The United States opened group play of the 2022 World Junior Championships with a 3-2 win over Slovakia on Sunday, while Sweden beat Russia 6-3, meaning Sweden and the U.S. are tied atop Group B after Day 1 of competition.
MORE: Team USA’s performance at the 2022 World Juniors
Team USA jumped out to a 3-0 lead before giving up two goals in the third as Slovakia tried to mount a late comeback. Of note, nine different players for Team USA recorded points in the win, including Mackie Samoskevich, who scored the second goal and Matty Beniers who was one of two players to assist on the goal as well.
Beniers, one of the few returners on Team USA this season, totaled three points in seven games last year, as the United States won a gold medal.
MORE: Full World Juniors tournament guide for 2022
Group play continues during the week for the United States as they’ll take on Switzerland, which opens its tournament Monday against Russia. Due to the coronavirus pandemic last season, there was no relegation, but Switzerland finished last in Group A, going 0-4 with a -15 goal differential, second worst in the entire tournament.
The Swiss last played for a medal in 2019, when they lost the bronze medal game and finished fourth and last took home a medal when they won bronze in 1998. This year, Team Switzerland only has two NHL draftees on it, with the highest being fourh-rounder Brian Zanetti.
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