Actually, it was a little more complicated than that description.
Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane, who's wearing the captain's 'C' for Team USA, got the puck to Gaudreau to start the play. Gaudreau spotted Atkinson, uncovered near the left post, and sent a quick diagonal feed through the slot.
It went through traffic and nearly missed Atkinson, but the Jackets veteran stretched out his left skate to stop the puck, kicked it to his stick and jammed it home before Merzlikins could get his right skate over to stop it.
It was Atkinson's third goal and fifth point in four games, helping the U.S. stay unbeaten atop the Group B standings - tied at 10 points with Canada, the team Atkinson edged with two shootout goals to start the tournament.
Atkinson's hot start is a carryover from his scorching finish to the regular season, when he had 18 goals, 15 assists and 33 points in the Jackets' final 33 games to help clinch the first consecutive appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in franchise history.
He also had two goals, two assists and four points in the Blue Jackets' six-game loss to the Washington Capitals in the first round. Atkinson wasn't the only Columbus connection Thursday in Denmark, as all four games played had at least one Blue Jackets prospect or NHL player in action.
Sonny Milano also played for the U.S., Merzlikins made 30 saves on 33 shots for Latvia, Ryan Murray and Pierre-Luc Dubois each contributed in Canada's 5-0 victory against Norway, Alexandre Texier played for France in a 3-1 loss to Slovakia and defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov played his third straight game at left point on the top defense pairing for Russia - which lost its first game, 4-3, to the Czech Republic.
Merzlikins, who had a good season for Lugano in the Swiss league, was upset about the loss to the U.S. He didn't speak with reporters in the mixed zone afterward and declined interview requests.
"Elvis played a great game, but that's who he is and why he gets his team very far in playoffs and what he did
NEWS & NOTES
Murray and Dubois each had assists in Canada's win Thurday. Murray had a secondary assist on the first of three goals for Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Dubois had the only helped on a goal byBo Horvat to make it 5-0 at 2:24 of the third period. Dubois now has five points on two goals and three assists. … Milano got a promotion against Latvia, moving from the 13th forward to right wing on the fourth line. Milano's play during a 3-0 victory Monday against Germany was lauded by coach Jeff Blashill in a behind-the-scenes article written by Craig Custance of The Athletic on Tuesday. … Texier was held without a point in France's loss, his fourth straight game without getting a point, but the 18-year old center prospect was named best player of the game for his team. Texier has centered the third line in all four games. ... Asked if he might consider changing his number with the Blue Jackets from 13 to 89, now that he's off to such a great start at the world championships, Atkinson jokingly said he might consider it. "We'll have to see how the rest of the tournament goes," he said.
