Tomcikova shines but USA out scores Slovakia 5-0

Many of the Team USA members have played opposite Zuzana Tomcikova in the past. The stellar Slovakian who has frustrated the opposition a time or two was no different today as Slovakia was out shot 63-10 in the game. While the game ended with the USA winning 5-0, the contest got off to a slow start with each team traded infractions and killing the oppositions charge. A Molly Engstrom penalty resulted in Slovakias best chance of the period but left them searching. After the first period of action the scoreboard still read 0-0 with the Americans holding a 26-4 edge in shots.

In the second period Slovakian Petra Pravlikova took a quick tripping call less than a minute into the frame giving the USA their third power play of the game. Just 54 seconds after the power play expired, the USA finally broke onto the scoreboard. Molly Engstrom rifled a shot that Kendall Coyne tipped into the net for a 1-0 edge. Hilary Knight also tallied an assist on the score. With Slovakia looking to clear the zone a quick rush headed off by Jocelyne Lamoreux led to Josephine Pucci extending the USA lead to 2-0. The story in the second despite the goals was much like the first. A solid effort by Zuzana Tomcikova keeping her team in the game as Slovakia was badly out shot 14-2 in the period giving Tomcikova a 38-6 edge in saves on Brianne McLaughlin.

The National Champion Badgers opened up the third period for the USA in a hurry picking up two goals less than 20 seconds into the frame. Eleven seconds in Hilary Knight took a pass from teammate Brianna Decker to give the USA a 3-0 lead. Eight seconds later it was Meghan Duggan's turn to shine taking Julie Chu's faceoff in for a score. Just over seven minutes later it was Brianna Decker's turn completing the trifecta and giving team USA a 5-0 edge. In the third period the Americans held Slovakia to four shots while putting 23 of their own on net. While Tomcikova remained strong in net the lack of Offense kept Slovakia from battling back against the top seeded and much stronger USA team.

Both teams return to the ice tomorrow as Slovakia takes on Sweden while the USA battles Russia.

Box Score (IIHF)