Canucks: Conor Garland named top three player for U.S. at worlds
The Vancouver Canucks spark plug forward was named one of Team USA's top three players for the tournament Saturday after his squad beat Sweden 6-2 in the semifinals at Avicii Arena before what was announced as a sellout crowd of 12,350. The Americans will face either Denmark or Switzerland in the gold medal game tomorrow. Puck drop is 11:20 a.m. Pacific.
Garland gave the Americans a 3-0 lead over the Swedes, converting on a rebound off a one-timer chance from Logan Cooley. Garland has five goals and 10 points in nine games
The Americans also feature Canucks forward Drew O'Connor, 26. O'Connor has one goal and four points in nine games with the Americans so far in the tournament.
The Swedes featured Canucks defenceman Marcus Pettersson, as well as former Vancouver goalie Jacob Markstrom and centre Elias Lindholm.
Fellow forwards Cooley, who plays with the Utah Mammoth, and Frank Nazar, who plays for the Chicago Blackhawks, were also saluted along with Garland for their play in the tournament so far after the win over the Swedes.
The victory ended a 12-game losing streak in the semifinals for the Americans and has the U.S. playing in its first gold-medal game in the event since 1934.
'We played well as a team. We had some guys play awesome. We're just excited about the opportunity we've got,' Garland told reporters afterwards. 'We're locked in, we're playing our game.'
Garland is from Scituate, Mass., and this is his third worlds with the Americans. In 2021 in Latvia, he led the Americans in goals (six) and points (13) in 10 games and helped them to a bronze medal.
Garland, 29, had 19 goals and 50 points in 81 regular season games this past season for Vancouver. It was his fourth year with the team. He's an unrestricted after next season, finishing off a deal this coming campaign that has him at a cap hit of $4.95 million.
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