Team
Europe on top of World after win over Czechs
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[September 20, 2016]
TORONTO (Reuters) - Germany's
Leon Draisaitl potted the overtime winner as Team Europe edged Czech
Republic 3-2 on Monday to close in on a spot in the World Cup of
Hockey semi-finals.
Team Europe (2-0), cobbled together with players from eight smaller
hockey playing nations and coached by Canada-born Ralph Krueger,
have been the tournament's surprise package and followed their upset
of the U.S. with another victory to sit atop Group A.
Canada (1-0) and the United States (0-1) will meet on Tuesday in
what is a 'must-win' for the Americans if they hope to have any
chance of securing a top-two spot in the group to advance.
Once again, Team Europe got goals from across the map with
Slovakia's Zdeno Chara, Norway's Mats Zuccarello and Germany's
Draisaitl, who collected his second of the tournament midway through
overtime when he beat Czech netminder Petr Mrazek low to the glove
side.
"We've been playing some really good hockey and we just have to make
sure we keep that going," said Draisaitl.
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"We don't want to look too far ahead, we just want to take it game
by game, but that is every team's goal ... to get to the
semi-finals. That was another big step for us."
After a scoreless first period, Anze Kopitar had a chance to break
the game open in the second when Team Europe were awarded a penalty
shot but the Los Angeles Kings sniper was denied by Mrazek.
Europe finally made the breakthrough midway through the frame when
Chara, owner of the NHL's hardest shot, beat Mrazek from the top of
the faceoff circle.
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![](../images/092016pics/sports55.jpg)
Team Europe forward Leon Draisaitl (29) of Team Europe skates in
warmup prior to playing the Czech Republic during preliminary round
play in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory
Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
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After being shutout 6-0 by Canada in their opener, the Czechs
finally got on the scoreboard when Jakub Voracek notched the
equalizer as European netminder Jaroslav Halak surrendered his first
of the tournament.
Zuccarello restored Team Europe's lead early in the third but again
the Czechs answered with a goal from Martin Hanzal to force
overtime.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Mark
Lamport-Stokes)
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