USA dominates Czech Republic to earn world junior bronze

It wasn't the medal it was looking for, but Team USA still skated away from the 2018 World Junior Championship with some hardware, beating the Czech Republic in convincing fashion 9-3 on Friday night in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Americans dominated the game from puck drop, getting stellar solo performances from Trent Frederic (four goals) and Kieffer Bellows (two goals, one assist).

The Czechs were outmatched at both ends of the ice, managing only three garbage-time goals late in the third period to pull the game within six.

Bellows, a New York Islanders first-round pick, broke the record held by Jeremy Roenick for most goals by an American at a single world junior tournament with his nine tallies in seven games.

The U.S. earned a world junior medal for the third consecutive year, while the Czechs finished in fourth place - their best showing since earning bronze in 2005.