Team USA Clean Sweeps the Preliminary Round; Prepares for Quarterfinals

Matt Coronato (New York, N.Y.) led the U.S. with two goals in a 3-2 win over Sweden here tonight at Rogers Place, securing the top seed from Group B preliminary round play at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Sweden got on the board with 8:22 remaining in the game, firing a shot through a net front scramble. Sweden went to the powerplay with under two minutes remaining, as they pulled their netminder in favor of a 6-on-4-man advantage. Sweden scored quickly, but as the final horn sounded through Rogers Place, the U.S. emerged as the top seed from Group B, holding a 4-0-0-0 record.

Mbereko stopped 28 of 30 shots for his third win in net of the tournament.

Absolutely rolling! #WorldJuniors 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/SJp3uYEfVk— USA Hockey (@usahockey) August 15, 2022

«We were moving our feet best in the third period and were really playing to our identity in that final period,» said Nate Leaman, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. «I thought we were a little tight to start the game but that's to be expected. It's better to get that out of the way before quarterfinals."

Back-to-back games and clinching the top spot in Group B earned the team a day off before it's all systems go for the QFs. #WorldJuniors 🇺🇸— USA Hockey (@usahockey) August 16, 2022

Team USA will face-off against Czechia in quarterfinals action Wednesday, Aug 17 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Team USA goes in the quarterfinals with an undefeated record and Czechia goes in a 0-1-0-3 record. Team USA should have no problem getting a win from Czechia and moving forward.