Nick Foligno (C) celebrates with Patrick Maroon (L) and Jake McCabe (R) after scoring a third-period goal during against Hungary at the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship on May 13, 2016 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Nick Foligno scored two goals to help Team USA to a 5-1 victory over Hungary Friday, further solidifying its spot among the top four teams in Group B at the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The Hungarians entered the match winless and outscored by a 20-4 margin, but sterling play in the pipes by Adam Vay and excellent penalty killing kept the Americans off the scoreboard in the first period. Despite building a 15-1 advantage in shots the U.S. was frustrated by Vay’s effort and an inability to capitalize on a 5-on-3 situation when Hungary was whistled for two minors. It was the second time in as many games that the Hungarians successfully killed a 5-on-3, having done so against Finland Wednesday.
Foligno finally broke through the Hungarian defense with a power-play goal at 24:37. As Hungary broke out seeking a short-handed goal, Noah Hanifin poked the puck away to Chris Wideman, who delivered a perfect pass to a streaking Foligno, and the Columbus Blue Jackets forward beat Vay to give the U.S. the lead. Vince Hinostroza doubled the advantage 18 seconds later with a shot from the right spot. Dylan Larkin made it 3-0 at 34:12, launching the puck from behind the left-side goal line and bouncing it off the back of Vay’s leg for the score.
Foligno earned his second goal of the game at 52:07, pilfering the puck near the blue line and snapping a quick shot over Vay’s blocker for a 4-0 lead. Connor Murphy drove a long shot from the right point past Vay at 55:20 and the U.S. led 5-0.
Istvan Sofron spoiled Keith Kinkaid’s bid for a shutout with a power play goal at 57:59 on Hungary’s eighth shot attempt. That shot also helped the Hungarians avoid tying a record teams would not want to match: least number of shots in a world championship game. That ignominious standard is seven, by Switzerland in 1992 and Slovakia in 2003. The United States outshot their foes 37-8.
After a day of rest, the U.S. returns to the ice Sunday at 9:15 a.m. ET to face Germany, which carries a 1-3 record into its game against Belarus Friday night. The Americans conclude group play against Slovakia Tuesday. The tournament quarterfinal round opens Thursday in St. Petersburg and Moscow, where the Czech Republic has found itself atop Group A with host Russia sitting second.