Team USA’s Ryan Donato jumps to let a puck shot by James Wisniewski through for a goal during the second period of their 5-1 victory over Slovakia on Tuesday (Monday PT) at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Ryan Donato (16), of the United States, falls as he battles for the puck with Dominik Granak (51) and goalie Jan Laco (50), of Slovakia, during the first period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Chad Billins (4), of the United States, and Peter Olvecky (85), of Slovakia, battle for the puck during the first period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Marek Daloga (71), of Slovakia, and Broc Little (14), of the United States, battle for the puck during the first period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Marek Daloga (71), of Slovakia, and Broc Little (14), of the United States, battle for the puck during the first period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Mark Arcobello (26), of the United States, takes a shot against Tomas Marcinko (65), of Slovakia, during the first period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Goalie Jan Laco (50), of Slovakia, deflects the puck during the first period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game against the United States at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Players from the United States gather before the qualification round of the men’s hockey game against Slovakia at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (Bruce Bennet/Pool Photo via AP)
Ryan Donato (16), of the United States, falls as he battles for the puck with Dominik Granak (51), of Slovakia, during the first period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Goalie Ryan Zapolski (30), of the United States, reaches for the puck during the first period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game against Slovakia at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Marek Daloga (71), of Slovakia, tries to shoot against goalie Ryan Zapolski (30) and Chad Billins (4), of the United States, during the first period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Tomas Starosta (19), of Slovakia, checks Jordan Greenway (18), of the United States, as they battle for the puck during the first period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Jonathon Blum (24), of the United States, and Tomas Starosta (19), of Slovakia, battle for the puck during the first period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (Bruce Bennet/Pool Photo via AP)
Ryan Donato (16), of the United States, celebrates with Mark Arcobello (26) after scoring a goal against Slovakia during the second period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Ryan Donato (16), of the United States, celebrates his teammates after scoring a goal against Slovakia during the second period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
goalie Ryan Zapolski (30), of the United States, loses his stick after colliding with Ladislav Nagy (27), of Slovakia, during the second period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The United States head coach Tony Granato directs his team during the second period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game against Slovakia at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Ladislav Nagy (27), of Slovakia, collides with goalie Ryan Zapolski (30), of the United States, during the second period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
James Wisniewski (21), of the United States, celebrates after scoring a goal against Slovakia during the second period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Team USA’s Ryan Donato jumps to let a puck shot by James Wisniewski through for a goal during the second period of their 5-1 victory over Slovakia on Tuesday (Monday PT) at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Brian O’Neill (9), of the United States, checks Tomas Starosta (19), of Slovakia, during the second period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Juraj Mikus (26), of Slovakia, checks Troy Terry (23), of the United States, during the second period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chad Billins (4), of the United States, battles for the puck with Marek Hovorka (25), of Slovakia, during the second period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The puck shot by Mark Arcobello, of the United States, flies past goalie Jan Laco (50), of Slovakia, during the second period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Jan Laco (50), of Slovakia, wipes his face after giving up a goal to Mark Arcobello, of the United States, during the second period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The puck shot by Peter Ceresnak (14), of Slovakia, flies past goalie Ryan Zapolski (30), of the United States, for a goal during the second period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Peter Ceresnak (14), of Slovakia, celebrates with Marek Hovorka (25) and Dominik Granak (51) after scoring a goal against the United States during the second period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
goalie Ryan Zapolski (30), of the United States, deflects a shot as Brian Gionta (12), of the United States, and Dominik Granak (51), of Slovakia, battle for position during the second period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Goalie Ryan Zapolski (30), of the United States, grimaces in pain after colliding with Ladislav Nagy, of Slovakia, during the second period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, Pool)
The puck shot by Mark Arcobello (26), of the United States, sails past goalie Jan Laco (50), of Slovakia, during the second period of the qualification round of the mens hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (Bruce Bennet/Pool Photo via AP)
Garrett Roe (11), of the United States, celebrates after scoring a goal against Slovakia during the third period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Goalie Ryan Zapolski (30) and Jim Slater (19), of the United States, guard the goal as Marek Daloga (71), of Slovakia, shoots during the third period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Garrett Roe (11), of the United States, celebrates after scoring a goal against Slovakia during the third period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Garrett Roe (11), of the United States, celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against Slovakia during the third period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Goalie Jan Laco (50), of Slovakia, pushes Broc Little (14), of the United States, down during the third period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Goalie Jan Laco (50), of Slovakia, pushes Broc Little (14), of the United States, down during the third period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Ryan Donato (16), of the United States, celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against Slovakia during the third period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Ryan Donato (16), of the United States, is checked by a medical staff after being hit during the second period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game against Slovakia at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Goalie Jan Laco (50), of Slovakia, pushes Broc Little (14), of the United States, down during the third period of the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, Pool)
Goalies Jan Laco (50), of Slovakia, and Ryan Zapolski (30), of the United States, greet each other adfter the qualification round of the men’s hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. The United States won 5-1. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
GANGNEUNG, South Korea — Ryan Donato scored two goals, Troy Terry had three assists and the United States beat Slovakia 5-1 in the qualification round Tuesday to advance to face the Czech Republic in the Olympic quarterfinals.
