Young Bruins forward Frank Vatrano and Team USA did a solid job of jettisoning David Pastrnak and the Czech Republic in Thursday’s quarterfinals at the IIHF World Championships with a 2-1 shootout win, and now will set their sights on doing the same to Brad Marchand and Team Canada this weekend in a big semifinal match.
Team USA will face Team Canada in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon (1 p.m.) all the way from Russia with the game to be broadcast live locally on CSN New England. Vatrano is just one of several locals on Team USA with Canadiens goaltender Mike Condon, New Jersey Devils defenseman David Warsofsky, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Noah Hanifin and a few Boston College products in Steve Santini, Thatcher Demko and Miles Wood all representing the “617” on the USA Hockey roster.
Vatrano had the primary assist on Auston Matthews’ nifty net rush in the second period that registered as the only goal in regulation for the Americans in Thursday’s tilt, and Matthews scored again in the shootout to finish off the upset win over the Czechs. An impressive Finland crew and host country Russia will face off in the other semi-final prior to Sunday’s championship game against the winner of USA/Canada.
Vatrano has a goal and six points in eight games at the world championships along with a plus-4 rating, and is third on the team with 24 shots on net ranking just behind only Dylan Larkin and Matthews on the US roster. Marchand has three goals and five points along with a plus-6 rating in eight games for Team Canada, who will be considered heavy favorites over a very young Team USA roster that counts only Nick Foligno, Matt Hendricks and Patrick Maroon as veteran NHL players on the roster.