Three third-period goals by Team USA sent the Americans to a 4-2 victory over Canada on Saturday.
A gutsy five-minute penalty kill by Team USA set the tone for what was an incredibly tight game. Alex DeBrincat took a five-minute major and received a game misconduct for spearing. The Americans killed the penalty, which spanned the end of the first and beginning of the second, but Canada got on the board first thanks to Matt Barzal. Colin White equalized late in the second, setting up a great third period.
The United States never trailed in the third period, as Zach Werenski put the Americans up a goal before being sent to the penalty box for slashing. Dylan Strome knotted things up before a pair of unanswered goal by Team USA gave us our final score.
Shots finished relatively evenly (27-25 Canada by virtue of a push after the USA took the lead for the final time) and both teams scored a power-play goal apiece (both on…questionable penalty calls). The win earns team USA all three points and hands Canada its first tournament-opening loss since 1998.
Auston Matthews had the game-icing fourth goal and an assist on the Americans’ second goal of the contest.
Sharks fifth-round draft pick from 2014, Rourke Chartier, picked up an assist on Canada’s game-opening goal.
Canada goals (assists): Matt Barzal (Rourke Chartier, Justin Gauthier), Dylan Strome (Mitch Marner, Travis Dermott)
USA goals (assists): Colin White (Sonny Milano, Christian Dvorak), Zach Werenski (Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk), Louis Belpedio (Will Borgen, Colin White)
[Stats]
Fear the Fin’s Three Stars
1) Auston Matthews
2) Zach Werenski
2) Alex Nedeljkovic
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