HALIFAX, Nova Scotia - Despite a third-period rally, the U.S. Men's National Team fell to Finland, 3-2, in overtime here tonight in the quarterfinals of the 72nd annual International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship.

"I thought we played well," said John Tortorella, head coach of Team USA. "We didn't give up a lot and neither did they. We took over in the third period and came back to tie it. It's hard to lose, but I'm proud of our team and their effort throughout the tournament."

Finland took a 1-0 lead just past the half-way point of the opening stanza when Tuomo Ruutu slid a backhanded shot between the pads of netminder Robert Esche (Utica, N.Y./Ak Bars Kazan) at 10:14.

In the second period, the Finland doubled its lead while on the power play. Olli Jokinen fed Janne Niskala for a one-timer from the top of the right faceoff circle at 5:45. Esche made 17 saves in the period to keep the score 2-0 at the end of 40 minutes.

Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis./Boston Bruins/University of Minnesota) and Drew Stafford (Milwaukee, Wis./Buffalo Sabres/University of North Dakota) scored in the final 4:05 of the third period to force overtime. With each team skating a man down, Kessel redirected a slap shot by Tim Gleason (Clawson, Mich./Carolina Hurricanes) past Niklas Backstrom to cut the deficit in half at 15:55. Just 37 seconds later, Stafford scored shorthanded on a wrist shot from the right dot after a feed from Adam Burish (Madison, Wis./Chicago Blackhawks/University of Wisconsin). The U.S. was forced to kill a five-on-three Finland power play in the final three minutes of regulation to force overtime.

After back and forth action in the extra frame, Finland's Sami Lepisto tallied the game-winning goal at 3:59 with a hard shot from right point and Saku Koivu providing the screen in front of Esche.

Esche made 30 saves and was named Team USA's Player of the Game.

The U.S. Men's National Team finished with a 4-0-0-3 record and placed fifth in the tournament.

NOTES: Forwards Dustin Brown (Ithaca, N.Y./L.A. Kigs) and Zach Parise (Minneapolis, Minn./New Jersey Devils/University of North Dakota) and defenseman Paul Martin (Minneapolis, Minn./New Jersey Devils/University of Minnesota) were named Team USA's best players of the tournament ... Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./Chicago Blackhawks/3-7--10) and Phil Kessel (6-4--10) led Team USA with 10 points each. Kessel led the team with six goals, while Kane and Martin paced the squad with seven assists each.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

First Period - Scoring: 1, FIN Ruutu (O. Jokinen), 10:14. Penalties: FIN, Selanne (hooking), 12:55; USA, Brown (interference), 17:31.

Second Period - Scoring: 2, FIN Niskala (Jokinen, Selanne), 5:45. Penalties: USA, Greene (high-sticking), 5:24; USA, Leopold (hooking), 8:19; FIN, Salmela (holding), 11:49.

Third Period - Scoring: 3, USA Kessel (Gleason), 15:44 (4x4); 4, USA Stafford (Burish), 16:21 (sh). Penalties: FIN, Luoma (interference) 7:28; FIN, Jokela (tripping), 14:01; USA, Brown (slashing), 15:22; USA, Stafford (hooking), 17:05.

Overtime - Scoring: 5, FIN Lepisto (Koivu, Selanne), 3:59. Penalties: None.
 

Power Play: USA 0-4, FIN 1-5
Penalties: USA 5-10, FIN 4-8
Officials: Referees - Christer Larking, Marcus Vinnerborg; Linesmen - Sylvan Losier, Fredrik Ulriksson
Attendance: 9,176

Team USA 2008 IIHF Men's World Championship Results
May 2-18 . Halifax, Nova Scotia and Quebec City, Quebec
 

Arena Locations: Cumberland County Civic Center (Portland, Maine); Halifax Metro Centre
(Halifax, Nova Scotia); Colise Pepsi (Quebec City, Quebec)

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia - Brandon Dubinsky (Anchorage, Alaska/New York Rangers) scored three times to help the U.S. Men's National Team to a 9-1 victory over Norway in the final qualifying-round game for both teams at the 72nd annual International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship.

"I was certainly pleased with the way we came back and played after a very tough game yesterday," said John Tortorella, head coach of Team USA. "We'll look forward to a good practice tomorrow and get ready for the quarterfinal game on Wednesday."

Team USA jumped to a 3-0 lead after the opening period. Dubinsky darted from the right circle to the slot and beat Pal Grotnes between the legs at 11:12 for the first goal of the game. Just 1:03 later, Dustin Brown (Ithaca, N.Y./L.A. Kings) capitalized off a Norway turnover and blasted one home from between the circles. Then, with just 57 seconds left in the period, Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./Chicago Blackhawks) converted a cross-crease pass from Zach Parise (Faribault, Minn./New Jersey Devils/University of North Dakota) with Team USA on the power play.

