Paired with Connor Murphy (PHX), McCabe showed his footwork and mobility in a variety of situations in the tourney opener. On his very first shift, the 19-year old waltzed into the German zone, skated the puck deep beneath the goal line, and slung a quick shot from a poor angle. In his left defense post, the Eau Claire, Wis. native showed good awareness in using his angles and stick.
The four penalty minutes arrived via holding and tripping calls. The holding penalty came in the second period with fellow defender Jacob Trouba already in the box, putting the Americans down two men.
The USA defense corps, which surrendered 26 shots to the Germans, will face a much stiffer test Friday when they take on Mikhail Grigorenko and the host Russians. With a victory, USA can maintain the top position in Group B heading into Sunday's showdown with Canada.
