Sunday, January 05, 2025

Eiserman's game-winner sends US to gold-medal game; Celebrini takes rookie goals lead

Cole Eiserman's second-period power-play goal proved to be the game-winner as Team USA defeated Czechia, 4-1, in the semifinals of the World Junior Championship in Ottawa. In the gold medal game on Sunday, the U.S. will face Finland, who edged Sweden in overtime, 4-3.  Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. with NHL Network carrying the game live.

Eiserman's tally was his third of the tournament and gave him a 3-4-7 line. Cole Hutson assisted on Eiserman's goal and has nine points (2G,7A), tied for most by a defenseman. Brandon Svoboda assisted on the final U.S. tally, an empty-netter, and has a 2-3-5 line.  

For the past three games, Eiserman has been listed as the 13th forward, playing limited minutes, primarily on power plays and some 5-on-5 time. The Athletic's Scott Wheeler commented:

I’ve actually quite liked what he has brought in that role the last three games though. While he’s playing primarily on the power play, when he has got out there at five-on-five, I’ve felt he’s played with intensity and has done a good job chasing down pucks and applying pressure on the forecheck. He scored a big goal against both Canada on Dec. 31 and Czechia in the semifinal. Credit to him for accepting the role and coming up big in usage (under 10 minutes average for the last three games since the switch) he has never had in his career.

● USA Hockey recap

● IIHF recap   
● NHL.com recap 

Sweden lost to Finland, the only team to beat the U.S., thus far, in a back and forth contest. In overtime, a questionable at best penalty call on Tom Willander for holding (video) created the power play that led to the game-winning goal. 

Earlier in the week, Elite Prospects scout Cam Robinson wrote that Willander "has been Sweden's top defender," adding, "He's been excellent defensively and the most elusive and creative offensively I've seen from him."

Sweden will face Czechia in the bronze-medal game today with coverage on NHL Network.


Looking ahead
2025 recruit Jack Murtagh scored his 11th goal and Charlie Trethewey assisted on the game winner as the NTDP U18s edged Ferris State, 4-3.  Murtagh has 23 points in 24 games, while Trethewey has a 4-7-11 line in 33 games. 2026 recruit Luke Schairer was called up to the U18s for the game.

2026 recruit Jay Feldberg score his 10th goal in the Toronto Jr. Canadians' 2-0 win over St. Michael's. Feldberg has 20 points in 30 games.

2026 recruit Haoxi Simon Wang assisted on a pair of goals as King Rebellion routed  Caledon, 9-4. Wang has 22 points (4G, 18A) in 38 OJHL games. 

Looking back

Cole Hutson recorded his 25th assist—tops among all rookie defenseman—in Montreal's 2-1 shootout win of the Avalanche.

Jake Oettinger stopped 33 shots in the Dallas Stars' 3-2 overtime win against Utah.

Women's Team 
The #13/14 Terriers opened their second half with a convincing 3-0 win at Holy Cross. Senior Callie Shanahan racked up her third shutout of the season as BU improved to 12-5-1, 10-2-1 HE. 

BU remains atop the Hockey East standings, one point ahead of Northeastern with two games in hand.

Terriers scored twice in the second period on Chistina Vote's first goal of the season, coming on a power-play, and Riley Walsh's sixth goal. Captain Tamara Giaquinto connected for her fifth tally on a power play in the third period.

With her goal, Vote is now tied for the Terrier points lead (13) with Lola Reid.
Terriers limited the Crusaders to just 15 shots and killed all seven power plays.

●  GoTerriers.com recap and box score

● BU Hockey Stats recap

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