BC's James Hagens scores twice, US beats Slovakia 6-5 in world junior hockey

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Boston College forward James Hagens scored in a 1:03 span late in the second period and early in the third and the United States overcame a two-goal deficit to beat Slovakia 6-5 on Monday night in the world junior hockey championship.

Hagens, drafted seventh overall by the Boston Bruins this summer, tied it at 4 with 45 seconds left in the second, then gave the Americans the lead 18 seconds into the third.

“It lets us learn about what type of team we have,” Hagens said. “We don’t quit. So to be able to see that out there, how we all battled back and responded, it was good.”

The United States matched Sweden at 3-0 in Group A play ahead of their New Year’s Eve showdown. In the early game, Sweden had four power-play goals in an 8-1 romp over Germany.

“We have to be careful with some things like taking too long shifts or getting stuck on the blue lines," Swedish captain Jack Berglund said. "Stuff like that can punish us against the U.S. If we have a bad change, bad turnover, they will come with speed. We need to be ready for that.”

Berglund, Anton Frondell and Viggo Bjorck each scored twice.

“We had, from the start, good energy,” Berglund said. “We came at them hard.”

In Group B at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Penn State star Gavin McKenna had a hat trick as Canada took the pool lead with a 9-1 victory over Denmark.

Porter Marton had two goals and an assist, and Zayne Parekh, Michael Misa and Kashawn Aitcheson each had a goal and an assist. Parekh has played 11 games for the Calgary Flames this season.

In the early Group B game, Adam Jiricek scored at 3:39 of overtime to give Czechia a 2-1 victory over Finland. Emil Hemming tied it for Finland with 19.3 seconds left in regulation.

Caleb Heil backstopped the U.S. in goal, making 26 saves. He's from Victoria, Minnesota, and plays for Madison in the USHL. Fellow Minnesotans Brendan McMorrow and Will Zellers scored. McMorrow is from Lakeville and plays at Denver. Zellers, from Maple Grove, plays for North Dakota.

Lee Ryker of Michigan State and AJ Spellacy of Windsor of the OHL added goals. The U.S. played without defenseman Cole Hutson. The Boston University star was injured when he struck in the back of the head by a shot in a victory over Switzerland on Saturday.

“He’s like lightning in a bottle,“ McMorrow said. “He can make something out of nothing, and in a game like that, too, we could have used him. But you know, we’re battling through it and hopefully we’ll get him back soon.”

Tomas Chrenko scored twice for Slovakia.

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Canada goaltender Carter George (30) and Harrison Brunicke (4) defend against Denmark's William Bundgaard (19) in front of the net during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Championship hockey game in Minneapolis, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Czechia's Tomas Poletin (18) collides with Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen (30) during first period match at the world junior hockey championship in Minneapolis, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Czechia players celebrate after Adam Jirícek (not shown) scored the winning goal against Finland during overtime IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship game action in Minneapolis, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

United States forward Brendan McMorrow, left, celebrates after scoring during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey championship game against Slovakia, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

United States forward Brendan McMorrow (22) celebrates after scoring during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey championship game against Slovakia, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

United States forward James Hagens (10) celebrates after scoring during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey championship game against Slovakia, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 39 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder used a big third quarter to beat the skidding Atlanta Hawks 140-129 on Monday night.

Chet Holmgren had 24 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, and Jalen Williams added 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the NBA-leading Thunder (28-5).

Gilgeous-Alexander scored the Thunder's first eight points. He made 15 of 24 field goals and all seven of his foul shots. He scored at least 20 points for the 104th consecutive game.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 30 points and Onyeka Okongwu had 26 points and 14 rebounds for Atlanta (15-19), which has lost seven straight. The short-handed Hawks played without starters Trae Young (quad), Jalen Johnson (illness) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness).

The teams combined to shoot 86 3-pointers. The Hawks were 25 of 54 (46.3%), while the Thunder made 12 of 32 (37.5%). Oklahoma City scored 70 points in the paint compared to 36 for Atlanta.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of the Thunder's 35 first-quarter points. His three-point play with 3.4 seconds remaining pulled Oklahoma City even. But first cousin Alexander-Walker swished a 45-footer as time expired to put the Hawks in front 38-35.

Atlanta extended the advantage to 54-44 on a 3-pointer by Luke Kennard, but the Thunder pulled to 69-68 on a basket by Holmgren. Another buzzer-beater, this one an 8-footer by Dyson Daniels, gave Atlanta a 74-70 lead at halftime.

Oklahoma City took control early in the third quarter, outscoring Atlanta 30-11 for a 100-85 lead with 5:43 left. Gilgeous-Alexander (nine points) and Lu Dort (six points) sparked the run.

Atlanta got as close as 106-103 on a three-point play by Kennard. But the Thunder scored the next seven points to take a 113-103 lead into the fourth.

The Hawks kept it close after that. A 3-pointer by Zacchariw Risacher cut the Oklahoma City lead to 129-25 with 4:36 left.

Hawks: Host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.

Thunder: Host the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) attempts to block a shot by Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) as Thunder guard Cason Wallace, right, watches during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots over Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) spins away from Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, looks to shoot near Atlanta Hawks guard Keaton Wallace, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)