GOTHENBURG, Sweden - The stage is set for an intense battle between the U.S. and Latvia in the quarterfinals of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. The faceoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. local time, which translates to 11 a.m. Eastern Time. Hockey enthusiasts can catch the live action on NHL Network.

After securing victories in all four of their preliminary round matches, Team USA emerged as the winners of Group B, while Latvia finished fourth in Group A with one win to their name. The winner of this quarterfinal clash will advance to the much-anticipated semifinals coming up on January 4th.

Team USA has exhibited incredible offensive prowess throughout the tournament, bagging an astonishing average of 7.25 goals per game. In contrast, Latvia initially struggled to score but managed to put six goals past Germany in their final preliminary round game.

Leading the charge for Team USA are the trio of Gavin Brindley (6 goals, 2 assists - 8 points), Cutter Gauthier (1 goal, 7 assists - 8 points), and Frank Nazar (8 assists - 8 points). These players are currently tied for the second-highest point total in the tournament, just one point away from the top spot.

This is not the first time the U.S. and Latvia have faced off in the World Juniors. In their four previous encounters, Team USA has emerged victorious on every occasion. Last year, they secured a convincing 5-2 win over Latvia in the preliminary round.

With their exceptional performance in the tournament, Team USA holds the position of the top overall seed. The quarterfinals will determine the reseeding, and if the U.S. advances, they will face the lowest-ranked team in the semifinals. The semifinals are scheduled at either 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET) or 7:30 p.m. local time (1:30 p.m. ET). The top four seeds in the tournament are USA-1, Sweden-2, Canada-3, and Slovakia-4.

Throughout their history, Team USA has demonstrated their strength in the quarterfinals, boasting a record of 13-9. Looking back at last year's tournament, they sealed an incredible 11-1 victory over Germany in the quarterfinals. Head Coach David Carle emphasized the team's growth and focus, saying, "We've continued to grow as a group - from this summer, to our camp in December prior to the tournament, and through the preliminary round. Our guys are focused on the mission at hand, and we know we'll be facing a very good Latvian team in the quarterfinals."

Hockey fans worldwide eagerly await an exhilarating clash between these two skilled teams as they battle for a spot in the highly-anticipated semifinals of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.