MLive’s Ansar Khan previews the World Championship Quarterfinals, which will take place on Thursday morning and afternoon:
The United States, with Dylan Larkin and Nick Jensen, faces the Czech Republic, with Filip Hronek and Libor Sulak in Herning, Denmark (10:15 a.m. ET, NHL Network).
Larkin has three goals, five assists, a plus-4 rating and 18 shots on goal in seven games. He is averaging 19:48 in ice time, which leads U.S. forwards.
Jensen has one goal and three assists, along with a plus-2 rating and eight shots on goal. He is averaging 15:57 in ice time.
The U.S. (4-2-0-1, W-OTW-OTL-L), coached the Red Wings’ Jeff Blashill, won its first six games before losing 6-2 to Group B winner Finland on Tuesday. The Americans’ run in this event last year ended with a 2-0 quarterfinal loss to Finland. The Czechs are 3-3-0-1.
Sulak has one goal and two assists, along with a team-leading 20 shots on goal and plus-1 rating in 17:37 of ice time per game. Hronek has one goal and one assist, along with 12 shots on goal and a plus-1 rating while averaging 15:27.
Continued; Gustav Nyquist and Sweden will battle Latvia at 2:15 PM on Thursday as well.
Update: Team USA’s website posted a practice update ahead of tomorrow’s Quarterfinal match-up against the Czech Republic, which takes place at 10:15 AM (on the NHL Network):
