Party Like It's 1945: USA Takes Down Germany 6-3 At The World Juniors

Jordie12/27/2019 8:25 PM

Who: USA vs Germany

What: 2020 World Juniors Preliminary Round

When: 1pm EST

Where: Ostrava, Czech Republic

Why: Because we're about to go America all over their asses.

Betting Odds via Bovada:

The beautiful thing about this tournament is that it's so quick, you never have time to feel sorry for yourself. Does it suck an incredible amount of ass that USA couldn't pull out a win yesterday against Canada? Of course it does. The team completely fell apart in the 2nd period and then Alexis Lafreniere happened. But you have to move on right away because there's another game to play. And fortunately for the Americans, this is probably the easiest game they'll have all tournament.

That's not to say that this game against the Germans will be easy, though, because this is a team that I think will be able to surprise people this tournament. I still think that Germany is the weakest team in this group but they have some players for sure. The best of them being Moritz Seidel, who was the 6th overall pick in last year's draft to the Detroit Red Wings. Granted, pretty much the entire USA roster has already been drafted to the NHL and the Germans aren't nearly as deep as the Americans, but there are going to be moments during this game that Germany gets a little buzz going. So if Team USA comes out slow and let's the Germans hang around to build confidence? Well then you're going to be really sweating out that -4.5 puck line.

But if some guys who Team USA really needs to contribute offensively have a better game today than they did yesterday, well then I think they'll be fine for the full 60 minutes. Guys like Cole Caufield and Oliver Wahlstrom come to mind the most. Team USA also got pretty much nothing out of their defensemen yesterday against Canada. You need more from K'Andre Miller. You need more from Mattias Samuelsson. And quite frankly, you probably needed a little more out of Spencer Knight yesterday so Dustin Wolf is getting the start in cage.

So hopefully today's game is one of the very few games you get during this tournament to get everybody clicking and start to build some line chemistry. Either this game is a great tune up for Russia on the 29th, or Team USA comes out flat and get into a gutter war with the Germans. I mean we all know how Americans fare in trench warfare against Germany, but I'd much rather be able to actually kick my feet up and just enjoy this one.

Here's the lineup for today's game.

And with all that being said…the LIVE BLOG is officially activated. Make sure to follow along on Twitter (@BarstoolJordie) for real time highlights/updates. And then I'll have the blog updated between each period. Now we go, boys.

End of 1st: USA 2, Germany 1

Jesus Christ. Just like I talked about earlier, Team USA could either come out today pissed off about that Canada game and absolutely smoke the Germans. Or they could come out flat because they think they're better than they actually are, and it would end up being a dog fight. Turns out Team USA chose option 1 and after taking an early offensive zone period, Germany scores the first goal of the game.

I mean that's a filthy pass from Tim Stutzle (2020 Draft), but still. Germany can't be taking a 1-0 lead against one of the favorites to win this whole tournament. The good news is that it only took a few more minutes before USA woke up and it was Jordan Harris with the laser to tie the game.

Beautiful shot, slightly less than ideal celly. Doesn't matter though because it's back to being a 0-0 game. Hopefully those first few minutes were the worst hockey this team plays all tournament.

And then with just around 1:30 left in the 1st period, Trevor Zegras (ANA '19) delivered this extra spicy apple over to Zac Jones (NYR '19) for the go ahead goal.

Great way to grab the momentum right before the intermission. Now let's just hope for a better 2nd period than yesterday.

End of 2nd: USA 4, Germany 3

So here's a thought, and bear with me here okay? Maybe, juuuuuuust maybe, it would be ill advised for the Americans to take about a million penalties during this tournament. Because their penalty kill is absolute dog shit, and that's disrespectful to dog shit. In 5 periods of hockey so far, this team has given up 5 powerplay goals. And again, it was John Peterka on the PP.

And not only are the Germans scoring on the powerplay, but they're scoring 5v5 now as well. Team USA continues to suck ass in the 2nd period of games and this time it was Dominik Bokk (STL '18) giving the Germans the lead again.

I know this is a talented German team. I know they have a ton to prove at this tournament. But there's still no excuse for this. Just a terrible first 30 minutes today for Team USA. Yikes.

The good news is that Shane Pinto is on this roster and the Pinto Beans are aplenty. 3rd goal of the tournament for the Ottawa prospect and now we have a tie game again despite how shitty this team has played at times.

And the even BETTER news is that Trevor Zegras is on this team. 4 goals for the Americans so far today and Trevor Zegras has 4 primary assists. And this one right here was the dirtiest of them all.

A twister to Curtis Hall (BOS '18) and just like the end of the 1st period, Team USA grabs the lead right before intermission. It's been an ugly game so far but there are only 20 minutes left to hold on to this lead. Do the damn thing, boys.

3rd Period Updates: USA 6, Germany 3

Long at last, the greatest name in the tournament gets on the board. Bobby Brink (PHI '19) with the put away here and Team Pup n' Suds gets a little insurance here in the 3rd.

Filthiest goal of all time? You be the judge. It's clearly obvious here that the Philadelphia Flyers have found the next Mike Modano in Bobby Brink.

And speaking of dirty goals, Oliver Wahlstrom finally checked in to the 2020 World Juniors. This is the way this game should have looked from the first puck drop but better late than never, I guess.