USA vs. Latvia: Live score, highlights, updates from 2023 World Juniors game

The 2022 World Juniors didn’t finish as anticipated for the USA. After dominating their group within the preliminary spherical, Czechia handed the USA a shock upset loss within the quarterfinals to knock off the 2021 champions. 

The journey again to the rostrum begins immediately for the US, because the staff opens the 2023 World Juniors with a match in opposition to Latvia. 

As soon as once more, the People are anticipated to be a contender for the gold medal. Luke Hughes and Logan Cooley are the 2 key returners from the 2022 squad. Every averaged over some extent per sport for the US on the 2022 tourney with six factors in 5 video games for each. 

MORE: Watch the 2023 World Juniors live with fuboTV (free trial, U.S. only)

Cutter Gauthier, Jimmy Snuggerud and Lane Hutson are three newcomers who’re anticipated to have main roles for the USA. Gauthier and Snuggerud performed on a dominant line with Cooley when the three had been with the U.S. U18 staff and have been enjoying collectively once more forward of the official begin of the event. Hutson is anticipated to play second fiddle to Hughes as a driver of offense. 

Latvia has struggled to remain up within the high World Juniors event however is coming off its finest end ever on the 2022 World Juniors. The nation earned its first-ever win in the preliminary round, upsetting Czechia of their closing group sport.

The historic victory additionally allowed Latvia to advance out of the quarterfinals for the primary time ever. Nevertheless, the staff misplaced to Sweden, ending the event with a seventh-place end. 

It’s the fourth time the USA is enjoying Latvia on the World Juniors. America has gained all three earlier contests, outscoring Latvia by a mixed complete of 30-4. 

MORE: Team USA roster, schedule for 2023 World Juniors

The Sporting Information will present dwell updates and highlights from the USA-Latvia matchup on the 2023 World Juniors.

USA vs. Latvia rating

USA vs. Latvia dwell updates, highlights from 2023 World Juniors

All instances in (ET)

First interval

4:35 p.m. — Latvia has all of the momentum proper now. Trey Augustine has been compelled to make a few stops on secondary possibilities. Regardless of the hole on paper, it has been a really aggressive sport thus far, which shouldn’t come as a shock for people who watched Latvia on the 2022 World Juniors. 

4:34 p.m. — USA kills off the Brindley penalty. They had been in a position to hold the Latvia PP on the perimeter for a majority of the penalty, with only one shot getting onto Augustine. 

4:30 p.m. — First penalty of the sport is in opposition to the People, as Gavin Brindley is named for slashing. 

4:27 p.m. — The USA must be higher at managing the puck and profitable 1 on 1 battles. Latvia has taken benefit of a pair and almost gotten Grade-A possibilities.

4:19 p.m. — Two nice possibilities for the USA, each generated by Jackson Blake, however Patriks Berzins comes up with a save on each. Blake obtained a go proper close to the web as he driving in entrance, however did not have a ton of room to get round Berzins. He then obtained one other point-blank likelihood along with the web, however fired proper at Berzins. 

4:15 p.m. — 5 minutes in and it is clear Latvia’s sport plan is to stack up the center and hold the USA on the surface. The People spending a variety of time within the offensive zone on the perimeter thus far. 

4:11 p.m. — Within the opening minute, Latvia almost will get on the board. A extremely unhealthy turnover by Ryan Ufko behind his internet goes proper out in entrance to Martins Lavins, however his shot is deflected up and out of play. 

4:10 p.m. — Puck is down and USA”s journey on the 2023 World Juniors start. 

Pregame

3:30 p.m. — Trey Augustine will get the nod in internet over Kaidan Mbereko for the USA. Mbereko was the No. 1 starter on the 2022 World Juniors, however Rand Pecknold goes with the U.S. U18 goalie. 

Trey Augustine will get the nod in internet for USA fairly than Kaidan Mbereko, who began 4 video games within the August event. Augustine a draft-eligible goalie dedicated to Michigan State for 2023-24. 12-0-2, 2.10, .930 for the USNTDP U-18 staff this season.

— Jon Rosen (@jonnyrosen) December 26, 2022

3:15 p.m. — That is how the 2 groups will line up for his or her opener. It is the identical traces and pairings from their two exhibition video games for the USA. 

Lineups for USA and Latvia at 4:30 PM EST.

Trey Augustine (2023) will get the beginning in objective for USA’s opener in opposition to the Latvians, traces unchanged from USA’s pre-tournament video games #WJC2023 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/sYpu5HpOu9

— Brandon Holmes (@BHolmes_Hockey) December 26, 2022

What channel is USA vs. Latvia on immediately?

• United States: NHL Community
• Canada: TSN 1

TSN has all of the World Juniors motion in Canada, whereas in the US, viewers can discover the video games on NHL Community.

E.J. Hradek will present play-by-play protection for NHL Community. He might be joined by analyst Dave Starman and reporter Jon Rosen on the broadcasts. 

Dennis Beyak and Craig Button might be on the decision for the USA video games for TSN. Laura Diakun and Dave Reid might be within the studio. 

How you can dwell stream World Juniors hockey video games

U.S. followers can stream the event on fuboTV (which comes with a free trial), NHL.television or the NHL app.

Followers in Canada can stream all World Juniors video games on TSN.ca or the TSN app.

USA vs. Latvia odds

• USA: -5.5 (-119)
• Latvia: +5.5 (-116)
• O/U: 7.5

According to Sports Interaction, the USA opened as large favorites over Latvia, with the puckline sitting at 5.5 in favor of the People. 

USA World Juniors schedule 2023

(All instances Jap)