TAMPERE, Finland — The United States beat the Czech Republic, 3-0, on Thursday to set up a semifinal game against Germany at the men’s hockey world championship.
Canada will face Latvia at Nokia Arena in the other semifinal on Saturday.
The Americans earned their eighth straight victory.
“This was a tough game and I’m really proud of our team and how we stuck to our game plan,” said US coach David Quinn, a native of Cranston, R.I. “There’s a real selflessness to our team and that’s been evident from the outset.”
Matt Coronato, who played for Harvard this past season before signing with the Calgary Flames in March, scored on a shot from the left circle that deflected off the skate of a Czech defenseman and into the net in the opening period for a 1-0 lead. The Czechs managed just two shots on goal in the period.
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Boston University’s Lane Hutson assisted on the goal, sending a shot in from the point that Coronato was able to track down on the rebound.
Nick Perbix doubled the advantage midway through the second with a shot into the roof of the net that beat goaltender Karel Vejmelka.
Boston College’s Cutter Gauthier completed the scoring in the third with his seventh goal of the tournament.
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— USA Hockey (@usahockey) May 25, 2023
Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith, who played at New Hampshire, made 15 saves for the shutout.
The quarterfinal was a rematch of last year’s bronze-medal game, which the Czechs won, 8-4.
In another quarterfinal in Tampere, Canada beat defending champion Finland, 4-1. In last year’s final, Finland beat the Canadians, 4-3, in overtime.
Jack Quinn, Samuel Blais and Michael Carcone scored for Canada before Finland pulled goaltender Emil Larmi for an extra attacker, leading to Teemu Hartikainen’s consolation goal with 3:08 left.
Only 50 seconds later, Canada captain Tyler Toffoli scored an empty-netter.
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In the Latvian capital of Riga, Germany upset Switzerland, 3-1, to reach the semifinals.
Jonas Siegenthaler answered Germany’s opening goal by Maximilian Kastner before John Peterka and Nico Sturm netted for the Germans.
Also in Riga, co-host Latvia followed suit by upsetting Sweden, 3-1.
UMass commit Dans Locmelis, who was drafted in the fourth round by the Bruins in 2022, scored for Latvia, as did Mick Indrasis and Janis Jaks. The Latvians beat Sweden for only the second time at the world championship and gave themselves a first chance to play for a medal.
Timothy Liljegren scored for Sweden.