USA rallies from 2-goal deficit to stun Canada at 2018 World Juniors

United States 4, Canada 3: What a finish! Team USA beat Canada in a World Juniors shootout for the second straight year thanks to goals from Kieffer Bellows and Brady Tkachuk. The Americans’ place in Group A suddenly looks a lot better despite the loss to Slovakia, and hopes of a run toward a second straight gold medal remain in check. From a 3-1 deficit to a 4-3 win, you really couldn’t ask for much more.

Canada 3, United States 3: Both teams had extended time in the offensive zone in overtime, but neither one could put away the game. As a result, just like the gold medal game a year ago, this one will be decided in a shootout.

Canada 3, United States 3: Midway through the five-minute overtime period, action was stopped so the teams could switch sides. There was also a lengthy break so the referees could evaluate some ice behind the net to make sure it was in fine condition. Here’s to guessing the players didn’t mind getting a few minutes to catch their breath.

Brady Tkachuk clearly appreciated getting to hear “Crazy Train.”

Canada 3, United States 3: We’re heading to a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime in the first-ever outdoor game in World Juniors history. The U.S. leads 32-19 in shots on goal at the end of regulation. Here’s your reminder that the last time these two teams played in the WJC, it was the 2017 gold medal final, which the Americans won in a shootout.

Canada 3, United States 3: Ouch. Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch.

Canada 3, United States 3: We’re closing in on the final five minutes of the game. It’s tied. It’s snowy. It’s pretty much everything you could ask for. And thanks to the IIHF, they’re providing a live stream of the end of the game on Facebook.

Canada 3, United States 3: And now we officially have a game. Brady Tkachuk, a top 2018 draft prospect, came through with a clutch goal to tie the game after another incredible pass from Casey Mittelstadt. He celebrated in proper fashion with a Jagr salute to the crowd.

The ice has tilted in the Americans’ direction much of the game at even strength, and now the momentum has swung in their direction with a pair of third-period goals. This is going to be a fun finish.

Canada 3, United States 2: U.S. forward Will Lockwood has left the game with an unknown injury after tripping and colliding into the boards.

Canada 3, United States 2: 2018 draft prospect Scott Perunovich found a soft spot in the defense on the power play to get the U.S. back into this game. The defenseman did a nice job stepping into the slot and made no mistake beating Carter Hart for his first goal of the tournament. Casey Mittelstadt earned his second assist of the game on the play, displaying the incredible hands that made him a top-10 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. Mittelstadt leads the Americans with five points.

Canada 3, United States 1: U.S. defenseman Ryan Lindgren, who has had a busy afternoon, got absolutely crushed against the boards by a highly questionable hit from Maxime Comtois that gave the U.S. a two-minute power play. It’s a little surprising that Comtois wasn’t handed a five-minute major for the play.

Canada 3, United States 1: Team USA took advantage of its 5-on-3 power play to get on the scoreboard, but the defensive lapse less than two minutes later allowed Canada to push its lead back to two goals entering the third period. It’s going to take an incredible 20-minute effort for the Americans to avoid a second consecutive loss in Buffalo.

Canada 3, United States 1: Canada wasted no time responding to the United States’ first goal of the game by extending its lead back to two. Jake Oettinger made a good play to stop the initial shot by Boris Katchouk, but he couldn’t regain his position before the puck bounced back out to Jake Bean, who flicked it on net. Katchouk was given credit for deflecting in the goal.

The play was reviewed after U.S. defenseman Ryan Lindgren reacted in frustration to the play, but it was upheld.

Canada 2, United States 1: A pair of Canada penalties gave the U.S. a 5-on-3 power play, and Islanders prospect Kieffer Bellows made them pay to cut the lead in half. The winger hesitated a little bit before launching an absolute rocket, and the timing allowed him to beat Carter Hart for the first time of the game. Bellows recorded two goals for Team USA in last year’s WJC, and now has three goals in this tournament.

Canada 2, United States 0: Neither side has been able to get much going in the second period. The snow is coming down pretty hard, and they’ve regularly needed to shovel it off the ice during breaks. The U.S. leads 9-3 in shots on goal for the second period, so the team is tilting things in the right direction, but it needs a goal to jumpstart the comeback.

Canada 2, United States 0: Team USA’s unsuccessful power play ended with Canada defenseman Victor Mete racing out of the box to get a breakaway chance on the other side of the ice. The Canadiens prospect kept it simple and got a shot on goal, but Jake Oettinger responded with the save to keep the deficit at two goals.

Canada 2, United States 0: That’s a wrap on the first period. Special teams has been the difference as the Canadians have capitalized on their chances with the man advantage, while the Americans have not. With that said, forward Will Lockwood drew a penalty seconds and hit a post with a shot just before the end of the period.

The U.S. will open the second period with 1:58 remaining on a power play.

Canada 2, United States 0: Another Canada power play, another Canada goal. This time it was team captain Dillon Dube firing one past Jake Oettinger after the U.S. defense started scrambling trying to retrieve the puck. This was an impressive shot from the Flames prospect, who has 18 goals in 27 games with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets this season. He’s definitely got some scoring potential at the NHL level.

Canada 1, United States 0: EPIC SNOW SHOVEL SLOMO SHOT.

Canada 1, United States 0: United States defenseman Ryan Lindgren draws a penalty on a big check from Jonah Gadjovich, giving the Americans their first power play of the game, but the team can’t match with a goal of its own to tie things up.

Oh, it’s also started to snow, by the way. That could add an interesting layer to the proceedings.

Canada 1, United States 0: Canada defenseman Cale Makar goes five hole with a power play snipe to get his first goal of the tournament and the early lead. Makar is one of the best offensive defenseman prospects in all of hockey, but USA netminder Jake Oettinger will want that one back. We’ll see if the Stars prospect can settle back in from here.

United States 0, Canada 0: Let’s just start by pointing the Americans’ Buffalo Bills-tastic uniforms. An obvious reference to playing in the team’s stadium, but hey, they actually look rather neat. Those are some clean goalie pads, too.

Also, here’s a look at how the stadium crew impressively transitioned the Bills’ stadium to host this hockey game.

The biggest game of the World Juniors will always be the final, but a historic matchup between the United States and Canada at New Era Field on Friday should be appointment viewing for fans around the world. These are two of the best teams in the tournament facing off in the first outdoor game in WJC history.

A frigid day in Buffalo will set the stage for what should be a thrilling rematch of last year’s gold medal game. The forecast includes a high of 17 degrees, so it’s going to be freezing cold. Expect to hear lots of references to “pond hockey” and how players grew up playing this way.

As for the actual hockey, Canada enters the game with a 2-0 record in the tournament. The Americans, however, are coming off a shocking 3-2 loss to Slovakia Thursday night but still look primed to make a run toward their second straight gold medal if they can get past Canada. The Canadians don’t have their usual star power but a deep, talented team will be a tough out no matter what.

For the U.S., key players include forwards Casey Mittelstadt, Brady Tkachuk, and Kailer Yamamoto, defensemen Quinn Hughes and Adam Fox, and goaltender Jake Oettinger. Tkachuk and Hughes are considered potential top-five picks for the 2018 NHL draft. Three players on Canada have two goals in two games (Jonah Gadjovich, Taylor Raddysh, Sam Steel), and defenseman Victor Mete leads the way with four assists.

Time: 3 p.m. ET

Location: New Era Field, Buffalo, N.Y.

TV: NHL Network (U.S.), TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5, RDS (Canada)

Live stream: TSNGO (Canada only, subscription required)