At 3 pm (CST) today, the US National Junior Team will face off against Canada in the 2015 IIHF World Junior Tournament. Each team enters the rivalry game undefeated and are fighting for the top spot in Group A heading into the quarterfinals.

The matchup features two of the top teams in the tournament as the US and Canada enter the contest having each allowed only one goal over three games while scoring 11 and 16 respectively.  They are each loaded with NHL prospects, including a combined 15 first round picks and the two players (Jack Eichel & Connor McDavid) expected to go first and second overall in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Historically, Canada has dominated the US in World Junior competition, but the tide has been turning in recent years.  Canada has been held without a medal each of the past two years and hasn’t won gold since 2009.  The US beat Canada in overtime to capture gold in 2010 and used a 5-1 victory against them in the semifinals as a momentum boost on their way to another gold medal in 2013.

While each team has secured a trip to the next round, there is still a lot on the line as they prepare for puck drop. The winner of this game could secure an easier path to the gold medal game, potentially avoiding defending champion Finland and the likely Group B winner in Sweden.

Add it all up and this is the most highly anticipated game of the tournament so far, and the action begins at 3 pm on NHL Network. 

Join us (and Darren) in cheering on Team USA!