Frank Nazar (#91, centre) tallied two goals as the U.S. thumped Hungary 6-0 at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Herning, Denmark.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / MATT ZAMBONIN
The kids are all right. Frank Nazar and Cutter Gauthier, who are both 21, scored two goals apiece to lead the U.S. to a 6-0 romp over winless Hungary on Sunday in Herning. Assistant captain Conor Garland and Logan Cooley had a goal and an assist apiece.
The Americans, who opened with a 5-0 shutout over host Denmark, have not conceded a goal through two games at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.
Nazar added an assist for a three-point outing, and Will Smith and Shane Pinto each chipped in two helpers.
The U.S. outshot Hungary 39-13 and was full value for the three points with savvy two-way hockey. Goalie Jeremy Swayman earned the shutout in his first start of this tournament. The Boston Bruins veteran also helped the U.S. to fourth place in 2022.
"Our goal is to win a gold medal," Swayman said. "We haven't done that in a long time, and we all know that in this room. That's a big motivator for us."
Giving top Hungarian goalie Bence Balizs a break, Adam Vay got his first Ice Hockey World Championship start since 2016. The towering Budapest native had a 3.67 GAA and 91.0 save percentage in three games that year.
The Hungarians now get a day off before a crucial showdown with Kazakhstan on Tuesday.
Hungarian captain Csanad Erdely spoke about the Kazakhs: "They are extremely skilled. Whether they play in the KHL or somewhere else at a higher level, they've got good skills. So we've got to look for those. And sometimes they like to cheat in the neutral zone. So for sure, we've got to make sure we don't get anybody behind us. But if we play like we did in the first 40 minutes of this game, I think we're gonna be fine, and we're going to be well-rested for that game."
In the first period, the Hungarians deserved credit for keeping the speedier, more talented Americans at bay for a long stretch with good hustle and positional play. But Nazar broke the deadlock at 14:07 when he tipped Cooley’s long wrister in.
From behind the goal line, Nazar made it 2-0 at 16:54, golfing a rebound off the back boards in off a surprised Vay. The 21-year-old Chicago Blackhawks forward scored 12 goals and 26 points in 53 games as an NHL rookie this year.
"It felt really good, obviously," Nazar said. "There's nothing like scoring a goal and getting that feeling, especially after the NHL season's over, continuing to score and just build that confidence and feel good out there on the ice."
Playing a patient, controlled game, the Americans went up 3-0 just after the midway mark. Matty Beniers found Gauthier at the bottom of the right faceoff circle and he one-timed the puck past Vay's glove. The U.S. outshot Hungary by a 19-4 margin in the middle frame.
Swayman was alert and equal to the task when Vilmos Gallo found Erdely cruising down the middle to hammer a slapper on net.
It became a blowout in the third period. Smith set up Gauthier for another lethal one-timer at 1:13. With three goals so far, the Anaheim Ducks gunner, 21, is on track to challenge his personal Ice Hockey World Championship high of seven goals from 2023.
Nazar praised Gauthier's release: "I've seen it my whole life. It should be nothing to me. But every time you see it, it's like, 'Wow, nice shot, Cut!' You know, it's pretty special. He's a special player. I was hoping he'd be getting a third goal there at the end."
Just 41 seconds later, Garland swooped in to bang the puck past a sprawling Vay for a 5-0 gap.
Cooley rounded out the scoring with 5:34 left on a nice one-timer set up by captain Clayton Keller.
"If we stop moving our feed even for one shift, they're gonna take advantage of that, and that's the most important [lesson] of this World Championship," Erdely said. "For us, bringing an average game is not enough. We've got to [bring our best game]."
The Americans have a big test coming up on Monday against 2024 silver medalist Switzerland, who have also won two straight games.
"Honestly, I think we just gotta come out fast and hard out of the gate and keep it simple," said Nazar. "Get away from all the cute stuff. Play direct, with pace, and continue to just play USA Hockey."
The U.S. boasts a perfect all-time record versus Hungary with four wins. Previous scores were 3-1 (1939), 5-1 (2016), and 7-1 (2023). In that latter win in Tampere, then-captain Nick Bonino led the attack with two goals.
