The United States meets Russia in the semifinals of the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship on Saturday. Puck drop is 1:15 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the game online via NBCSN live stream at NBCSports.com.
The winner faces either Canada or the Czech Republic in Sunday’s championship game.
Artem Anisimov and Jack Eichel (Getty Images)PREVIEW: Canada vs. Czech Republic | STANLEY CUP: Rangers @ Lightning | Blackhawks @ Ducks
A capsule look at the teams:
Team USA
How they got here: The Americans lost once in the group stage, where they beat Russia 4-2. They’re coming off a 3-1 win over Switzerland in the quarterfinals.
NHL players on roster: 17
Difference makers:
Brock Nelson, F, Islanders (6 goals, 3 assists, plus-7)
Trevor Lewis, F, Kings (2 goals, 6 assists, plus-6)
Jack Eichel, F, NCAA-Boston University (2 goals, 4 assists, plus-5)
Seth Jones, D, Predators (1 goal, 3 assists, plus-2)
Torey Krug, D, Bruins (2 goals, 3 assists, plus-4)
Goaltending: Connor Hellebuyck (AHL St. John’s, Jets prospect) has been something of a pleasant surprise for the Americans. He is the tournament leader in goals-against average (1.32) and save percentage (.944).
How they stack up: For what they lack in star power in comparison to the top-heavy Russians, the Americans make up for it with four strong lines that do it all — check, defend, score. They’re a young team, with one player born before 1987. The best player is perhaps 18-year-old wunderkind Jack Eichel. A Boston University product and likely No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, Eichel proved in this tournament he can play against NHL-caliber competition. With one player among the top 20 scorers at the worlds (Nelson), the U.S. will call on Eichel to raise his game further if it wants a shot at gold.
Team Russia
How they got here: Russia went 5-1 in the preliminary round, its only loss coming via the U.S. It beat a talented Sweden team 5-3 to advance through the quarterfinals.
NHL players on roster: 8
Difference makers:
Alex Ovechkin, F, Capitals (no games played)
Evgeni Malkin, F, Penguins (3 goals, 5 assists, plus-6)
Vladimir Tarasenko, F, Blues (4 goals, 3 assists, plus-1)
Ilya Kovalchuk, F, KHL-SKA St. Petersburg (2 goals, 3 assists, plus-2)
Evgenii Dadonov, F, KHL-SKA St. Petersburg (4 goals, 7 assists, plus-5)
Goaltending: Sergei Bobrovski (Blue Jackets) logged the second-most minutes among goalies in the tournament, but his 2.13 goals-against and .901 save percentage are underwhelming.
How they stack up: The Russians will add yet another star to their lineup in captain Ovechkin just in time for Saturday. Ovechkin, fresh off the Capitals’ elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs, joined the team ahead of the semifinals and will play his first game against the U.S. Bobrovski hasn’t performed up to snuff, so he must be better now that the games loom larger.
