Team USA is coming off a 4-1 victory on Tuesday (May 26) against Austria, a win it needed to advance to the quarterfinals. The U.S. went 3-1-0-0-3 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in Group A preliminary round play to finish fourth.

Canada, which finished first in Group B with a record of 6-1-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L), defeated Czechia in its most recent game on Tuesday (May 26) by a count of 3-2. The Canadians rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the contest.

The U.S. is in the quarterfinals of the men’s worlds for the 15th straight year and 29th time overall. Team USA is 10-2-4-12 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in quarterfinal action and has won four of its last five QF games, including a 5-2 victory over Finland a year ago in its gold-medal run. The U.S. has split two quarterfinal encounters with Canada at the men’s worlds, winning 4-3 in overtime in 2001 and dropping a 4-1 decision in 1995.

The overall series between the U.S. and Canada in the men’s world championship includes 49 total meetings and Canada has a decisive advantage, having won 42 times. Team USA, however, has come out on top in three of the last five outings.

Tommy Novak has eight points (1 goal, 7 assists) to lead Team USA offensively heading into the quarterfinals today, while Matthew Tkachuk, who has played in just four games, is next with seven points, including three goals. Ryan Leonard (3-2—5), Justin Faulk (2-3—5), and Mathieu Olivier (2-3—5) are next with five points apiece.

In goal, Devin Cooley leads the way with a 3-1 record, 1.70 goals against average and .930 save percentage.