College kids again led the way for the U.S., which scored more against Slovakia then it did in all three preliminary-round games. James Wisniewski, Mark Arcobello and Garrett Roe also scored for the Americans, who took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play for hits on Donato and goaltender Ryan Zapolski.
“We’ve had a lot of chances that we didn’t score on,” Donato said. “Just having the chemistry build and continue to build, it feels really good.”
Shaking off a collision with Ladislav Nagy, Ryan Zapolski had arguably his best game of the tournament, stopping 21 of the 22 shots he faced. Zapolski and the U.S. also beat Slovakia 2-1 in the preliminary round when Donato scored twice. With his second two-goal game, Donato equaled his father, Ted, who scored four goals for the U.S. at the 1992 Games in Albertville.
Between periods, Donato saw video of his dad in the stands and said, “I’ve never seen him smile like that before.”
Slovakia goaltender Jan Laco allowed five goals on 33 shots and Peter Ceresnak scored a power-play goal for Slovakia, which became the first team eliminated from the men’s side.
In other qualification games later Tuesday, Finland played South Korea, with the winner advancing to take on Canada; Slovenia faced Norway, with the winner advancing to play the “Olympic Athletes from Russia”; and Germany played Switzerland, with the winner advancing to face Sweden.
After a listless first period with no goals and few scoring chances, the U.S. wasted little time getting on the board early in the second. Terry, as he has done all Olympics, used his speed to get to the net, and Donato picked up the loose puck and beat Laco 1:36 into the period.
“I thought I’ve had a good tournament the whole time,” Terry said. “It hasn’t resulted in a lot of points and that type of stuff. So I was just trying to keep my confidence and know that I just have to play the same way.”
The Americans got not one but two scares 26 seconds later when Nagy ran over Zapolski and Slovakia defenseman Michal Cajovsky put a shoulder into Donato’s head in the neutral zone. Trainers attended to Donato and Zapolski as backup goaltender Brandon Maxwell stretched and prepared to go in.
Donato got looked at on the bench and Zapolski took a few minutes before deciding not to leave the net. Zapolski said he figured he had a pinched nerve in his neck and couldn’t feel his hands and feet for a few minutes, while Donato had his own worries.
“I had a little bit of a bloody nose,” Donato said. “It kind of felt like I might’ve broke my nose right away but it feels fine and nothing was wrong.”
With Cajovsky given a match penalty — a five-minute major and an ejection — and Nagy in the penalty box for goaltender interference, the U.S. scored 18 seconds into its 5-on-3 power play with Donato screening Laco for Wisniewski’s first goal to make it 2-0 at the 2:20 mark. Terry took advantage of all the time in the world behind the net and found an open Arcobello for a one-timer to put the U.S. up 3-0 at 13:30.
“They’ve got some talent there,” Arcobello said of his linemates. “Donato can really shoot it, as you saw tonight and in a couple games before. Terry can really set up the plays. He’s got the vision and the passing. They’re good. They’ve got a lot of energy and they’re going to keep me going.”
After Jordan Greenway was penalized for slashing, Slovakia scored on the power play 16:54 into the second to cut it to 3-1, but the lightning-fast line of Roe, Brian O’Neill and Broc Little combined for a tic-tac-toe goal to make it 4-1 at 9:52 of the third. O’Neill flashed his speed down the right wing, took a hit while making the pass to Little who found Roe for a tap-in.
“I think people saw tonight we have a very fast team and a team that can play good hockey,” Terry said. “So we have a lot of belief in our team and we’re excited to keep going.”
Donato scored his second of the game, this time on the power play, 16:46 into the third.
NOTES
St. Cloud State defenseman Will Borgen was a healthy scratch again for the United States. … Veteran forward Jim Slater returned to the lineup, replacing Chad Kolarik. … Former NHL player and coach Craig Ramsay coaches Slovakia.
