Top Bruins prospects power Team USA to thrilling comeback win at World Juniors

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With Team USA trailing Slovakia 4-3 in the second period at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships on Monday, a pair of Bruins prospects took over.

James Hagens and Will Zellers combined to score the game’s next three goals, and Team USA left Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota with a 6-5 win.

Hagens tied the game with 44.1 seconds left in the second period. The Boston College product got the puck at the top of the slot and beat Slovakia goalie Michal Pradel with a blocker side wrist shot.

After the intermission, Hagens gave the United States their first lead of the night 18 seconds into the third period, corralling a rolling puck in front of the Slovakian net and slamming it past Pradel.

Zellers gave Team USA some breathing room 4:34 into the third period. With the Americans on the power play and winger Brodie Ziemer carrying the puck towards the net, Zellers snuck to the back door undetected and deflected a slap pass past Pradel with his skate. After review, it was deemed a good goal and Team USA went up 6-4.

Zellers’ goal went in the books as the game-winner, as Slovakia scored later in the third, while Hagens’ two goals netted him player of the game honors.

It’s been a strong start to the tournament for the two Bruins prospects. In Team USA’s first three games, Zellers now has four goals and two assists, and Hagens has two goals and two assists.

An Avalanche third-round pick in 2024, Zellers was traded to the Bruins in the Charlie Coyle deal last March, while Boston selected Hagens with the No. 7 overall pick in last summer’s NHL Draft. Zellers has 10 goals and five assists at North Dakota this season, while Hagens has 10 goals and eight assists for Boston College.

Team USA improved to 3-0 in the tournament with Monday’s win. They’ll return to action against Sweden on New Year’s Eve.