Dubinsky's second goal of the game, off the rebound of a Keith Ballard (Baudette, Minn./Phoenix Coyotes/University of Minnesota) shot from the point at 5:48 of the second period, made it 4-0 for Team USA. After Mats Trygg scored Norway's lone goal at 8:08, Paul Martin (Minneapolis, Minn./New Jersey Devils/University of Mnnesota) made a nifty move down the left side and tucked one in past Grotnes with the teams skating four-on-four at 11:19 to make it 5-1. Parise was on the receiving end of a pass from behind the net off the stick of Patrick O'Sullivan (Winston-Salem, N.C./L.A. Kings) and put the puck between the legs of Grotnes with Team USA on the power play at 12:18 for the final goal of the second stanza.

The U.S. added three more goals in the third period. Brown tallied his second goal of the game at 2:33 with a shot from the bottom of the left circle. Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis./Boston Bruins/University of Minnesota) tapped one home from the goal-mouth after a highlight-reel, blind spin-o-rama pass from Kane at 5:44. Dubsinky capped the scoring with a power-play goal at 11:35 on a shot from the top of the circles as Adam Burish (Madison, Wis./Chicago Blackhawks/University of Wisconsin) provided a screen.

Esche finished with 17 saves, while Grotnes and Ruben Smith combined to make 39 saves for Norway.

The U.S. Men's National Team will play a quarterfinal game Wednesday (May 14) against either Canada or Finland. If the U.S. plays Finland, the game will start at 8:15 p.m., while if the U.S. faces Canada, the game will begin at 4:30 p.m.

NOTES: Team USA had a 48-18 edge in shots on goal ... The nine goals scored were the most by Team USA in the World Championship since a 9-4 win over Norway in on April 23, 1990. Additionally, the eight-goal margin of victory was the most for a U.S. team since an 11-2 victory over Poland in the 1989 World Championship ... Brandon Dubinsky was named the U.S. Player of the Game ... Patrick Kane (3-7--10), Dustin Brown (5-4--9), Phil Kessel (5-4--9), Zach Parise (5-3--8) and Paul Martin (1-7--8) are Team USA's top point-getters through six games of the World Championship ... All 56 games from the 2008 IIHF Men's World Championship will be broadcast live on WCSN.com . The 2008 U.S. Men's National Team is under the direction of Jim Johannson, USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations, and a four-member advisory group, including NHL general managers Brian Burke (Anaheim), David Poile (Nashville), Ray Shero (Pittsburgh) and Don Waddell (Atlanta). Tony Rossi, vice president of USA Hockey and its international council chair, oversees all aspects of international competition for USA Hockey.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

First Period - Scoring: 1, USA Dubinsky (Burish), 11:12; 2, USA Brown (unassisted), 12:15; 3, USA Kane (Parise, Brown), 19:03 (pp). Penalties: NOR, Myrvold (interference), :54; USA, Stuart (kneeing), 6:25; NOR, Trygg (interference), 18:55

Second Period - Scoring: 4, USA Dubinsky (Ballard, Leopold), 5:48; 5, NOR Trygg (Holtet, Bastiansen), 8:08 (pp); 6, USA Martin (Kane, Mueller), 11:19; 7, USA Parise (O'Sullivan), Kessel), 12:18 (pp). Penalties: NOR, Hansen (delaying the game), :19; NOR, Holos (holding), 2:23; USA, Brown (slashing), 6:23; USA, Greene (interference), 7:35; USA, Leopold (slashing), 9:29; NOR, Olimb (holding), 10:23; NOR, Myrvold (slashing), 14:54; USA, O'Sullivan (tripping), 15:33; USA, Dubinsky (kneeing), 19:37.

Third Period - Scoring: 8, USA Brown (Gilbert, Ballard), 2:33; 9, USA Kessel (Kane, Wisniewski), 5:44; 10, USA Dubinsky (Gilbert), 11:35 (pp). Penalties: NOR, Holmstedt (hooking), 9:37; NOR, Skadsdammen (holding), 12:35; USA, Stafford (slashing), 13:02.
 

Power Play: USA 3-8, NOR 1-7
Penalties: USA 7-14, NOR 8-16
Officials: Referees - Vyacheslav Bulanov, Alexander Poliakov; Linesmen - Ivan Dedioulia, Yurly Oskirko
Attendance: 8,490

Team USA 2008 IIHF Men's World Championship Schedule
May 2-18 . Halifax, Nova Scotia and Quebec City, Quebec
 

Arena Locations: Cumberland County Civic Center (Portland, Maine); Halifax Metro Centre
(Halifax, Nova Scotia); Colise Pepsi (Quebec City, Quebec)

Taking a 2-0 lead into the third period, the U.S. got into penalty trouble early in the final period. With Finland enjoying a two-man advantage, Ville Koistinen's shot went through the side of the net and into the back of the goal at 2:12. The play was counted as a goal on the ice and after video review, the call was upheld. The IIHF formally acknowledged after the game the goal should not have counted and said the video goal judge that staffed the game will not be working the remainder of the tournament.

