Keller Scores Hat-Trick as USA’s Dominates Denmark

The United States have won their first game of the 2017 World Hockey Championships with a 7-2 decision over Denmark.

Fresh off of a loss to the Germans on Friday, the Americans wanted to get a goal early to try and suppress their opponents. That worked out perfectly with a goal just five minutes in. With the man advantage, Anders Lee touched the puck last after a scramble in front, an opportunity that saw Johnny Gaudreau and Dylan Larkin also whack at it in close, giving USA the 1-0 lead.

Then, at 13:06, USA's fourth line got on the board. This time, Arizona Coyotes youngster Clayton Keller, who had 11 points in seven games with the gold medal World Junior team earlier this year, snuck a shot between Sebastian Dahm's legs and in to make it 2-0.

Denmark, however, was able to get on the board. While on the power play, Winnipeg Jets star Nikolaj Ehlers took a shot from far out that was stopped by Connor Hellebuyck. The puck would bounce on to the stick of Morten Madsen, who knocked it in for Denmark's first goal of the tournament.

Just when Denmark thought they had a bit of momentum, they allowed another goal. The Americans would score their second power play goal of the battle after Johnny Gaudreau after tipping in Dylan Larkin's wrist shot, giving USA the 3-1 lead after 20 minutes of play.

Denmark knew that after a 17-7 shot difference in the first period, they needed to get back in the race. Not even two minutes into the second, Nicholas Hardt tapped in a pass from Julien Jakobsen at the doorstep, putting them within one.

The Americans would steal their two goal lead back, though. At 14:33 in the second, Keller grabbed his second goal of the night after rushing into the zone and protecting the puck with ease. He then went on to deke out Dahm, who failed to deploy a poke check, and beat the right pad of the Danish netminder to make it 4-2 for the Americans.

USA would take a 6-2 lead into the second intermission. This time, Lee would become the second player to pick up his second of the day, scoring on the power play again at 37:09. Then, on the next scoring chance, Jesper B. Jensen gave the puck away to Nick Schmaltz, who found Brock Nelson at the side of the net. Schmaltz waited long enough to out-skate a diving Danish defender and passed it out to Nelson, who tapped it in to make it 6-2 after 40 minutes of play. Keller would add a third goal late in the third to give USA the 7-2 victory, their first of the tournament.

With the win, USA will focus their attention to Sweden on Monday, a 20:15 local start time. Denmark is in a must-win situation if they want to avoid relegation when they meet up with Slovakia on Tuesday night.

Follow me on Twitter, @StevenEllisNHL.

Tweets by @eurohockey