2019 World Juniors: Blackhawks’ Evan Barratt leads Team USA to 2-1 win over Slovakia

Evan Barratt scored the game-winning goal at 5:43 of the third period to lift the United States to a 2-1 comeback win over Slovakia in Group B action of the World Junior Championship on Friday in Victoria, British Columbia.

Barratt, a 2017 third-round draft pick by the Blackhawks, took the puck from below the goal line then skated to the area between the faceoff circles before ripping a backhander into the net past goaltender Samuel Hlavaj.

Barratt, who is a Penn State sophomore, was named the U.S. player of the game.

American captain Mikey Anderson (Kings) scored a power play goal in the second.

Marek Korencik tallied Slovakia’s lone goal in the second period to take a 1-0 lead over the Americans.

Barratt then helped U.S. level the score by screening Hlavaj for Anderson’s goal to go into the net without Hlavaj seeing it.

Barratt almost scored another goal with eight minutes remaining, scooping up the puck in the slot and firing it on net then on a rebound.

With 6:45 left in the third period, U.S. goaltender Kyle Keyser stopped a penalty shot by Adam Ruzička (Flames) to seal the win.

Up next

Barratt and Team USA continue group play Friday against Kazakhstan.