For the second straight year, the U.S. will meet Russia in the quarterfinals of the IIHF World Junior Championship. Opening faceoff today is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game can be seen live in the U.S. on NHL Network and streamed live on NHL.com.
Thatcher Demko, who was the U.S. Player of the Game on New Year’s Eve vs. Canada after making 40 saves in a 5-3 loss (two empty-net goals), will start in goal for Team USA today. He is third in the World Juniors in goals against average (1.31) and save percentage (.955).
Dylan Larkin of Team USA leads the World Juniors with five goals and is tied for second in the tournament in points with seven.
The winner of today’s game advances will play either Finland or Sweden in the semifinals in Toronto on Jan. 4.
By USAHockey.com
