Earlier in the day, defenseman Dean Kukan played another solid game for Switzerland, which improved to 2-1-1-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in Group A with a 5-2 victory against Belarus at Royal Arena in Copenhagen.
Kukan has yet to record a point in the tournament but has played well as Switzerland's left point on the second defense pairing.
Looking forward to Thursday's action, the Jackets will have connections in all four games. French center Alexandre Texier will take on Slovakia and Russian defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov will face the Czech Republic in Copenhagen (Group A), while six players with Columbus connections will play in Group B.
Atkinson and Sonny Milano will try to help the U.S. stay undefeated in a game against Latvia, which will likely start Blue Jackets prospect Elvis Merzlikins in net. In the second game, defenseman Ryan Murrayand Dubois will play for Canada against Norway.
READ MORE: Atkinson's heroics highlight Day 1 at Worlds
NEWS & NOTES
Merzlikins has a sterling 1.00 goals-against average and .936 save percentage for Latvia through two games, but he's only faced a total of 31 shots in two starts combined. He started Tuesday and earned a shutout against Korea, but only faced 16 shots after allowing two goals on 15 shots in Latvia's 3-2 overtime win against Norway to start the tournament. … Nutivaara has five points on two goals and three assists, ranking 15th overall in scoring for the tournament. … Sweden and Russia are cruising through the field in Group A in the early going. Sweden, the defending champion, has yet to lose (4-0-0-0) in four games, sitting on top of the standings with 12 points and outscoring opponents 19-2, including three shutouts. Russia is 3-0-0-0 and hasn't allowed a single goal yet, outscoring its three opponents 20-0. … The U.S. has played one less game than Finland and is one point behind the Finns, who lead Group B with nine points in four games. Canada has seven points after three games to sit third in Group B, while Latvia, Denmark and Germany each have five points in a battle for the fourth-and-final spot out of the preliminary rounds.
LEARN MORE: IIHF Worlds schedule, stats and rosters
LOOKING AHEAD
Today
Group A
Slovakia vs France (Texier), 10:15 a.m.
Czech Republic vs. Russia (Gavrikov), 2:15 p.m. (NHL Network, 10 p.m. replay)
GROUP B
USA (Atkinson, Milano) vs Latvia (Merlikins, Kivlenieks), 10:15 a.m. (NHL Network live & 8 p.m. replay)
Norway vs. Canada (Dubois, Murray), 2:15 p.m. (NHL Network)
Friday
Group A
France (Texier) vs Austria, 10:15 a.m.
Belarus vs Czech Republic, 2:15 p.m.
Group B
Denmark (Bjorkstrand) vs Norway, 10:15 a.m. (NHL Network)
USA (Atkinson, Milano) vs Korea, 2:15 p.m. (NHL Network live & 8 p.m. replay)
Saturday
Group A
Slovakia vs Sweden, 6:15 a.m. (NHL Network)
Austria vs Belarus, 10:15 a.m.
Russia (Gavrikov) vs Switzerland (Kukan), 2:15 p.m.
Group B
Latvia (Merlikins, Kivlenieks) vs Germany, 6:15 a.m.
Denmark (Bjorkstrand) vs Korea, 10:15 a.m. (NHL Network)
Canada (Dubois, Murray) vs Finland (Nutivaara), 2:15 p.m. (NHL Network live & 7 p.m. replay)
Sunday
Group A
France (Texier) vs Czech, 10:15 a.m.
Switzerland (Kukan) vs Sweden, 2:15 p.m. (NHL Network)
Group B
Norway vs USA (Atkinson, Milano), 10:15 a.m. (NHL Network live & 7:30 p.m. replay)
Germany vs Finland (Nutivaara), 2:15 p.m. (NHL Network replay at 8:30 p.m.)
Monday
Group A
Russia (Gavrikov) vs Slovakia, 10:15 a.m. (NHL Network)
Czech vs Austria, 2:15 p.m.
Group B
Korea vs Norway, 10:15 a.m.
Canada (Dubois, Murray) vs Latvia (Merlikins, Kivlenieks), 2:15 p.m. (NHL Network live & 8 p.m. replay)
Tuesday
Group A
Switzerland (Kukan) vs France (Texier), 6:15 a.m.
Belarus vs Slovakia, 10:15 a.m.
Russia (Gavrikov) vs Sweden, 2:15 p.m. (NHL Network)
Group B
Finland (Nutivaara) vs USA (Atkinson, Milano), 6:15 a.m. (NHL Network live & 8 p.m. replay)
Canada (Dubois, Murray) vs Germany, 10:15 a.m. (NHL Network)
Latvia (Merlikins, Kivlenieks) vs Denmark (Bjorksrand), 2:15 p.m. (NHL Network)
Thursday, May 17
Quarterfinals (NHL Network)
Saturday, May 19
Semifinals (NHL Network)
Sunday, May 20
Gold, Bronze medal games (NHL Network)
