Keith Kinkaid was back in net for Team USA in a Friday the 13th tilt at the 2016 IIHF World Championship and he was right on target despite some light work. He made just seven saves on only eight shots faced as the US defeated Hungary 5-1.
The Americans got a power play goal from Nick Foligno (assists to Chris Wideman and Noah Hanifin), and even strength goals from Vince Hinostroza (assist to Hudson Fasching), Dylan Larkin (from Jake McCabe and Connor Murphy), another from Foligno (unassisted) and Connor Murphy (from Foligno and Patrick Maroon).
The lone Hungarian goal came after Kinkaid’s Devils teammate Miles Wood took a slashing penalty, setting up a power play for Hungary with about three minutes left in the game. Istvan Sofron scored exactly one minute into the power play (assists to Istvan Bartalis and Andrew Saraurer).
Stat lines for Devils skaters in the game saw Steve Santini with two shots on goal in 10:38 of ice time; Miles Wood with three shots on goal and two penalty minutes in 11:24 of ice time; and David Warsofsky, who in 17:24 of ice time was a plus-2.
The Americans next face Germany on Sunday. The Germans have only fared a little bit better than the Hungarians (Hungary has yet to win a game in the tournament, while Germany has one win in the preliminary round), but should still present a challenge for John Hynes’ team.
In other news, the NHL’s Western Conference Final is set and will have a bit of a Devils flavor this year. With the San Jose Sharks taking on the St. Louis Blues with the chance to represent the West in the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals, it will be a battle of Pete DeBoer (San Jose) against Martin Brodeur (St. Louis).
DeBoer coached the Devils for parts of about four seasons and took them to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. He is now the head coach of the Sharks.
Marty is, of course, a three time Stanley Cup winner as the Devils goaltender and arguably the greatest player in franchise history (if not the best goaltender in NHL history). He now serves as the assistant general manager for the Blues. He was coached by DeBoer for three seasons with New Jersey.
Good luck to both men as they seek a first-time Stanley Cup for San Jose and St. Louis.