In a thrilling matchup that ended in a four-score blowout in the third period, USA handed Czechia its first loss of the IIHF World Championship with a 5-2 win on Tuesday.  
Czechia entered the matchup having outscored its opponents 33-9 and remained undefeated, while USA had conceded one game thus far. 
The tension of the game was thick from the beginning and described just how determined both teams were to finish out the preliminary rounds with a victory.    
USA didn’t hesitate to get on the board first, as Josh Doan scored the lone goal for both teams in the first period. Czechia immediately answered at the top of the second period with a goal from David Pastrnak, eventually pushing itself into the lead thanks to Martin Necas. 
At a 2-1 deficit heading into the final period, USA found a surge of energy kickstarted by 21-year-old Frank Nazar. The young Chicago Blackhawks center slammed two consecutive goals, and teammates Logan Cooley and Andrew Peeke followed suit with a score each. 
Czechia’s chance at a comeback was far out of reach with Peeke’s final goal with three minutes left in the game, and USA will now look ahead to the IIHF World Championship Quarterfinals beginning on Thursday, May 22.
Below is a replay of the USA vs. Czechia Hockey live blog: 
Refresh regularly to see the latest updates below. The newest updates will be at the top.
USA officially becomes the first team of the tournament to beat Czechia with a third-period surge to propel it to a 5-2 win. Now, it’s onto the quarterfinals. 
Forward Andrew Peeke took a long shot without Czechia goalkeeper Karel Vejmelka there to defend it, and the puck floated into the open net, extending USA’s lead once more.   
After getting his swollen lip fixed up from earlier, forward Logan Cooley takes a shot of his own and gives USA a two-goal advantage.  
Making his second consecutive goal of the third period, Frank Nazar takes USA back into the lead.   
Forward Frank Nazar slams the tying goal for USA to kick start the third period in an electric fashion. 
Nazar gets a peice of it 🚨 #MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/bClMjdXQp3
Seven more penalties later, and there is no action to show for the ongoing physicality by both teams. Czechia remains ahead as USA continues to take any opportunity it can get to tie things back up. 
Although neither team has scored for over eight minutes, USA has currently outshot Czechia 36-16 in this matchup. Blood has been drawn from USA’s Logan Cooley following an altercation with Jakub Krejcik, and he will be sent to the penalty box. 
Forward Martin Necas slides in with a backdoor shot for Czechia to put his team in front, with David Pastrnak swooping in with the assist.   
Czechia wastes no time in the start of the second period, and forward David Pastrnak snags a turnover and floats to the USA goal for a straight shot into the net.  
Czechia accumulated four penalties, while USA claimed three for a total of seven penalties in the first period. But things are just getting started between the two, as Czechia has not trailed a game since its first preliminary game against Switzerland and will surely look to erase USA’s lead.   
With less than two minutes to go in the first period, Czechia has yet to drive into the net. USA goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman has blocked multiple attempts, but USA as a whole looks determined to defend the zone. 
USA strikes first thanks to forward Josh Doan with a backhand score. Doan just completed his first year in the NHL with the Utah Mammoth.  
Doan puttin’ in work 😤 #MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/vmgvTffiNh
The physicality has already been prevalent in this game, with Conor Garland and Michael McCarron from USA heating things up. USA’s Mikey Eyssimont and Czechia’s Daniel Vozenilek were both sent to the penalty box for roughing. 
Forwards
Defensemen
Goalies
U.S. vs. Czechia on deck 👀#MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/5FCPTF2p1e
Forwards
Defensemen
Goalies
There are 16 total teams competing in the IIHF World Championship, which have been split into two groups, Group A and Group B. Group A plays in Stockholm, Sweden at the Avicii Arena and Group B plays in Herning, Denmark’s Jyske Bank Boxen. 
Tuesday, May 20 – Preliminary Round
Thursday, May 22 – Quarterfinal Round
Saturday, May 24 – Semifinal Round
Sunday, May 25 – Championship
USA vs. Czechia will face off on Tuesday, May 20 at 10:20 a.m. ET.  
USA vs. Czechia is set in Herning, Denmark at the Jyske Bank Boxen.  
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