At the World Junior Hockey Championships in Buffalo on Tuesday, the United States, Russia, Sweden and Slovakia were facing win or go home consequences.
Team USA will face Team Sweden is the semifinals of the World Junior Championships in Buffalo.
The winner will play either Canada or the Czechs.
Sniping winger Kieffer Bellows scored this dramatic third period goal to break a 2-2 tie to seal Team USA's berth in Thursday's semis.
Absolute bullet from Kiefer Bellows takes out the water bottle and gives USA the lead over Russia #WJC2018 pic.twitter.com/sugLdVIctl
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) January 3, 2018
.@BellowsKieffer is popping bottles and breaking ties! His second goal of the game to lead Russia 3-2! #WJCinBUF pic.twitter.com/9SiKW76zZt
— WJC 2018 in Buffalo (@WJCinBUF) January 3, 2018
Bellows opened the scoring with this power play goal in the first period.
Another PPG from Kieffer Bellows. 1-0 USA over Russia early. #WJC2018 pic.twitter.com/doTTkSUAMN
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) January 3, 2018
Bellows now leads the WJC touney with six goals scored in five games played.
Marsel Sholokhov scored the equalizer from Klim Kostin.
Marcel Sholokhov with a nifty backhand to tie the game at one. #stlblues 1st-rounder Klim Kostin set the entire play up out of Russia's zone. pic.twitter.com/JOAxmQdsLB
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) January 3, 2018
Kailer Yamamoto made the score 2-1 USA.
Kailer Yamamoto stays with the play & scores to give Team USA a 2-1 lead. #WJC2018 pic.twitter.com/fNChfraeTb
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) January 3, 2018
Team Russia will finish the tournament in fifth place.
The Swedes will take on USA on Thursday.
Sweden will now play for a medal for the 12th consecutive World Juniors tournament.
The game will feature a head-to-head battle between two of Buffalo's top prospects in Casey Mittelstadt (1st round, 8th overall 2017) and Alex Nylander (1st round, 8th overall 2016).
Mittlestadt leads the WJCs with 10 points in five games played while Nylander has 6 points in five games played.
Isac Lundestrom scored twice as unbeaten Swedes slapped the Slovak 3-2 on Tuesday.
Isac Lundestrom gets Sweden a lead just second after puck-drop in the second period. One of my favourite #2018NHLDraft prospects. pic.twitter.com/nfuaEzl13B
— Janik Beichler (@JanikBeichler) January 3, 2018
#NJDevils prospect Fabian Zetterlund gives Sweden a 2-0 lead with a highlight-reel goal! pic.twitter.com/IsKhRSTYJM
— Janik Beichler (@JanikBeichler) January 3, 2018
Isac Lundestrom gets his second of the night, thanks to an amazing set-up by #Blackhawks prospect Tim Soderlund. pic.twitter.com/fy2cXVqwuP
— Janik Beichler (@JanikBeichler) January 3, 2018
Martin Bodak gets his second of the night, brings Slovakia back within one. pic.twitter.com/ucD5je3Dk7
— Janik Beichler (@JanikBeichler) January 3, 2018
The Swedes will take on the winner of the USA-Russia quarter-final on Thursday. The result guarantees they will play for a medal for the 12th straight year.