"I'm not sure what the replay official was looking at. I could see from the bench it went through the side of the net and, needless to say, I was shocked when they counted it," said John Tortorella, head coach of Team USA. "The bottom line, however, is that we didn't deserve to win the hockey game. I thought Esche played really well and gave us a chance."

After a scoreless first period, Tom Gilbert (Minneapolis, Minn./Edmonton Oilers/University of Wisconsin) put Team USA out in front at 1:30 of the second period. Just a second after a five-minute penalty to Olli Jokinen had expired for checking Tim Gleason (Clawson, Mich./Carolina Hurricanes) from behind, Lee Stempniak (West Senec, N.Y./St. Louis Blues/Dartmouth College) poked the puck to Gilbert between the circles and he wasted little time flipping it high into the net for his first goal of the World Championship. Esche made a spectacular glove save on Mikko Koivu's shorthanded shot from point-blank range in the final minute of middle stanza and on the ensuing U.S. rush up the ice, Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis./Boston Bruins/University of Minnesota) capitalized to stake the Team USA to a 2-0 advantage with just :45 left in the period. Stempniak and Paul Martin (Minneapolis, Minn./New Jersey Devils/University of Minnesota) drew assists on the goal.

With the U.S. ahead 2-1 after the Koistinen goal that should not have counted, Finland tied the game on a nice three-way passing play that was finished by Teemu Selanne with a tap-in from the side of the net at 10:44 of the third period. The game-winner came on a goal-mouth scramble that was eventually put in by Mikko Koivu at 16:10, just a second after a penalty to Team USA's James Wisniewski (Canton, Mich./Chicago Blackhawks) expired.

The U.S. Men's National Team will complete play in the qualification round tomorrow (May 12) against Norway at 12:30 p.m. AT.

NOTES: The game included 202 total minutes in penalties, including 106 on Team USA and 96 on Finland. David Backes (Minneapolis, Minn./St. Louis Blues/Minnesota State Mankato) received a match penalty at the 20:00 mark of the third period and can not play tomorrow against Norway as a result. Finland lost two players due to match penalties ... Esche made 22 saves in the third period, many during five Finland power plays ... Team USA has advanced to the quarterfinal round of the IIHF World Championship, regardless of the outcome of its game tomorrow against Norway. The U.S. will play its quarterfinal game at 8:15 p.m. AT on Wednesday (May 14) in Halifax against a yet-to-be-named opponent ... Robert Esche entered the game tonight 6-2-1 in nine previous games in the World Championship (1.70, .945) ... All 56 games from the 2008 IIHF Men's World Championship will be broadcast live on WCSN.com . The 2008 U.S. Men's National Team is under the direction of Jim Johannson, USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations, and a four-member advisory group, including NHL general managers Brian Burke (Anaheim), David Poile (Nashville), Ray Shero (Pittsburgh) and Don Waddell (Atlanta). Tony Rossi, vice president of USA Hockey and its international council chair, oversees all aspects of international competition for USA Hockey.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

First Period - Scoring: None. Penalties: FIN, Selanne (hooking), 1:56; FIN, Lepisto (delay of game), 9:56; USA, Gleason (tripping), 12:38; Jokinen (match penalty, checking from behind), 16:29.

Second Period - Scoring: 1, USA Gilbert (Kessel, Stempniak), 1:30; 2, USA Kessel (Stempniak, Martin), 19:15 (pp). Penalties: FIN, Niemi (roughing), :51; USA, Brown (roughing), :51; FIN, Vaananen (interference), 3:45; USA, Kessel (kneeing), 4:06; FIN, Backstrom (tripping), 5:49; FIN, Selanne (tripping), 8:40; USA, Parise (holding the stick), 10:17; USA, Greene (holding), 13:54; FIN, S. Koivu (boarding), 14;08; USA, Stuart (interference), 15:36; Vaananen (hooking), 18:31.

Third Period - Scoring: 3, FIN Koistinen (S. Koivu, Selanne), 2:12 (5x3 pp); 4, FIN Selanne (S. Koivu, Peltonen); 10:44; 5, FIN M. Koivu (Ruutu, Kapanen), 16:10. Penalties: USA, Booth (tripping), 1:05; USA, Greene (cross-checking), 1:34; USA, Greene (holding), 5:59; USA, Wisniewski (charging), 14:09; USA, Burish (butt-ending), 16:10; USA, Burish (game misconduct), 16:10; FIN, Jokinen (tripping), 17:26; FIN, Selanne (double minor, roughing), 60:00; FIN, Niemi (leaving the bench), 60:00; FIN, Niemi (misconduct), 60:00; FIN, Salmela (match penalty, fighting), 60:00; USA, Backes (match penalty, fighting), 60:00; USA, Greene (leaving the bench), 60:00; USA, Greene (misconduct), 60:00; USA, Brown (checking to the head and neck area), 60:00; USA, Brown (misconduct), 60:00.
 

