USA, Kinkaid Blank Denmark 4-0

Team USA continued their winning ways at the 2018 World Championships by defeating Denmark in front of their home fans 4-0 at the Jyske Bank Boxen at Herning.

First though, some housekeeping from the earlier Swiss game. I neglected to mention Sven Andrighetto getting a match penalty for kneeing an Austrian player. The player was taken out on a stretcher at the 12 minute mark of the second period.

Now on to the USA-Denmark game. Keith Kinkaid, who had been named the US player of the game in their shootout win over Canada, had another strong game today. The Americans outshot the Danes 43 to 20 and Kinkaid was equal to all 20 he faced. Denmark’s Frederik Andersen made 39 saves.

Besides Kinkaid, the Devils were well represented. Will Butcher got the scoring started at 16:06 off a feed from Johnny Gaudreau. That made it 1-0 at the end of the first period.

By the end of the second, it was 3-0 USA. Chris Kreider scored just 2:42 into the frame from Derek Ryan and Quinn Hughes. Just over six minutes later at 9:14, Cam Atkinson scored from Kreider (who was named the Americans’ player of the game) and Nick Jensen.

Jensen would top off the 4-0 scoreline with a little less than six minutes remaining in the game when he scored from Butcher and Patrick Kane.

Butcher ended the game with a goal and an assist for two points, three shots on goal and a plus-2 plus/minus rating in 19:28 of ice time over 29 shifts. Blake Coleman took a slashing penalty in the second period and had five shots on goal in 15:41 of ice time spread over 17 shifts. Brian Gibbons was assessed a tripping penalty in the second period and had a shot on goal over 9:26 TOI spread over 14 shifts.

So with that, the US occupies first place in Group B with five points over two games and a 9-4 goal differential. The Americans next take on Germany on May 7. The Germans had a good showing at the Olympics in February, taking home the silver medal so this should be a good test for Kinkaid and the Americans.