World Juniors 2017 scores: United States survives a Switzerland scare to advance to semis

The United States withstood one of their roughest games of the 2017 World Junior Championships to advance to the semifinal round on Monday.

Switzerland proved to be a difficult out, but a late goal from Jordan Greenway gave the United States a 3-2 win and a date with Russia in the semifinals on Jan. 4.

Tyler Parsons was the USA’s best player, stopping 14 of 16 shots against for the win.

Jeremy Bracco began his strong game with his third goal of the tournament. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect got a backdoor tap-in from Tage Thompson on the power play midway through the first period. The United States has taken the lead in every game of the World Juniors.

Despite the early lead, the United States played one of their most careless periods in recent memory. Parsons faced six shots in the first period, and many of them were decent scoring chances. Even so, captain Luke Kunin scored his first of the tournament shortly after Bracco to give the USA a 2-0 lead.

The struggle for energy continued in the second period, when the Swiss outshot the Americans 7-2. Leading Switzerland scorer Nico Hischier connected on the power play with a memorable goal to bring Switzerland within one score.

The United States began the third period with two offensive zone penalties, giving them three for the whole game. Parsons and company killed off the first, but Hischier scored on a wrap-around during a chaotic goal-mouth pileup to tie the game at 2-2.

The tie didn’t last. Switzerland immediately took a penalty, and Greenway immediately gave the lead right back to the United States.

It would hold, and the United States moves on.