GOTHENBURG, Sweden – The U.S. National Junior Team is off to the semifinals after a comfortable 7-2 win against Latvia in the quarterfinal. Team USA is now guaranteed to play for a medal and will await the final result of tonight’s Sweden-Switzerland game for their semifinal opponent to be determined.

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The U.S. got the scoring started early once again as defensive defenseman Drew Fortescue (NYR) had his shot go through everyone to make it 1-0 just 1:31 into the game. 

Goals didn’t come as easy the rest of the period as it wasn’t until Seamus Casey (NJD) found Gabe Perreault (NYR) alone at the back door for a tap-in to double the lead.

The spot, by Seamus Casey ?
The goal, by Gabe Perreault ?

2-0 #TeamUSA#WorldJuniorspic.twitter.com/beDwVcwPTu

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) January 2, 2024

Latvia did manage to answer back as Dans Locmelis (BOS) kept the puck and wired a shot over Jacob Fowler (MTL) to make it 2-1. It only took 13 seconds for the American response, however, as Casey delivered a seeing-eye wrister through traffic that bounced off of Danny Nelson (NYI) and in to make it 3-1.

The U.S. did pick up three more goals in the second period including Will Smith (SJS) and Perreault setting each other up in the period. Captain Rutger McGroarty (WPG) also picked up his fourth goal over his last two games on a power-play tally set up by Isaac Howard (TBL).

Captain America ??
Rutger McGroarty (WPG) scored his 4th of the tournament 4 USA's 4th of the game ?#WorldJuniors #TeamUSA @umichhockeypic.twitter.com/g0OqF2Aujz

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) January 2, 2024

During a sleepy third period, Oliver Moore (CHI) scored to make it 7-1 and put the game further out of reach. Locmelis added one more goal on the power play to account for the 7-2 final.

Fowler made 23 saves in the game to pick up his third win of the tournament.

Through five games in the tournament, Team USA has scored 36 goals. The 29 goals they scored over the four preliminary-round games was a new high for an American team since the World Juniors was expanded to 10 teams in 1996. 

What We Learned From USA's Win Over Latvia In Quarterfinals

The BC Line Got Cooking

USA has been a scoring machine in this tournament, but this was one of the most impactful games played by the Boston College line of Will Smith (SJS), Gabe Perreault (NYR) and Ryan Leonard (WSH). The trio, which was dominant as U18s last year at the U18 Men's World Championship and has been this year at BC, hasn't been as effective for Team USA. But they had their breakout game and it comes at a particularly good time for the Americans.

The @BC_MHockey line does what they do and Will Smith gets the puck to shimmy JUST over the line to make it 5-1 #TeamUSA ??#WorldJuniorspic.twitter.com/fUuM0VlEO2

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) January 2, 2024

Perreault scored twice in the game and set up Smith for a two-on-one goal. Leonard was physically engaged and contributed points as well. They each did the things that make them effective in order to help Team USA get goals when they needed them.

Leonard had been the best player of the three to date, but getting Perreault and Smith going at the same time is pretty important. Those two can make offense appear out of nowhere, which is something that hadn't happened as consistently in the tournament before they got it going against Latvia.

Maybe it happened against a weaker opponent, but these are players that can get into a rhythm and it snowballs. That's been their track record. Now we'll see if it continues.

Team USA's Goaltending Situation Still In Flux

We had thought there could be some clarity in who the U.S. started in the game to see who was the true No. 1 of this team as it has been a back-and-forth between Jacob Fowler (MTL) and Trey Augustine (DET). Fowler got the start, however, and did what he had to do amid limited work.

Was USA just resting Augustine ahead of what would be back-to-back games in the semis and medal games? Or is Fowler the guy now? Head coach David Carle would not say after the game and we probably won't know who is starting until we see which of the two goalies leads Team USA out for warmups.

In two starts, Augustine has a .952 save percentage, while Fowler has an .889 save percentage through three starts. Either way, the U.S. has the benefit of two goalies they trust in any situation. My gut tells me Augustine will be the guy in the semifinal, but there is nothing set in stone there.

