Ryan Leonard helped Team USA return to winning ways with a multi-point performance in their 7-3 victory over Hungary on Monday.
The Washington Capitals winger scored twice and assisted on another goal as the Americans responded to their 4-2 loss to Latvia this past weekend. Leonard skated on a line with Pittsburgh Penguins center Tommy Novak and Detroit Red Wings prospect Max Plante. The three combined for nine points (3g, 6a) in the blowout win.
Leonard first found the scoresheet just 2:09 into the second period, picking up the puck after Novak won an offensive-zone faceoff and firing it past goaltender Adam Vay.
Ryan Leonard scores his first goal against Hungary
Leonard then scored again with 1:47 remaining in the second frame with Team USA on a power play. Matthew Tkachuk held the puck behind Hungary’s net before snapping a pass to Justin Faulk at the point, who slid a soft feed to Leonard, and the 21-year-old forward pumped home a one-timer from Alex Ovechkin‘s office.
Ryan Leonard scores his second goal against Hungary
Leonard’s third point came in garbage time during the third period, with just 27 seconds remaining in regulation. After Novak tipped the puck to him in Hungary’s zone, Leonard sped down the wing, made a move to his backhand, and laid out a perfect cross-ice feed to Plante for a one-timer.
Ryan Leonard assists Max Plante against Hungary
Leonard now has three goals at the tournament, which is tied for the USA team lead with Tkachuk and Isaac Howard. He has four points (3g, 1a) in six games at the tournament overall, tying him for third in scoring, behind just Novak (7) and Tkachuk (6). Leonard also scored a game-winning shootout goal against Germany last week.
Team USA now sits fifth in Group A, with one final group game against Austria on Tuesday. The Americans need to beat Austria, who are currently third in the group, to qualify for the playoff rounds. The top four teams from each group make the quarterfinals.
