2016 World Championships: USA vs. Canada preview, TV schedule, lineups, game thread

Team USA drops the puck on the 2016 World Championships against defending champion Canada.

The Americans won bronze in Czech Republic at last year's tournament for its second bronze in the last three years. John Hynes, head coach for the New Jersey Devils, will try to lead the stars and stripes to its first gold-medal game since 1960.

Team USA will be without Jack Eichel, but they'll have Auston Matthews, the projected No. 1 overall pick in this year's NHL draft. The Arizona native spent the season with ZSC Lions in the Swiss League and finished second in scoring. He'll be joined by a trio of Michigan's CCM line in Kyle Connor, J.T. Compher and Tyler Motte, a Chicago Blackhawks prospect. Motte won't be the only Blackhawks prospect playing for Team USA as Rockford IceHogs' leading scorer (51 points) Vincent Hinostroza will also suit up. Oh and there's Detroit's Dylan Larkin, who also played for Michigan that will be a scoring threat with Columbus captain Nick Foligno.

Noah Hanifin, Jake McCabe, Chris Wideman and Conor Murphy lead the blue line. NHL backup goaltenders Mike Condon and Keith Kinkaid take the lead in net, while Boston College standout Thatcher Demko could also see time. Condon played 55 games during his rookie season for Montreal after Carey Price went on injury reserve.

Jordan Schroeder and Compher each scored in Team USA's 3-2 overtime loss to Finland in its exhibition game. Kinkiad and Condon combined for 25 saves in the loss.

Lines:

Wood-Hendricks-Fashing
Connor-Compher-Motte
Maroon-Matthews-Schroeder
Foligno-Larkin-Hinostroza

Hanifin-Murphy
McCabe-Wideman
Warsofsky-Santini

Kinkaid

Condon

Demko

Opponent Preview

Canada defeated Russia in last year's tournament to claim its first gold medal in eight years. Bill Peters, head coach for the Carolina Hurricanes, was an assistant a year ago and is back this year as the head coach. Corey Perry serves as Canada's captain and youngsters Connor McDavid and Max Domi provide some flash to the team.

The Canadians are young on defense with 26-year-old Chris Tanev as the oldest blue liner. They're also young in goal with Calvin Pickard and Cam Talbot, while veterans like Carey Price sit at home.

Ryan O'Reilly, Matt Duchene and McDavid each scored in Canada's 3-0 win over Czech Republic in its lone exhibition game. Talbot and Pickard combined for a 22-save shutout.

Lines:

Hall-Brassard-Reinhart
Domi-McDavid-Duchene
Jenner-O'Reilly-Gallagher
Hamilton-Scheifele-Stone

Rielly-Tanev
Murray-Ceci
Hutton-Dumba

Talbot

Pickard

Note: Lines are from Canada's exhibition game vs. Czech Republic

How to Watch

When: 8:15 a.m. CT

TV: NBCSN

Live Stream: NBCSN Live Extra

Full Team USA Schedule