Friday, April 20, 2012

USA wins North American battle

Press Release

United States – Canada 2-1 (1-1, 0-0, 1-0)

BRNO – In a tightly-contested match marked by clean hits and strong physical play, the United States prevailed 2-1 against Canada to set up a third straight rematch against Sweden in the final of the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship.

Kyle Osterberg scored the game-winning goal as the U.S. overcame a spirited effort from the Canadians to set the stage for a potential fourth straight gold medal.

The Americans defeated Canada 5-3 in their final preliminary round game Tuesday, earning a bye into the semis after finishing the round robin first in group A with an unbeaten record. Canada beat Russia 4-2 in the quarter-finals to earn a rematch with their North American rivals.

As in their first game, the teams came into the third period with the score tied. A big open-ice hit by Canadian captain Matt Dumba on Andrew Copp at the blue line got a loud response from his team bench near the start of the frame, hoping to shift the momentum to the Canadian side. But only minutes later U.S captain Seth Jones blasted a puck from the high slot area, the shot missed wide of the Canadian net but was picked up by teammate Kyle Osterberg behind the net, who slotted it home on the wraparound for the go-ahead goal.

Down 2-1 and facing elimination, Canada began to play with a sense of urgency, which meant giving up more than a few odd man rushes to the US. The Canadians had the best chance to tie at 6:37 when Ryan Hartman was called for interference on a hit against Felix Girard, but the team could not capitalize.

The game started in typical fashion for a Canada-USA match. The Americans tested Murray early and often and both teams delivered a steady stream of body checks on one another as they battled for puck possession. The United States drew first blood at 10:36 when Matt Lane won the puck along the boards and then dropped a pass down to JT Compher. Compher beat Murray with a shot from the side of the net from a tough angle to score.

The game took a bizarre turn near the end of the period, when U.S. forward Andrew Copp got checked into the netting behind Murray’s goal. Compher’s facemask got caught in the netting, and he had to remove it and go to the bench. In the meantime Canada found itself on an impromptu 5-on-4, and Gemel Smith scored with a long shot from the blue line to tie the game 1-1 going into the first intermission.

The US held the puck for most of the second frame but neither team could find the back of the net. Both goaltenders caught a few breaks, first Murray whose crossbar deflected a high shot away from the net, and with Olson who was beaten on a shot that hit the right post and out.

Canadian discipline broke down near the end of the period, with consecutive penalties on Adam Pelech and Felix Girard forcing the penalty killers to be on the ice for the final four minutes. But the team held on and the score remained 1-1 going into the second intermission.

The victory means the three time defending champions will take on Sweden on Sunday for the gold medal. In the last two championship finals, the U.S. beat the Swedes each time to claim gold. Canada will face Finland in the bronze medal game, also on Sunday.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

No comments: