The United States trailed for the first time in the world junior hockey championship.
But the way they came back to beat Slovakia on Monday, Dec. 29, bodes well for their chances in the rest of the tournament.
The Americans were down 2-0 after one period against their toughest opponent so far. But they rallied and were tied 4-4 after two periods, took a 6-4 lead early in the third and held on for a wild 6-5 victory.
The USA (3-0) were playing without injured defenseman Cole Hutson, but they finally connected on the power play, 2025 tournament standout James Hagens scored his first two goals and Will Zellers picked up his fourth goal and third game-winner.
The Americans will face 3-0 Sweden on New Year’s Eve, with the winner capturing the Group A title. Hutson is day-to-day, so he potentially could be available after leaving Saturday’s game on a stretcher.
USA vs. Slovakia highlights
Up next for Team USA
The USA and Sweden (both 3-0) will face off on Wednesday, Dec. 31 (6 p.m. ET, NHL Network). The winner of that game will win Group A and face the fourth-place team in Group B. The loser would face the third-place team in Group B.
Players of the game
Adam Belusko (short-handed goal) is Slovakia’s player of the game. James Hagens is the U.S. player after he scored twice. Bill Guerin, general manager of the Minnesota Wild and the U.S. Olympic team, hands out the awards.
Final score: USA 6, Slovakia 5
The USA rallies from a 2-0 deficit after one period to improve to 3-0. Will Zellers’ goal that made it 6-4 ends up being the game-winner. It’s his third of the tournament.
Slovakia goalie out
USA ices the puck. There’s 45 seconds left.
Slovakia scores
Tomas Chrenko scores with 1:54 left to pull Slovakia within one goal. It’s his second goal of the night and fifth of the tournament. USA 6, Slovakia 5
Slovakia pulls goalie
Slovakia has an extra skater.
Huge save by Caleb Heil
Michal Svrcek has a wide-open net, but Heil reaches over and gets his blocker on it.
USA power play
Lukas Tomka is called for slashing. Slovakia kills it off. We’re midway through the third period.
Slovakia power play
AJ Spellacy is called for roughing. The USA kills it off.
USA goal survives review
Will Zellers puts in the puck on the doorstep after some pinpoint passing. His fourth goal of the tournament goes in off his skate, but it survives a review. USA 6, Slovakia 4
USA power play
Adam Goljer put the puck over the glass. Slovakia kills it off, but USA is on another power play as Adam Nemec is called for tripping.
James Hagens gives USA lead
The Bruins prospect scores his second goal of the game 18 seconds into the third period. The USA has its first lead of the game. USA 5, Slovakia 4.
Third period underway
4-4 tie.
End of second: USA 4, Slovakia 4
What a wild period. The USA entered down by two goals and tied it 3-3 and 4-4. The period featured a short-handed goal by each team, one Slovakia power play goal and the USA’s first man-advantage goal of the tournament. The USA outshot Slovakia 23-10 in the period.
James Hagens ties game
James Hagens scores from the slot with 44.1 seconds left in the second period to tie the game for the USA. It’s his first goal of the tournament. USA 4, Slovakia 4
Cole Eiserman robbed
Michal Pradel stops Cole Eiserman from in tight.
Slovakia retakes lead
MIchal Svrcek scores on a goalmouth scramble to give Slovakia the lead. Slovakia 4, USA 3
Slovakia power play
Chase Reid is called for roughing. A little bit of embellishment?
USA ties it up
Ryker Lee makes a perfectly placed shot over Michal Pradel’s shoulder to give the USA its first power-play goal and a tie game. USA 3, Slovakia 3
USA power play
Michal Capos is called for tripping. The USA starts its second unit and nearly puts one in, but it’s stopped on the goal line.
USA gets one back
Brendan McMorrow gets the goal on a rebound for his second point of the game. AJ Spellacy adds a secondary assist and also has two points. Slovakia 3, USA 2
Slovakia scores short-handed
Slovakia restores its two-goal lead after a USA turnover on the power play. Adam Belusko got a lot of speed on that short-handed shot. The USA gets some chances after but falls to 0-for-7 on the power play in the tournament. Slovakia 3, USA 1
USA power play
Slovakia is called for too many men on the ice. The USA has yet to score a power-play goal in the tournament.
