The United States rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to defeat Slovakia 6-5 in a World Junior Championships Group A game at Grand Casino Arena Monday night and improve to 3-0 in preliminary round play.

Despite surrendering the contest’s first two goals during the opening period, the Americans rallied for a 4-4 tie after two stanzas, then took a 6-4 lead before Slovakia’s final goal with two minutes remaining.

“Crazy game but give our guys credit,” said U.S. coach Bob Motzko, whose team played without top defender Cole Hutson, injured two days earlier, and veteran forward Max Plante, hurt Monday. Motzko noted that Hutson remains day-to-day, while there was no update on Plante’s injury.

United States goalie Caleb Heil (30), right, celebrates with teammates after an IIHF World Junior Hockey championship game against Slovakia, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

James Hagens had two goals; Will Zellers had his third winning goal in as many games and added an assist. A.J. Spellacy and Brendan McMorrow each had a goal and an assist and Ryker Lee also tallied. Goaltender Caleb Heil made 14 saves.

The game featured shots off the post, a slew of missed breakaways, angry scrums and the type of skilled, wide-open hockey that had an announced crowd of 13,984 groaning, cheering, booing and applauding through the night.

“That’s a good team over there but we knew we were better,” Zellers said. “We gave them good, early chances off turnovers and some unlucky penalties. We had to stick with our plan.”

A crucial, early sequence during a bonkers second period occurred with the U.S. shorthanded and staring at the possibility of trailing by three goals fewer than two minutes after the first intermission.

Thirty seconds later, McMorrow sprinted onto a loose puck near his team’s blue line, then whipped a pass from the left side to the Slovakians’ far post, where a lunging Spellacy tipped it inside the iron. Asked what makes McMorrow such a stellar penalty killer, Motzko was succinct.

“Speed, tenacity,” the coach said. “He knows his job. Think of what (the situation) would have been if we’d gone down, 3-0.”

Said Zellers: “We knew the crowd was ready to pop, so when we got that first one it was electric. We knew we had the momentum back. It’s so much fun to play those close, back-and-forth games.”

Although the U.S. trailed 3-1 after also surrendering a shorthanded goal five minutes later, they used the momentum generated by their first tally to knot the score at 3-3 on goals by McMorrow and Lee.

Slovakia moved ahead at 4-3 on a power-play goal five minutes before the second intermission. That lead did not last, as Hagans created another deadlock just 44 seconds before the break, scoring from between the circles to forge a 4-4 tie after two stanzas of play.

“That was huge,” Motzko said. “We said after the first (period) that if we could score next, we’d get the crowd going and get some life in the building,” Motzko said.

United States forward James Hagens (10) celebrates after scoring a goal during the third period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey championship game against Slovakia, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

There was plenty of life in Grand Casino Arena as Hagens gave the U.S. its first lead of the game just 18 seconds into the third period, scoring as he slid towards the left post after a shot from the blue line caromed off traffic in front of Slovakia goalie Michal Pradel.

“Coach told us after the second period to take a deep breath, we’re right in this game and we’re going to be in a lot of these situations going further,” said Hagens, a Boston College student and Boston Bruins draft pick. “Be comfortable and make the next play, don’t try to do anything out of the ordinary.”

Zellers added an insurance goal with 15 minutes remaining. Tic-tac-toe passing resulted in a cross-crease feed that went in off Zellers’ skate, but a review revealed no distinct kicking motion to disqualify it. The tally put the U.S. up 6-4. It also proved crucial as Slovakia managed the game’s 11th goal that brought the score to it’s eventual final count of 6-5.

Motzko said he obviously didn’t enjoy the Americans giving up five goals, but that run-and-gun hockey sometimes occurs.

“I don’t like it but you have to bury it and move on,” he said. “I think we’ve scored our way out of a couple of games and that’s a little concerning for me.”

The U.S. moves on to face Sweden, another undefeated team, on New Year’s Eve in the countries’ final game before the knockout round begins with Friday quarterfinals. The semifinals are Sunday and the championship and third-place games are a day later.

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