The U.S. got on the board just 41 seconds after killing off a Germany power play midway through the opening period. Brady Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo./Ottawa Senators) won a puck battle behind the net before circling a pass up to a waiting Kesselring at the point. Kesselring ripped a shot that Tkachuk deflected at the top of the crease and into the back of the net. 

Matt Boldy (Mills, Mass./Minnesota Wild) was robbed with 3:18 remaining in the opening period, after a bouncing puck at the top of the crease was lifted into the outstretched glove of Mathis Niederberger. 

Kesselring doubled the U.S. lead with under three minutes to go in the first. Brock Nelson (Warroad, Minn./New York Islanders) corralled a breakout pass in the neutral zone and carried the puck through to create a 2-on-1 opportunity. A short pass to Kesselring in the high slot allowed him the space to deke the goaltender and slide the puck in the back of the net.  

After an injury to goaltender Alex Lyon (Baudette, Minn./Detroit Red Wings) 3:27 into the second, Trey Augustine (South Lyon, Mich./Michigan State University) entered the game for Team USA. Shortly after, a clearing pass up the boards set Germany’s Yasin Ehliz into the zone alone and Augustine kicked his shot aside to maintain the 2-0 USA advantage.  

Johnny Gaudreau (Salem, N.H./Columbus Blue Jackets) scored 23 seconds into a U.S. power play at 12:23 to put Team USA ahead, 3-0. During a scramble close to the net, Gaudreau, who was waiting at the far post, roofed a Boldy chip in from short range. 

GAME PHOTOS

Germany cut the lead to 3-1 with 5:56 remaining in the second when Ehliz poked the puck into the back of the net after a scramble in front. 

With three seconds remaining in the period, Luke Hughes (Canton, Mich./New Jersey Devils) notched the fourth U.S. goal of the game. After a long rebound off a Cole Caufield (Stevens Point, Wis./Montreal Canadiens) shot kicked out wide to Hughes at the top of the left faceoff circle, Hughes launched a wrist shot high on the blocker side to extend Team USA’s lead heading into the final period.    

Midway through the third, Trevor Zegras (Bedford, N.Y./Anaheim Ducks) opened a 5-1 lead for the U.S. sending home the team’s second power-play goal of the game. Shane Pinto (Franklin Square, N.Y./Ottawa Senators) drew the Germany defense, allowing Zegras to position himself wide open just inside the right hash, where he lifted the puck into the back of the net.

Mikey Eyssimont (Littleton, Colo./Tampa Bay Lightning) cleaned up a waiting puck on the goal line for Team USA’s sixth and final goal of the game with 7:32 remaining in the third.  

Next up, Team USA will face Slovakia on Monday (May 13) in its third preliminary round game. Puck drop is set for 4:20 p.m. local time/10:20 a.m. ET and can be viewed live on NHL Network.  

NOTES: Brady Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.) was named Team USA’s Player of the Game ... The U.S. outshot Germany, 43-26 ... Team USA was 2-3 on the power play, while Germany was 0-1. 

HIGHLIGHTS