USA gets short-handed goal
Big goal by the USA. The Americans block a shot and break down the ice. A.J. Spellacy reaches out and redirects a pass from Brendan McMorrow past Michal Pradel. The USA kills the rest of the penalty and was the more dangerous team. Slovakia 2, USA 1
Slovakia power play
LJ Mooney is called for interference. Slovakia already has scored on the power play.
Second period underway
The USA trails 2-0.
End of first: Slovakia 2, USA 0
The USA overcame adversity in their last game by winning after Cole Hutson left the ice on a stretcher. Now they’ll have to overcome adversity on the scoreboard as they trail for the first time in the tournament. They’re without Hutson again as he sits out from the Game 2 injury. The USA picked up play later in the period and trails 8-6 on shots.
Teddy Stiga chance
Stiga, who had last season’s golden goal, has a breakaway but goalie Michal Pradel forces him to shoot wide. The USA has only two shots so far.
Slovakia scores again
Tomas Chrenko scores on the power play from the left faceoff circle through a screen. It’s his fourth goal of the tournament. Slovakia 2, USA 0
Slovakia power play
Kamil Bednarik is called for holding.
Slovakia scores first
Tobias Pitka takes a drop pass from Tobias Tomik and beats Caleb Heil blocker side. This is the first time that the USA has trailed in the tournament. Slovakia 1, USA 0
Game underway
Goalie matchup is USA’s Caleb Heil vs. Slovakia’s Michal Pradel.
What channel is USA vs. Slovakia world juniors hockey game today?
TV channel: NHL Network
Livestream: Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers, or Sling TV.
Follow world junior championships on Fubo
What time is USA vs. Slovakia world juniors hockey game today?
Date: Monday, Dec. 29
Time: 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local time)
The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local time) at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the home of the Minnesota Wild.
World juniors USA vs Slovakia: How to watch, stream
Time: 6 p.m. ET on Monday, Dec. 29
Location: Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
TV: NHL Network
Streaming: Fubo and certain levels of Sling TV carry NHL Network.
Today’s world juniors hockey schedule
All times p.m. ET
Monday, Dec. 29
Sweden 8, Germany 1:. Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell, Flyers prospect Jack Berglund and draft-eligible Viggo Bjorck each scored twice as Sweden improved to 3-0. Germany’s Elias Pul tied the game in the first period on a 2-on-0 break but Sweden pulled away with four goals in the second period.
Czechia 2, Finland 1 (OT): Blues prospect Adam Jiricek scored 3:39 into overtime to give Czechia the win. He was alone in front and put his stick between his legs before shooting. Czechia opened the scoring on a five-minute power play after Finland’s Veeti Vaisanen was ejected for cross-checking. Emil Hemming tied the game with 20 seconds left to force overtime.
USA 6, Slovakia 5: The USA rallied from 2-0, 3-1 and 4-3 deficits to stay unbeaten. James Hagens tied the game 4-4 in the final minute of the second period, then put the USA ahead to stay 18 seconds into the third period. Will Zellers ended up with the game-winner, his third of the tournament.
Canada 9, Denmark1: Projected No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna had a hat trick to lead the rout. The win moved Canada ahead of Finland in Group B. Those teams play on Wednesday, Dec. 31. Denmark (0-3) will face Latvia on Dec. 30 and try to win to give it a chance to avoid playing in the relegation game.
USA vs. Slovakia history
This is the teams’ 21st meeting. The USA has won 15 times.
How world juniors standings work
Teams get three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime win, one for an overtime loss and zero for a regulation loss. Sweden has nine points. The USA would have nine if it beats Slovakia in regulation. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head competition so even if the Americans lose, they could win their group with a win against Sweden in regulation.
USA, Slovakia lineups
The USA is adjusting its defense pairings and first power play unit with Cole Hutson out.
Cole Hutson injury update
Team USA No. 1 defenseman Cole Hutson will sit out Monday’s game against Slovakia. He remains day-to-day after being hit in the head by a shot on Saturday and leaving the ice on a stretcher.
USA players to watch
Will Zellers leads the USA with three goals and four points. He has the winning goal in both of the USA’s first two games. Defenseman Adam Kleber has a plus-minus rating of +5, which ties him with Hutson.
Slovakia players to watch
Tomas Chrenko had a hat trick against Germany. Adam Nemec, whose older brother Simon plays for the New Jersey Devils, has two assists in the tournament.
World juniors 2026 predictions
Who will win gold, silver and bronze at this year’s tournament? Who will take home the individual awards? Here are predictions from The Hockey News staff.
