Czech Republic – USA 0:3, the end of the hockey team at the 2023 World Hockey Championship

The Americans remained the only undefeated team at the championship and on Saturday they will be fighting for the first promotion to the finals since 1960, when the results of the Olympic tournament in Squaw Valley, where the USA celebrated gold, were included in the World Cup.

Coach David Quinn’s team avenged last year’s defeat to the Czech team from Nokia Arena in the duel for third place, in which the Americans led 3:1 and lost 4:8. It was the first medal for the Czech team at a major event in ten years since winning bronze in 2012 at the championships in Stockholm and Helsinki.

In a cautious start, the game was played without chances on both sides. Vejmelka was checked from the blue line by Mackey. In the 6th minute, after combining with Sobotka and Červenka, Kubalík, the best scorer and the most productive player of the tournament, got to the puck, but he did not shoot DeSmith from the left circle. The Czechs did not let the opponent in front of the goal for a long time to finish, and the attempts of O’Connor and Coronata could not threaten Vejmelka.

When Samberg was expelled, the Americans defended themselves, the Czech team didn’t even have a chance and took the lead at 12:04. They were able to put the opponent under pressure for a longer period of time, and after Hutson’s shot, Coronato got the puck, who scored from a spin from the left circle on Jordan’s skate.

Then he didn’t get past Kempné for a better finish in front of the open O’Connor goal. Vejmelka also dealt with Alex Tuch’s shot and then covered the puck in front of the arriving Grimaldi.

The opening act was dominated by the Americans on shots on goal in a ratio of 11:2, but Jalonen’s selection entered the second part more actively. Smejkal checked DeSmith with a backhand, a moment later the same player headed wide from a corner kick and Zbořil had the best chance, who was alone between the circles, but could not beat the Pittsburgh goalkeeper.

Vejmelka covered Brown’s attempt, while DeSmith was checked by Zboril and Špaček. Then the Czech team had a great chance, but Fleko’s pass to Beránek was not accurate. In the 29th minute, the Americans rejoiced again. Perbix hit the top corner of Vejmelk’s goal with a wrist shot from the right guard.

The Czech team resisted in a weakened state at the penalty of Kempné, who could have escaped after returning to the ice, but Perunovich caught the puck. Vejmelka managed a series of shots, including Alex Tuch’s attempt from the right circle. In the 39th minute, Špaček first offered the puck to Tomášek for a finish, and then crashed himself on DeSmith’s left concrete during the finish. Before the second intermission, the Americans again increased their scoring advantage in the game, but the score did not change.

In the final part, coach Jalonen mixed up the formation of three attacks and Radim Zohorna moved into the first formation alongside Kubalík and Červenka. Červenka immediately broke into a chance, but DeSmith made the save. With Farrell’s expulsion, however, the Americans did not let the Czech team have an opportunity again. Quinn’s team threatened with shots from Mazur and Coronata.

In the 50th minute, the opponent secured the lead. Tynan in the right circle won the throw-in for Gauthier, who with his seventh hit of the tournament came within a goal of top scorer Kubalík. Jalonen already reached for a power play three and a half minutes before the end, but his team could not make a breakthrough.