U.S. Bests Germany, 5-2, in Men’s Worlds Pre-Tourney Tilt
DUSSELDORF, Germany – The U.S. Men’s National Team, behind two goals each from Frank Nazar (Mount Clemens, Mich./Chicago Blackhawks/University of Michigan) and Tage Thompson (Orange, Conn./Buffalo Sabres/University of Connecticut) earned a 5-2 victory over Germany here tonight before a capacity crowd of more than 14,000 at PSD Bank Dome in its lone pre-tournament game for ahead of the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
“It was a great atmosphere and a fun game to be a part of,” said Ryan Warsofsky, head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team. “I thought we came ready to play, and the game had a lot of different situations which was certainly beneficial as we head into the tournament.”
Team USA had a 1-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes thanks to a wrister to the far upper corner of the net off the stick of Mike McCarron (Macomb, Mich./Nashville Predators) from the left circle at 17:27. Isaac Howard (Hudson, Wis./Michigan State University) and Josh Doan (Scottsdale, Ariz./Utah Hockey Club/Arizona State University) drew assists on the play. U.S. netminder Joey Daccord (North Andover, Mass./Seattle Kraken/Arizona State University) made six stops in the stanza, including a point blank save on Justin Schutz with five minutes to play in the period.
GAME PHOTOS
Just :12 into the middle frame Thompson fired one home from the right circle to the far side to extend Team USA’s lead. Clayton Keller (St. Louis, Mo./Utah Hockey Club/Boston University) and Jackson LaCombe (Eden Prairie, Minn./Anaheim Ducks/University of Minnesota) earned assists. On the power play with 7:16 left in the period, Nazar zipped one into the back of the net finishing a nice passing play that included Will Smith (Lexington, Mass./San Jose Sharks/Boston College) and Matty Beniers (Hingham, Mass./Seattle Kraken/University of Michigan).
Germany got back in the game with goals at 7:26, and on the power play at 13:30, with both coming from Schutz. But just 1:03 after the second German goal, Conor Garland (Scituate, Mass./Vancouver Canucks) made a highlight-reel feed, spinning in the far corner and putting a perfect pass on the opposite side of the net to Nazar, who put the U.S. up 4-2. Thompson added his second of the game at 17:04 to account for the 5-2 final.
Daccord played the first 33:07 of the contest and picked up the victory without yielding a goal on 14 shots. Hampton Slukynsky (Warroad, Minn./Western Michigan University) finished the contest and had seven stops.
The teams played a three-on-three overtime period following regulation with Thompson scoring off a feed from Beniers at 1:32 to end the session.
Team USA will open play in the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship Friday (May 9) against host Denmark at 8:20 p.m. local time (2:20 p.m. ET). All U.S. games in the tournament can be seen live in the NHL Network.
NOTES: Frank Nazar, who had two goals, including the game-winner, was named the U.S. Player of the Game … Team USA was 1-3 on the power play, while Germany was 1-4 … The U.S. outshot Germany by a 37-23 count.
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Source: usahockey.com