After the game, head coach David Carle said that the staff continues to evaluate the decision and that they are confident in both their goaltenders. He might know who will play, but he's certainly not sharing it with us.

Transition Defense Will Be Critical In Semis

USA's puck management was better against Latvia, which has been a common note from the coaching staff about an area for improvement. Another area where USA has wanted to see some improvement is in the ability to defend in transition and getting enough players above pucks in the neutral and defensive zones.

That wasn't really a big issue against Latvia, but there were a few instances, including on Latvia's lone goal, where Dans Locmelis managed to score on an odd-man break.

A lot of those transitions started with bad puck decisions at the offensive blue line and a few bodies too deep in the offensive zone. For the rest of the tournament, USA is going to play teams that are more dangerous in transition and will have to be more careful with how they take care of the puck at the offensive blue line. Every mistake gets maximized at this stage.

Stray Observations/Notes

• Jimmy Snuggerud (STL) was back in the lineup after sitting out a game with illness, but USA kept him down on the fourth line at least to start the game. I don't think this was for anything Snuggerud did or did not do, but between the pre-tournament games and the game against Slovakia, USA's top line has been more effective with Oliver Moore (CHI) on it. Moore's speed adds a big-time element to that line. Meanwhile, Snuggerud gave USA's fourth line a much more dangerous look, with four lines that look like a legitimate scoring threat. 
• Seamus Casey (NJD) had his best World Junior performance in the quarterfinal. He missed a game due to illness and has had some moments both good and bad in the tournament. Casey was impactful at both ends of the ice, making solid plays and defending at a high level. Casey had two assists in the first period, doing a good job both times of identifying opportunities to get pucks to the net. His pass to Gabe Perreault for the second goal was a beauty.

Key Stats

• For the first time in the tournament, USA was on the losing end at the faceoff dot, winning just 43% of their draws. Will Smith and Cutter Gauthier each won over 57% of their draws, however.
• Gabe Perreault (NYR) and Seamus Casey (NJD) each had three points in the game to lead all players.
• Niks Fenenko, Latvia's No. 1 defenseman, led all players with 30:39 of ice time, yet was only a minus-1 in the game. Incredible stuff.
• Lane Hutson (MTL) led all Team USA forwards with 24:00 of ice time and is averaging 23:03 of ice time through five games.
• Cutter Gauthier's shooting luck in this tournament has gone south. The frequent goal scorer has just one goal so far despite leading Team USA with 22 shots on goal. His 4.9% shooting percentage is way below normal, so if you're looking for a breakout player in subsequent games, it might be him.

How To Watch World Juniors Hockey on NHL Network In USA

In the United States, most games at the World Junior Championship and all of Team USA's games will air exclusively on NHL Network. Select games not televised by NHL Network will stream live on ESPN+.

2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships Semifinals

The semifinals begin on Jan. 4 with games starting at 6 a.m. EST and finishing at 1:30 p.m. 

• Relegation game, 5 a.m. ET (NHLN)
• Semifinal 1, 9 a.m. ET (NHLN)
• Semifinal 2, 1:30 p.m. ET (NHLN)

2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships Finals

The Bronze Medal Game of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships begins at 9 a.m. EST on Jan. 5. 

• Third-place game, 9 a.m. ET (NHLN)
• Championship game, 1:30 p.m. ET (NHLN)

2024 World Juniors TV Broadcast Information

The 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship is shown in several countries by broadcasters on TV and/or stream.

• Canada: TSN, RDS, TSN radio
• Czechia: Ceska TV, Czech radio
• Finland: Discovery
• Germany: Magenta Sport, Thinxpool
• Latvia: TV6, tv3.lv
• Norway: TV2
• Slovakia: JOJ
• Sweden: SVT, NENT/Viasat, Swedish radio
• Switzerland: MySports
• Ukraine: Xsport
• USA: NHL Network

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