U.S. Triumphs Over Hungary, 7-3, at Men’s World Championship
ZURICH, Switzerland – Tommy Novak (River Falls, Wis./Pittsburgh Penguins) achieved five assists, while Matthew Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo./Florida Panthers) contributed two goals and two assists, leading the U.S. Men’s National Team to a 7-3 win over Hungary today in their sixth preliminary round match of the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
“I believed we demonstrated excellent focus and a strong response today,” stated Don Granato, head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team. “We effectively got pucks to the net, which was a key point we discussed prior to the game.”
Justin Faulk (South St. Paul, Minn./Detroit Red Wings) initiated the scoring at 9:43, executing a one-timer from the point that went past the extended pad of Hungarian goaltender Adam Vay. Novak assisted on the goal.
HIGHLIGHTS
Tkachuk extended the U.S. lead with a power-play goal at 18:22, receiving a pass from Novak, moving out from behind the goal line, and sending the puck through Vay’s five-hole.
Ryan Leonard (Amherst, Mass./Washington Capitals) fired a shot through Vay from the slot following a faceoff win by Novak at 2:09 of the second period, increasing the U.S. lead to 3-0.
Faulk netted his second goal of the game at 7:52, launching a wrist shot over Vay’s right shoulder from the top of the slot after receiving passes from Tkachuk and Novak.
Hungary reduced its deficit to 4-1 at 10:19 when Csanad Erdely took advantage of a cross-crease pass, poking a shot past the blocker of U.S. goaltender Joseph Woll (St. Louis, Mo./Toronto Maple Leafs).
Leonard scored his second goal and Team USA’s third power-play goal at 18:13, blasting a one-timer from the left faceoff circle after assists from Faulk and Tkachuk, giving Team USA a 5-1 lead.
Erdely found the net again at 7:15 of the third period, deflecting a shot to narrow the U.S. lead to three.
Woll made a significant shorthanded save with 11:01 remaining, sliding across his crease to thwart a net-front chance.
Hungary came within two at 14:09, but Tkachuk sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 16:45, eliminating any chance of a Hungary comeback. Max Plante (Hermantown, Minn./University of Minnesota Duluth) scored his first of the tournament at 19:33, finalizing the score at 7-3.
Woll recorded 14 saves in the match to secure the win for the U.S.
Team USA will compete again tomorrow (May 26) in their final preliminary round game against Austria. The puck is scheduled to drop at 4:20 p.m. (10:20 a.m. ET), and the game will be broadcast live on NHL Network and streamed live on the NHL YouTube Channel. A victory in regulation will guarantee the U.S. a place in Thursday’s quarterfinal round of the tournament.
NOTES: Team USA converted 3-5 on the power play, while Hungary went 0-1 … The U.S. outshot Hungary, 46-17 … Justin Faulk, who recorded two goals and an assist, was named U.S. Player of the Game.
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