Never have these two nations clashed at the Olympics, and it will not happen in Milan as Hungary did not qualify to participate.
The Americans, who opened with a 5-0 shutout over host Denmark, have not conceded a goal through two games at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.
Nazar added an assist for a three-point outing, and Will Smith and Shane Pinto each chipped in two helpers.
The U.S. outshot Hungary 39-13 and was full value for the three points with savvy two-way hockey. Goalie Jeremy Swayman earned the shutout in his first start of this tournament. The Boston Bruins veteran also helped the U.S. to fourth place in 2022.
"Our goal is to win a gold medal," Swayman said. "We haven't done that in a long time, and we all know that in this room. That's a big motivator for us."
Giving top Hungarian goalie Bence Balizs a break, Adam Vay got his first Ice Hockey World Championship start since 2016. The towering Budapest native had a 3.67 GAA and 91.0 save percentage in three games that year.
The Hungarians now get a day off before a crucial showdown with Kazakhstan on Tuesday.
Hungarian captain Csanad Erdely spoke about the Kazakhs: "They are extremely skilled. Whether they play in the KHL or somewhere else at a higher level, they've got good skills. So we've got to look for those. And sometimes they like to cheat in the neutral zone. So for sure, we've got to make sure we don't get anybody behind us. But if we play like we did in the first 40 minutes of this game, I think we're gonna be fine, and we're going to be well-rested for that game."
In the first period, the Hungarians deserved credit for keeping the speedier, more talented Americans at bay for a long stretch with good hustle and positional play. But Nazar broke the deadlock at 14:07 when he tipped Cooley’s long wrister in.
From behind the goal line, Nazar made it 2-0 at 16:54, golfing a rebound off the back boards in off a surprised Vay. The 21-year-old Chicago Blackhawks forward scored 12 goals and 26 points in 53 games as an NHL rookie this year.
"It felt really good, obviously," Nazar said. "There's nothing like scoring a goal and getting that feeling, especially after the NHL season's over, continuing to score and just build that confidence and feel good out there on the ice."
Playing a patient, controlled game, the Americans went up 3-0 just after the midway mark. Matty Beniers found Gauthier at the bottom of the right faceoff circle and he one-timed the puck past Vay's glove. The U.S. outshot Hungary by a 19-4 margin in the middle frame.
Swayman was alert and equal to the task when Vilmos Gallo found Erdely cruising down the middle to hammer a slapper on net.
It became a blowout in the third period. Smith set up Gauthier for another lethal one-timer at 1:13. With three goals so far, the Anaheim Ducks gunner, 21, is on track to challenge his personal Ice Hockey World Championship high of seven goals from 2023.
Nazar praised Gauthier's release: "I've seen it my whole life. It should be nothing to me. But every time you see it, it's like, 'Wow, nice shot, Cut!' You know, it's pretty special. He's a special player. I was hoping he'd be getting a third goal there at the end."
Just 41 seconds later, Garland swooped in to bang the puck past a sprawling Vay for a 5-0 gap.
Cooley rounded out the scoring with 5:34 left on a nice one-timer set up by captain Clayton Keller.
"If we stop moving our feed even for one shift, they're gonna take advantage of that, and that's the most important [lesson] of this World Championship," Erdely said. "For us, bringing an average game is not enough. We've got to [bring our best game]."
The Americans have a big test coming up on Monday against 2024 silver medalist Switzerland, who have also won two straight games.
"Honestly, I think we just gotta come out fast and hard out of the gate and keep it simple," said Nazar. "Get away from all the cute stuff. Play direct, with pace, and continue to just play USA Hockey."
The U.S. boasts a perfect all-time record versus Hungary with four wins. Previous scores were 3-1 (1939), 5-1 (2016), and 7-1 (2023). In that latter win in Tampere, then-captain Nick Bonino led the attack with two goals.
Never have these two nations clashed at the Olympics, and it will not happen in Milan as Hungary did not qualify to participate.
United States vs Hungary - 2025 IIHF WM
OF