Isaac Howard (TBL) and Rutger McGroarty (WPG) led Team USA to a series of victories in the World Juniors hockey tournament. Howard was pivotal in the win against Slovakia, scoring a goal and securing the game-winner in a shootout. McGroarty also made significant contributions, including a wraparound goal against Slovakia for his first of the tournament and a hat-trick in a subsequent game. Howard continued his impressive performance with two more goals in a big win over Slovakia and played a key role with a primary assist in a match against Latvia. Team USA defeated Latvia 7-2, advancing to the semifinals where they faced Finland. Howard, who has scored in four of the five contests and is tied for the second-most goals in the tournament, was a crucial player for the U.S. as they aimed for a spot in the Gold Medal Game. Ultimately, Team USA triumphed over Sweden 6-2 to secure another gold medal, with Howard scoring two goals, including the game-winner, and finishing as the tournament's leading goal scorer with seven goals. Gabe Perreault (NYR) and Will Smith (SJS) also contributed to the team's success with key plays and assists.
Congratulations to @usahockey on another gold medal at the World Juniors, defeat Sweden 6-2. Isaac Howard with two goals today, including the game winner, finishes with tournament-leading 7 goals #GoBolts
Isaac Howard scores his 2nd of the game to give Team USA a 2 goal lead! #WorldJuniors https://t.co/BISTYhyDEu
Isaac Howard (TBL) tries to pass, scores instead. It's 3-1 USA.
Isaac Howard with a sweet move.🍬 @usahockey back in the lead.🇺🇸 #WorldJuniors #USASWE https://t.co/5Q9mh89c9X
USA GOAL An incredible pass by Drew Fortescue sets up this Isaac Howard goal to give Team USA the lead! #WorldJuniors https://t.co/tBAwk4NfhR
Isaac Howard takes the lead back! 2-1 🇺🇸 @usahockey | #WorldJuniors
Gabe Perreault scores thd first goal for Team USA. Will Smith tallied the assist 1-0
Will Smith (SJS) with a slap-pass to Gabe Perreault (NYR) on a delayed penalty and USA has the first goal of the game with 3:04 left in the first period. 1-0. Crowd quiets. #NYR #SJSharks #WorldJuniors
Gabe Perreault (NYR) scores on a delayed penalty on a spectacular play between Rutger McGroarty (WPG) who went cross-ice to Will Smith (SJS) and he slap-passed to Perreault. 1-0 USA.
Isaac Howard has pointed in all five of Team USA's games at #WorldJuniors with goals in four of the five contests. The U.S. will be counting on his offense today at 1:30 p.m. ET vs. Finland with a spot in the Gold Medal Game on the line. 📺: NHL Network. https://t.co/A7pz0zze0k
Isaac Howard has pointed in all five of Team USA's games at #WorldJuniors with goals in four of the five contests. Tied for the second-most goals in the tournament, the U.S. will be counting on his offense in Thursday's semifinal contest vs. Finland. https://t.co/A7pz0zze0k
Isaac Howard and Team USA advance to the #WorldJuniors semifinals with a 7-2 win over Latvia. Assuming Sweden beats Switzerland today, the U.S. will battle a strong Finland team Thursday with a chance to advance to the Gold Medal Game for the fourth time in the past eight years. https://t.co/f57PUM52vk
Isaac Howard and Team USA advance to the #WorldJuniors semifinals with a 7-2 win over Team Latvia. They'll play the winner of Sweden-Switzerland on Thursday with a chance to advance to the Gold Medal Game for the fourth time in the past eight years. https://t.co/f57PUM4uFM
USA defeats Latvia 7-2 to advance to the semifinals. They'll await the Sweden-Switzerland result to determine their opponent on Jan. 4. #WorldJuniors
Will Smith (SJS) barely gets one over the line, but they don't ask you how... It's 5-1 USA. Gabe Perreault (NYR) with the assist on the 2-on-1.
Another point for Isaac Howard with the primary assist here. Nice play to collect the pass off his skate and put it right on the tape of Rutger McGroarty through multiple Latvian defenders as Team USA goes up 4-1. https://t.co/BnY2FpllPS
Rutger McGroarty (WPG) on the power play after every single skater touched the puck at least once as USA zipped it around. 4-1 USA. Brilliant final pass by Isaac Howard (TBL).
Another two goals for Isaac Howard this morning in Team USA’s big win over Slovakia. https://t.co/DGyzxeDmHm
Rutger McGroarty hat-trick alert. 6-2 USA. #WorldJuniors
Rutger McGroarty (WPG) does it again and USA is up 5-2 with another goal late in the second period. The Boys Are Back In Town plays for the 24th time in the tournament.
Rutger McGroarty (WPG) scores on a wraparound for his first goal of the tournament. And it’s a big one. 1-0 USA over Slovakia in the first period, for first place in Group B. #GoJetsGo #WorldJuniors
Isaac Howard was a man on a mission in @usahockey’s win yesterday with a goal and the game-winner in the shootout. 🚨 https://t.co/KlYNC975wp