World Under 17 Hockey Challenge
 

Team USA  vs. Team Sweden
by Ryan Yessie

Sunday November 2nd 2014

Lambton Shores: USA got off to a quick start at the tournament opener in Lambton Shores. This included a shot off the post by USA forward Clayton Keller in the first 30 seconds.

While the American team couldn't solve Gusten Lindh early, they reverted to a very physical style of game punishing Sweden every time they touched the puck. USA got themselves into penalty trouble but goaltender Joseph Woll stood tall denying consecutive power play opportunities. Late in the first period Jacob Cederholm tried to force his shot from the point which Patrick Khorodenko blocked and took back for a breakaway. Lindh stopped the first shot but Max Jones quickly buried the rebound to give USA a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

An early penalty kill gave Sweden some early momentum in the second period and on their first power play of the period William Fallstrom banged home his own rebound to put Sweden on the board. Not long after Lias Andersson fired a low shot off the pad of Woll, unfortunately for USA the puck went right to Marcus Davidsson who tied the game at 2.

Sweden would make it three in a row when Andersson stripped Khorodenko then made an outstanding pass to set up Oliver Olsson. The lead would last no longer than a few seconds when Trent Frederic would re-tie this game scoring in the slot. Khorodenko then redeemed himself from the earlier mistake walking in off the wall on a powerplay and firing home the goal that would give the Amerrican team a 4-3 lead heading into the third period with a prolonged 5 on 3 opportunity.

The American team just couldn't get anything going on their long 5 on 3 power play giving Sweden some momentum drawing a power play of their own but mishandled the puck multiple times during the man advantage.

We saw plenty of end to end action but not much in terms of scoring chances early in the third, it wasn't until just over 6 minutes remaining when Clayton Keller took the puck end to end, circled the net then fired a wrist shot too shelf to give USA a 5 to 3 lead. With the man advantage Sweden would pull their goaltender but with less than two minutes remaining Nick Pastujov scored an empty netter to give USA a 6-3 victory over Sweden.

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