USA attacking zone and finishing off with a goal to advance the Americans' lead to two goals.

2:55 p.m. — The puck has dropped on the third period — Alex Turcotte nearly broke into the offensive zone with speed, but he's called offside.

End of second period — USA 4, Germany 3

2:34 p.m. — GOAL. Curtis Hall takes the lead for the Americans! The USA escapes the second frame with a 4-3 lead. Trevor Zegras' assist on the goal gave him an apple on every USA tally in this game.

2:24 p.m. — GOAL.  The Americans fail to capitalize on a power play after Seider takes a roughing penalty, but they do tie the game up just a minute later. Shane Pinto capitalizes by following the puck to the net, catching a rebound and ties it all up at 3-3.

Pinto, a second-round Ottawa Senators draft pick in 2019, has three goals in two games this tournament.

2:15 p.m. — GOAL. Germany takes the lead! After some back-and-forth play, the Germans catch the USA defense too far up ice and take advantage. On a two-on-one rush, Blues prospect Dominik Bokk finishes off a great pass from Justin Schutz.

2:05 p.m. — GOAL. Germany takes advantage of another power play when Trevor Zegras goes off for high-sticking. Peterka scored his second power-play goal of the night after collecting an intentionally-wide shot off the endboards.

2:02 p.m. — Team USA can't capitalize on the rest of their power play to start the second period. American forward Nick Robertson left the ice in discomfort after taking a crosscheck to the back during the power play. He would stay in the game.

End of first period: USA 2, Germany 1

1:44 pm. — Justin Schutz takes a slashing penalty with under one minute remaining in the first period. Team USA will have one minute and 21 seconds of power-play time remaining when the second period starts.

1:40 p.m. — GOAL. USA scores! Zac Jones (New York Rangers) takes the lead for the Americans off impressive feeds from Trevor Zegras and Shane Pinto.

1:39 p.m. — Germany gets a power play when American forward Jacob Pivonka takes a slashing penalty, but Calgary Flames prospect Wolf turns away every scoring chance the Germans get. Penalty ends with just under two minutes to play in the first period.

1:21 p.m. — GOAL.  It doesn't take long for the Americans to get that goal back. Defenseman Jordan Harris (Montreal Canadiens prospect) fires a wrist shot through traffic that beats German goalie Tobias Anickca's glove side.

1:15 p.m. — PP GOAL. Germany scores the first goal of the game on the ensuing power play. Stutzle's cross-crease pass to Peterka allowed Peterka to get the puck just over Wolf's trapper and into the net.

1:11 p.m. — USA forward Oliver Wahlstrom (New York Islanders) takes a tripping penalty.

1:09 p.m. — The puck has dropped in Ostrava. The Americans are wearing their dark blue jerseys, while the Germans are skating in their white away jerseys with black shoulders.

12:47 p.m. — The last time the United States and Germany played in this tournament? Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and a host of current NHLers led the USA to a 6-0 victory in 2014.

12:40 p.m. — Germany's lineup has top 2020 draft prospect Tim Stutzle playing on the second line, while Carolina Hurricanes prospect Dominik Bokk starts on the first line's right side.

12:20 p.m. — USA announces its lineup. Calgary Flames prospect Dustin Wolf starts in net after Spencer Knight played against Canada on Thursday. Parker Ford will play with Jack Drury and Cole Caufield moves to the top line,. Alex Turcotte moves to center between scoring wingers Bobby Brink and John Beecher.

Relevant links

Tournament

USA

Tommy McArdle