Pyeongchang 2018 Olympics: U.S. Men’s Hockey Team Beat Slovakia 5-1, Will Face Czech Republic In Quarterfinals

The U.S. Men’s Hockey Team have reached the Olympic quarterfinals after defeating Slovakia 5-1, and their next opponent won’t be easy.

U.S. Men’s Hockey vs. Slovakia score 2018 Olympics

The Americans will face the Czech Republic on Wednesday. The Czechs won their first three games, including a shootout victory over Canada. The U.S., meanwhile, only claimed one of their three preliminary games, also against Slovakia and scored four goals in those matches.

Coach Tony Granato’s squad also lost to Slovenia (3-2 in overtime) and to the Olympic Athletes from Russia (4-0).

Harvard forward and Boston Bruins prospect Ryan Donato has been a standout in Pyeongchang: the 21-year-old scored both of Team USA’s goals in their 2-1 first-round victory over Slovakia. His four total goals are tied for the tournament lead.

Donato is one of many college-aged players on the U.S. men’s roster whom Granato may rely on for the quarterfinal matchup. University of Denver forward Troy Terry, an Anaheim Ducks prospect, had three assists against Slovenia, and Boston University’s Jordan Greenway has also played well.

In the third period on Tuesday, Donato took a shoulder to the jaw from 6-foot-4 Slovakian defenseman Michal Cajkovski, (who was ejected), and didn’t miss a shift despite a bloody nose that he believed might be broken. On the subsequent play, Donato set the screen on James Wisniewski’s 5-on-3 power-play goal.

Donato also opened the scoring 1:36 into the middle period and netted his own power-play goal. Terry had three assists and Mark Arcobello and Garrett Roe scored the U.S.’s other two goals. Goalie Ryan Zapolski recorded 22 saves in his second Olympic victory.

The team’s quarterfinal against the Czech Republic will begin at 10:10pm EST on Tuesday, and will air on CNBC. The game can also be streamed on NBCOlympics.com.

Ziga Jeglic, a Slovenian hockey player, was suspended from the Olympics for doping in the big controversy of the day. The 29-year-old missed his team’s 2-1 loss to Norway in the qualifying round. Jeglic’s teammates said they were “shocked” by the news.”

MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 04: Jack Roslovic #28 of Team United States skates the puck against Mikhail Sidorov #3 of Team Russia during the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship semifinal game at the Bell Centre on January 4, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena

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