USA Wins Bronze After Stopping Canada 4-1

The United States of America have won bronze for the eighth time in tournament history, defeating their Canadian rivals 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at the 2018 World Hockey Championships in Denmark.

The United States hasn't had much success over the years at this tournament, having won just two gold medals in 70 years. They came into the tournament with seven bronze medals, last winning in 2015, as well as two years before that. Canada, however, shrugged off a five-year drought of no medals by winning gold two of the past three years, losing in a shootout last year to Sweden to win the silver.

Canada didn't look very interested in the early stages of the game, taking four penalties in the first 25 minutes and not generating many scoring chances. The Americans made Curtis McElhinney work for his saves but at the 26-minute mark, Chris Kreider took advantage of the puck bouncing off of both of Connor McDavid's skates, skating towards the net before making a quick forehand, backhand deke, placing the puck past McElhinney's left pad to make it 1-0.

With just over a minute to go in the second period, Canada scored to tie the game up at one. Nick Jensen of the United States had a great scoring chance at one end, just hitting the side of the net on a play that looked nearly like a sure goal. Then, Kyle Turris went the other way with the puck, skating into the zone before making a quick chip pass to Bo Horvat. Horvat found Marc-Edouard Vlasic streaking in, with Vlasic using his momentum to skate in and shoot five-hole on Keith Kinkaid despite challenges in front and behind him, closing the game between the two teams heading into the third period.

McElhinney, Canada's backup goalie for the majority of the tournament, made many big stops in Canada's best goaltending effort of the tournament. Nick Bonino scored at 13:21 on the power play after Patrick Kane's shot from the point would bounce off a few players in front before landing on Bonino's stick. Bonino would move slightly to the left of the net before scooping it over McElhinney, giving USA a 2-1 lead with under seven minutes left to play in the third.

Kane's assist was a big one for the Chicago Blackhawks star, with his 20 points putting him tied for most points scored since 1978, tying him with former Team Canada forward Dany Heatley. Heading into the final, Kane's closest competitor that can still catch him is Rickard Rakell, who has 14 points heading into the gold medal game. 

Kreider and Anders Lee would both score on the empty net late in the game to set the stage for the final score, giving the Americans the 4-1 victory and the bronze medal at the 2018 World Hockey Championships.

The American roster is regarded by some as one of the best teams the United States have brought to this tournament. The Americans haven't won the tournament since 1960, but have won bronze three times in the last six years.

With the loss, Canada's medal streak will end after three years, losing twice to the Americans in this tournament.

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Photo from Martin Rose/Getty Images Europe

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