via USA Hockey,

The U.S. and Germany meet tonight in the first game for both teams at the 2017 IIHF Men’s World Hockey Championship. Opening faceoff is set for 8:15 p.m. local time (2:15 p.m. ET) and can be seen live in the U.S. on NHL Network (also streamed live on NBC Sports app and on NBCSports.com).

The two teams have met 15 times previously in the world championship, with the U.S. holding an 8-0-1-3-3 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) series advantage. Last year, Germany edged the U.S. by a 3-2 count in preliminary round play at the world championship.

The last time the tournament was held in Germany in 2010, the U.S. opened the tournament against Germany before a then world-record crowd of 77,803 at Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, with the hosts taking a 2-1 overtime victory.

The U.S. has won its opening game of the men’s world championship in 10 of the past 12 years.

Jimmy Howard is expected to be the starter in goal tonight. He is playing in his second IIHF Men’s World Championship. In 2012, he went 5-2 with a 2.42 goals against average and .911 save percentage and was named one of Team USA’s best three players of the tournament.

The full tournament schedule is below...