The United States opened its World Championship campaign with a commanding 7‑3 victory over Hungary in a high‑octane contest that saw a flurry of goals, power‑play efficiency and stellar goaltending.
Early Surge Sets the Tone
Ryan Leonard opened the scoring just 2:09 into the middle stanza, and Matthew Tkachuk doubled the lead at 18:22 with a power‑play marker that shifted momentum firmly in America’s favor.
Justin Faulk, who finished with two goals and an assist, added a second tally at 7:52 after a crisp feed from Tkachuk and Novak, while goaltender Joseph Woll turned aside 14 shots to preserve the lead.
Hungary Fights Back
Csanad Erdely trimmed the deficit with a goal at 10:19 and later halved the margin again at 7:15 of the third period, but the U.S. answered with a goal from Max Plante at 19:33 to seal the 7‑3 final.
Woll’s shorthanded save with 11:01 left and Tkachuk’s empty‑net marker at 16:45 underscored the Americans’ control, even as Hungary pulled within two at 14:09.
What’s Next for the U.S.
With a regulation win, the Americans lock up a quarterfinal berth and will next face Austria at 4:20 p.m., a matchup that will be streamed live on the NHL Network and its YouTube channel.