Gillies stops 23 shots in USA rout of Czechs

(Bruce Bennett/Getty)

MALMO, Sweden — Jon Gillies made 23 saves, and the U.S. World Junior team got offensive contributions from five different players to breeze past the Czech Republic 5-1 in preliminary round action on Thursday.

Riley Barber, Will Butcher, Hudson Fasching, Jaccob Slavin, and Vince Hinostroza scored for the U.S., while Michal Plutnar scored the lone goal for the Czech Republic.

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The Americans jumped out to a 2-0 lead on two power-play goals in the first period, and added two even-strength goals in the second.

Plutnar scored on a power play in the third period to make it a 4-1 game, but Hinostroza sealed the victory with the fifth U.S. goal at 17:49 of the final frame.

Czech goaltender Daniel Dolejs made 28 saves in the losing effort.

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