(WGR Sports Radio 550) - It wasn’t a good day for Tage Thompson or any of his United States teammates in Denmark, as they got dominated and shut out by Switzerland on Monday, 3-0.
It was the Americans' third game in four days, and it showed.
Switzerland had lost in overtime to Czechia, 5-4, but got some welcomed reinforcements from the NHL ranks including forwards Kevin Fiala (Los Angeles Kings), Nico Hischier (New Jersey Devils) and Timo Meier, (Devils) as well as defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler (Devils).
Siegenthaler scored the second goal on U.S. goalie Joey Deccord (Seattle Kraken).
Longtime Swiss league forward Damien Riat opened the scoring at 12:46, which was the first goal Team USA allowed in the tournament, covering 132:46. Riat was a fourth-round pick of the Washington Capitals in 2016, but only played 33 games in North America with the AHL's Hershey Bears.
The other goal was scored by Dean Kukan, who signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in June of 2015 and played 153 games with Columbus, along with 142 games with the AHL's Cleveland Monsters between 2015 and 2022.
It was a pretty easy game for Swiss goaltender Leonardo Genoni, as he made 23 saves.
As for Thompson, he played 14:38 of ice-time and did not register a shot on goal. He was only dangerous once when he brought the puck out from behind the net and was in-close on a backhand shot. He ended up putting it through the crease and out the other side.
Thompson has only played one good for the U.S., as he was pulled off the top line and replaced by Frank Nazar (Chicago Blackhawks). Nazar has four points in the first three games of the tournament, while Thompson has no goals and one assist in three games.
He ended the game playing on a line with Matty Beniers (Kraken) and Cutter Gauthier (Anaheim Ducks).
If Thompson is trying to make an impression on Team USA to make the Olympic roster next winter, it isn’t going well. The good news for the Sabres forward, though, is there’s still plenty of hockey to be played.
In Group B, the United States is now third with a record of 2-0-0-1. Germany is second at 2-0-0-0, while Switzerland is now first with a record of 2-0-1-0.
Team USA gets a day off on Tuesday before playing Norway on Wednesday.