After a slow start, the US managed to get up to speed. Captain Tkachuk directed the victory over Poland

On Friday evening, the Ostrava group saw a duel between Poland and the USA. The Poles managed to keep pace with their rivals only in the first period, after which the United States took the initiative and decided on their triumph. The key role was played by the visitors’ captain Brady Tkachuk, who had a 1+3 record.

Poland kept pace in the first act

The first period offered, to the surprise of many, balanced hockey. The Poles fiercely resisted their opponents, kept up with them and even scored the first goal. At the end of the third minute Wronka broke the net, but his shot was not recognized due to a previous offside after the coach’s challenge.

Poland was the better team in the first period and even got the advantage of three power plays, but after the sin, they failed to take advantage of them. They went to the booths in a scoreless tie. Despite six minutes of shorthanded time, the USA narrowly outshot their opponents 12:11, but the Polish team was more dangerous.

The turning point came in the second period

In the second period, the Americans shifted up a gear and it was immediately noticeable on the ice. The Poles came under pressure and a goal hung in the air for a long time. Ironically, it came after a sporadic foray forward by Poland, and after losing the puck, the United States went on a power play that was successfully finished by Kesselring.

That wasn’t all for the visitors in the second act. Brady Tkachuk made it 2:0 with less than a minute left. The Senators’ forward skated the puck behind goalie Murray’s back, but the referees, after reviewing the video, ruled his hit as a regulation.

If the first period was evenly matched in shots, in the second period the spectators were treated to a clear dominance of the Americans. After the second siren, they went into the booths with a 16:37 shot ratio, and were on their way to a full score.

The honorable goal did not start the turnaround

Moreover, the Poles did not enter the last period well, their goalkeeper Murray hesitated for a moment with a pass and the United States was able to take advantage of it. Brady Tkachuk passed the puck to the better-positioned Caufield, who finished a quick combination into a half-covered cage.

Poland would later get the honours. Grzegorz Pasiut and Wronka played an exemplary tandem and the former headed just over the concrete to the bar. The home team started to think about a reversal, but instead of scoring a contact goal, they capitulated for the fourth time.

Tkachuk’s attempt went through on goal after a goalmouth scramble, but Murray was only able to knock it ahead to a lone Caufield, who slid the puck comfortably past the Polish goalie.

That was it from both teams. Home goalie Murray made 53 saves in the game and was one of the best Polish players on the ice. On the other side, captain Brady Tkachuk was the key figure, recording a 1+3 record.

47. Pasiut – 31. Kesselring, 40. Tkachuk, 42. Caufield, 50. Caufield

Source: World Cup of Hockey 2024