Team USA laid an egg in the first game of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, losing to Team Europe 3-0.
Team USA will essentially need to beat Team Canada, the tournament favorite, and Team Czech Republic in their final two games in order to advance to the second round of the tournament.
TEAM USA LINES:
Offense:
Parise-Pavelski-Wheeler;
JVR-Stepan-Kane;
Pacioretty-Kesler-Oshie;
Abdelkader-Dubinsky-Backes
Defense:
McDonagh-Niskanen;
Suter-Carlson;
Johnson & Johnson.
Goalie: Quick (vs. Halak).
FIRST PERIOD
Team Europe would grab an early lead on a 2-on-1 break-away goal by Marian Gaborik, just 4:19 into the contest.
The first period would end with Team Europe leading 1-0. Team USA led 6-5 in Shots on goal for the period.
SECOND PERIOD
Team Europe would stretch the lead to 2-0 on a goal by Leon Draisaitl at 4:02 of the second period.
Team USA would finally get on a the board with a power play goal by Derek Stepan at 14:10 of the second period, but upon further review, the goal was deemed illegal, directed in goal, and disallowed.
Team USA 🇺🇸 goal disallowed. #WCH2016 pic.twitter.com/84mwhg7jLu
— DucksNPucks (@DucksNPucks) September 17, 2016
Team Europe would stretch the lead to 3-0 on a goal by Pierre Edouard Bellemare at 18:32 of the second period.
The period would end with Team Europe leading 3-0. Team USA out-shot Team Europe 18-9 through two periods of play.
THIRD PERIOD
The third period would go scoreless, as Team Europe took the win, 3-0. Team USA next faces Team Canada on Tuesday night at 8:00 PM.
Other scenes from the game:
By Jon Sorensen
