Upset alert: Slovakia stuns the United States to win first game at 2023 World Juniors
It was a lighter day on the schedule at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship with only two games being played. The first game of Day 3 saw the United States take on Slovakia in Moncton.
Just over two minutes into the opening period, Slovakia got the scoring started. Forward Libor Nemec jammed home the puck in front of American netminder Kaidan Mbereko to make it 1-0 Slovakia.
Libor Nemec crashes the net and pushes it over the line! Slovakia breaks the ice in Moncton! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/bIrAPFNhky TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2022
The United States tied up the game on the powerplay nearly two-and-a half minutes after Libor Nemec opened the scoring. Tyler Boucher potted the loose puck in to tie things up at 1-1. Slovakia challenged the call for goaltender interference, but it was unsuccessful and they were given a two-minute minor for delay of game.
Tyler Boucher finds the loose puck in front as the United States tie the game on the power play! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/IBZbJKMFRY TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2022
Just as Slovakia's penalty was ending, the United States added a second goal to make it 2-1. Montreal Canadiens prospect Lane Hutson threw the puck on net and it was tipped in by Gavin Brindley over the shoulder of Slovak goaltender Adam Gajan.
Gavin Brindley tips home the Lane Hutson point shot, as the United States take the lead! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/DvYtYWGvA9 TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2022
Half-way though the second period, Slovakia tied the game.. On the powerplay, 2023 projected top-ten pick Dalibor Dvorsky skated in from the point with the puck and blasted a shot past the blocker of Kaidan Mbereko to make it 2-2.
Dalibor Dvorskύ rips it home on the power play as Slovakia ties the game at 2! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/gbjvTfxPrb TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2022
The Slovaks then took the lead a couple of minutes later. After a nice passing play, Robert Baco used his speed on the outside, skated into the American zone and fired a shot short-side on Mbereko. 3-2 Slovakia.
Robert Baco finds some space short side! Slovakia has the lead 3-2! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/tJvt74XcVM TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2022
Slovakia extended their lead to two goals less than two minutes after Baco's goal. Montreal Canadiens prospect Filip Mesar threw the puck on net and it deflected off of Charlie Stramel and past Mbereko to make it 4-2 Slovakia. Mesar's tally gave Slovakia three-goals in only 3:19.
Robert Baco finds some space short side! Slovakia has the lead 3-2! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/tJvt74XcVM TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2022
After a quiet first-half of the third period, Slovakia found the back of the net once again. After a beautiful pass from the Slovak end, Peter Repcik was in on a breakaway. His shot went off the shinpad of Luke Hughes, off of Kaidan Mbereko and trickled into the American net. 5-2 Slovakia.
An aerial pass at one end leads to a breakaway goal from Peter Repcik! Slovakia pushes the lead to 3! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/dvm0jKikN3 TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2022
With under five minutes remaining, the United States brought things within two on the powerplay. Tyler Boucher picked up the rebound off of Adam Gajan's pad and put it in the open net for his second goal of the game.
Tyler Boucher finds the rebound and buries his second of the game! The Americans cut into the deficit with under 5 minutes to play #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/gtYL7hFZGX TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2022
Just over one minute left in the game, Slovakia added an empty netter. Jozef Kmec fired the puck down the ice from his own end and it made its way to the United States' net, making it 6-3 Slovakia.
Slovakia hits the empty net and they now lead 6-3! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/eA5NG6nnj5 TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2022
After playing yesterday and today, Slovakia will have Thursday off, before returning to action on Friday (Dec. 28th) against Latvia. Meanwhile, the United States will face the undefeated Swiss on Thursday night.
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Zachary Werenski | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| Sean Monahan | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Jesper Bratt | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Frederick Gaudreau | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Jack Hughes | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Nikita Kucherov | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Mackenzie Weegar | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Kent Johnson | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Alexander Wennberg | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Mitchell Chaffee | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Anthony Cirelli | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Matthew Coronato | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Marcus Foligno | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Nick Foligno | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Conor Geekie | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Brandon Hagel | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Stefan Noesen | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Corey Perry | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Igor Sharangovich | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Dmitry Voronkov | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 19 | 16 | 3 | - | 32 | |
Wild | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 29 | |
Hurricanes | 19 | 14 | 5 | - | 28 | |
Devils | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 28 | |
Capitals | 19 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 27 | |
Golden Knights | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Maple Leafs | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Rangers | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 25 | |
Panthers | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 25 | |
Flames | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 25 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||