Notre Dame's Danny Nelson scores twice, defending champ US beats Latvia 5-1 in world junior hockey

Notre Dame forward Danny Nelson scored twice, Western Michigan’s Hampton Slukynsky made 25 saves and the defending champion United States beat Latvia 5-1 on Saturday in the world junior hockey championship
United States forward Ryan Leonard (9) scores on Latvia goaltender Linards Feldbergs (29) during the second period of a IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament game, Saturday, Dec.28, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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United States forward Ryan Leonard (9) scores on Latvia goaltender Linards Feldbergs (29) during the second period of a IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament game, Saturday, Dec.28, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Notre Dame forward Danny Nelson scored twice, Western Michigan’s Hampton Slukynsky made 25 saves and the defending champion United States beat Latvia 5-1 on Saturday in the world junior hockey championship.

The United States improved to 2-0 in Group A play, while Latvia dropped to 1-1 a day after stunning Canada with a 3-2 victory in a shootout.

“We saw some growth in our game today,” coach David Carle of Denver said. ”“Was it perfect? No. A lot of compliments to Latvia and how hard they played. We had to earn every inch of ice we got and that will help us as we move forward in the tournament.”

Boston College’s Ryan Leonard, Denver’s Zeev Buium and Minnesota Duluth’s Max Plante also scored for the Americans. They will be back in action Sunday at Canadian Tire Centre against Finland, then close group play Tuesday night against Canada.

Davids Livsics scored for Latvia. Linards Feldbergs stopped 36 shots after making 55 saves against Canada and stopping all eight attempts in the shootout.

In the only other game of the day, Czechia beat Kazakhstan 14-2 at TD Place. Czechia and Sweden are both 2-0 in Group B. Matej Mastalirsky, Vojtech Hradec and Jakub Stancl had hat tricks, with Hradec and Stancl also each assisting on two goals.

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United States forward Danny Nelson celebrates his goal against Latvia during the second period of a IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament game, Saturday, Dec.28, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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United States forward Ryan Leonard (9) collides with Latvia forward Dmitrijs Dilevka (11) during the second period of a IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament game, Saturday, Dec.28, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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United States defenseman Aram Minnetian (14) and defenseman Zeev Buium (28) congratulate goaltender Hampton Slukynsky after a IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament game against Latvia, Saturday, Dec.28, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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United States forward Danny Nelson, center, celebrates his goal with teammates defenseman Colin Ralph (4), defenseman Aram Minnetian (14) and forward Cole Eiserman during the first period of a IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament game against Latvia, Saturday, Dec.28, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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United States forward Carey Terrance (10) tries to put the puck past Latvia goaltender Linards Feldbergs (29) during the first period of a IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament game, Saturday, Dec.28, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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United States goaltender Hampton Slukynsky watches defenseman Adam Kleber, right, tie up Latvia forward Davis Livsics during the third period of a IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament game, Saturday, Dec.28, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Latvia forward Valdis Dommers (22) tries to score on United States goaltender Hampton Slukynsky (30) during the second period of a IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament game, Saturday, Dec.28, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Latvia forward Rudolfs Berzkalns (17) loses a skate blade as he is checked by United States forward Brodie Ziemer (74) during the third period of a IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament game, Saturday, Dec.28, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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United States defenseman Cole Hutson (24) pressures Latvia goaltender Linards Feldbergs (29) as he makes a save during the first period of a IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament game, Saturday, Dec.28, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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United States forward Gabe Perreault (34) pokes the puck away from Latvia forward Olivers Murnieks (14) during the first period of a IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament game, Saturday, Dec.28, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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The puck bounces off the post behind United States goaltender Hampton Slukynsky during third-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament game action against Latvia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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