By @MichaelCaples –
Defense hasn’t been a problem for Team USA, that’s for sure.
At the 2018 IIHF Men’s World Championship, the Americans have followed up a shootout win over Canada with back-to-back shutouts.
After blanking Denmark 4-0 on Saturday, the U.S. just did the same to Germany today, posting a 3-0 victory.
Keith Kinkaid has been between the pipes for all three victories; the New Jersey Devils netminder has a 1.30 goals-against average and .954 save percentage with only four goals against so far this tournament.
In Monday’s victory over Germany, Farmington Hills native Alex DeBrincat scored his first goal of the tournament. The Blackhawks rookie buried a wraparound feed from fellow Chicago teammate Patrick Kane for the Americans’ final goal of the contest halfway through the third period.
Kaner to Debrincat 😳 @SixPointHawks pic.twitter.com/JhGAMrqNNB
— Six Point Sports (@SixPointSports) May 7, 2018
Here is how the Michigan names have performed through the first three games (in team roster numerical order):
Alex DeBrincat – Farmington Hills – Chicago Blackhawks
1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, +3 rating
Nick Jensen – St. Paul, Minn. – Detroit Red Wings
1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, +1 rating
Dylan Larkin – Waterford – Detroit Red Wings
2 goals, 0 assists, 2 points, +3 rating
Alec Martinez – Rochester – Los Angeles Kings
no scoring line, even plus/minus
Quinn Hughes – Orlando, Fla. – Michigan Wolverines
0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points, even plus/minus
Jordan Oesterle – Bloomfield Heights – Chicago Blackhawks
0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point, +3 rating
Team USA still has games with Latvia (Thursday), Korea (Friday), Norway (Sunday) and Finland (next Tuesday) before the quarterfinals begin on May 17.
Denmark highlights:
Germany highlights: