Team USA off to a 3-0 start at World Championships after today’s win over Russia

By @MichaelCaples –

They might not be the most talented team USA Hockey had the possibility of fielding, but so far, they are certainly getting the job done.

Team USA, going up against some of the world’s best at the 2015 IIHF World Championship, currently holds a 3-0-0-0 record after today’s 4-2 win over Russia.

It is the best start the U.S. squad has had at the international tournament since 1997.

“The credit goes to our players,” said Todd Richards, head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team, in a release from USA Hockey. “They played a terrific game and I couldn’t be more proud of our effort. It was a well deserved win. We’ll take tomorrow off and be back at it with practice on Wednesday before we play Belarus on Thursday.”

In today’s win, Livonia native Torey Krug scored, as did Trevor Lewis (Los Angeles Kings), Mark Arcobello (Arizona Coyotes) and Brock Nelson (N.Y. Islanders). Port Huron native Jack Campbell tended to the U.S. goal, stopping 15 of the 17 shots he faced in a contest that featured the likes of Russian stars Evgeni Malkin and Ilya Kovalchuk.

It was Campbell’s first start at Worlds, but it’s been an All-Michigan squad taking care of the crease duties. Commerce native Connor Hellebuyck started the first two games, and he stopped 51 of a total 53 shots.

Krug, meanwhile, is tied with Nelson for the team lead in scoring with four points in three games.

The quick start is even more impressive for the American squad considering the ages and experience levels of some on the roster. Team USA has four players on the roster who played college hockey during the 2014-15 season: Mike Reilly (Minnesota), Jack Eichel (Boston University), Jimmy Vesey (Harvard) and Waterford native Dylan Larkin (University of Michigan).

Larkin is using the World Championships to size himself up with older competition to help him make a decision on where he should play next season. Red Wings management are heading to the Czech Republic later in the tournament to see him compete against NHL-level players.

Ferris State alum Zach Redmond (Traverse City) also made his Team USA debut, finishing with a +1 on the day.

Team USA’s next game will be against Belarus on Thursday. After that, they have games against Denmark, Slovenia and Slovakia before the quarterfinals begin on May 14.