U.S. power play too much for Czechs to handle

There's Johnny Football for Texas A&M in college football.

And early Wednesday morning there was Johnny Hockey for the U.S. team in the World Junior Championships. Johnny Gaudreau of Boston College scored three goals -- one in the first period, two in the second -- all on power plays as the U.S. beat the Czech Republic 7-0 in the quarterfinals.

Last season Jerry York, the BC coach, called Gaudreau the best freshman in college hockey. Now he might be the best sophomore.

Gaudreau's first goal came on a 5-on-3 at 11 minutes, 23 seconds of the opening period which ended 1-0.

His second was at 28 seconds of the second period on a rebound. When the U.S. scored again at 1:08, Ryan Hartman on a rebound, the Czechs switched goalies, pulling Patrik Bartosak (13 shots, 10 saves in 21:08) and putting in Matej Machovsky (24-20, 38:52).

Riley Barber got the next two U.S. goals at 8:44 and 12:13. And it was 5-0. His second goal came one second after a U.S. penalty kill expired.

Gaudreau completed his hat trick with 13 seconds left in the middle period. Nobody threw out any hats. Hey, it's cold in Ufa, Russia, and the sun is not out that much.

Trouba and Seth Jones, another defenseman, both had four assists. Miller had a goal and two assists. Goalie John Gibson made 31 saves for the U.S.

The U.S. outshot the Czechs only 37-31; the real difference was in penalty minutes, 17 penalties for 44 minutes for the Czechs,. 10 for 20 minutes for the Americans. The U.S. was 5-for-13 on the power play, the Czechs 0-for-6.

ETC.

* Gophers freshman defenseman played on a defensive pair with Connor Murphy and was out on the power play and penalty kill but did not get a point or a shot on goal. ... Notre Dame freshman forward Mario Lucia was the 13th forward. He too was zeros across -- no points, no shots.