USA beat Czechs to win bronze at worlds

The US team won the bronze medals at the ice hockey world championship after beating the Czech Republic 3-0 in Prague on Sunday.

Canada and defending champions Russia will play for gold later on Sunday.

Nick Bonino and Charlie Coyle had a goal and an assist each while goalie Connor Hellebuyck stopped all 39 shots by the Czechs for his second shutout at the tournament.

The US team packed with young talent allowed the Czechs to outshoot them, but they were far more efficient in the attacking zone, scoring three goals from just 16 shots.

Vancouver center Bonino opened the scoring on eight minutes with a rebound following two shots by Islanders forward Brock Nelson cleared by Winnipeg goalie Ondrej Pavelec in the Czech goal.

The USA went 2-0 ahead with two minutes left in the first period when Trevor Lewis tipped in a pass that found him alone in front of Pavelec.
Spurred on by the home crowd, the Czechs put the US under heavy pressure in the second period but they only managed to hit the crossbar.

The US punished them a minute before the second intermission as Minnesota wing Coyle made it 3-0 with a shot from between the faceoff circles.

Led by 43-year-old Florida Panthers veteran Jaromir Jagr, the Czechs kept pushing but were denied by Hellebuyck, who plays for St John's in the minor AHL league.

The USA won their first medal from the world championship since a 2013 bronze, while the Czechs, who have won the tournament six times in the past 20 years, will have to wait for their first medal since a bronze in 2012.

Defending champions Russia play Canada in the final later on Sunday.
Source: AFP