USA demolishes Denmark to open WJHC title defense

Casey Mittelstadt and Kieffer Bellows poured in two goals apiece as the United States cruised past Denmark 9-0 in both teams' first preliminary round games Tuesday at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Buffalo.

The U.S. scored five times in the first period, and American goaltender Joseph Woll stopped all 17 shots he faced to secure the shutout.

Max Jones, Kailer Yamamoto, Patrick Harper, Andrew Peeke, and Dylan Samberg also tallied in the rout.

Next up for the Americans is a Thursday matchup with Slovakia. Denmark next faces Finland at noon ET that day.

The U.S. defeated Canada in a shootout to win the gold medal at last year's tournament.