Power Play: FIN 1-10, USA 1-7
Penalties: FIN 16-96, USA 18-106
Officials: Referees - Vyacheslav Bulanov, Alexander Poliakov; Linesmen - Ivan Dedioulia, Yurly Oskirko
Attendance: 8,867

THURSDAY, MAY 8 -- HALIFAX, Nova Scotia - The U.S. Men's National Team jumped out to a 3-0 lead less than three minutes into the game and went on to a 6-4 victory over Germany here tonight in the first qualifying-round game for both teams at the 72nd annual International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship.

"Overall, I thought we played pretty well," said John Tortorella, head coach of Team USA. "I give Germany a lot of credit. They kept coming at us and never gave up. It was certainly an important win for our hockey team."

The U.S. stormed to a 1-0 lead just 26 seconds into the game. Zach Parise (Minneapolis, Minn./New Jersey Devils/University of North Dakota) was on the receiving end of a Jason Pominville (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Sabres) pass and beat German netminder Dimitrji Patzold from 10 feet out between the circles to the stick side. Patrick O'Sullivan (Winston-Salem, N.C./L.A. Kings) made it 2-0 at 2:10 when he scored on a backhander from the bottom of the right circle. Just 42 seconds later, James Wisniewski (Canton, Mich./Chicago Blackhawks) gained control of the puck after it bounced off his skate and then put a backhanded shot past Patzold from close range. The Germans did not quit, however, and received goals from Michael Hackert at 16:04 and Christopher Schmidt on the power play at 17:52 to close the gap to 3-2 after 20 minutes.

The teams traded second period goals. Pominville scored on a two-man advantage from just above the goal line off the rebound of Patrick Kane's (Buffalo, N.Y./Chicago Blackhawks) slap shot from the left circle at 6:52 to give the U.S. a 4-2 lead. Florian Busch put Germany back to within a goal when he tucked the puck in from the side of the net with U.S. netminder Craig Anderson (Park Ridge, Ill./Florida Panthers) down and out.

Germany tied the game at 4:55 of the third on a goal off the stick of Michael Bakos. Parise accounted for the game-winner with a power-play marker at 11:04 when his shot from the bottom of the right circle went off the pad of Patzold, then off the post and in. Paul Martin (Minneapolis, Minn./New Jersey Devils/University of Minnesota) and Kane assisted on the goal. Dustin Brown (Ithaca, N.Y./L.A. Kings) sealed the victory with an empty-net tally at 18:24.

Anderson played the first 44:55 and made six saves on ten shots. Robert Esche (Utica, N.Y.) went the final 15:05 and stopped all five shots he faced.

The U.S. Men's National Team will return to action on Sunday (May 11) against Finland in its second game of the qualification round.
 

NOTES: Germany's first-period power-play goal was the first power-play goal yielded in the World Championship by Team USA. In its first three games of the event, the Americans killed off all 12 opponent power plays ... Patrick O'Sullivan, Dustin Brown and Patrick Kane each extended their point streaks to four games. They are the three U.S. players that have registered at least one point in all four of Team USA's games at the World Championship to date ... A total of 12 different U.S. players tallied at least one point in the game ... Team USA outshot Germany, 42-15 ... All 56 games from the 2008 IIHF Men's World Championship will be broadcast live on WCSN.com . The 2008 U.S. Men's National Team is under the direction of Jim Johannson, USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations, and a four-member advisory group, including NHL general managers Brian Burke (Anaheim), David Poile (Nashville), Ray Shero (Pittsburgh) and Don Waddell (Atlanta). Tony Rossi, vice president of USA Hockey and its international council chair, oversees all aspects of international competition for USA Hockey.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

First Period - Scoring: 1, USA Parise (Pominville, Martin), :26; 2, USA O'Sullivan (Kessel, Backes), 2:10; 3, USA Wisniewski (Stafford, Stempniak), 2:52; 4, GER Hackert (Gogulla, Wolf), 14:03; 5, GER Schmidt (Seidenberg, Tripp), 17:52 (pp). Penalties: USA, Wisniewski (hooking), 17:08; GER, Ustorf (hooking), 18:18.

Second Period - Scoring: 6, USA Pominville (Kane, Mueller), 6:52 (5x3 pp); 7, GER Busch (Schmidt, Sturm), 10:23. Penalties: GER, Hordler (hooking), 5:24; GER, Bakos (boarding), 5:24; GER, Wolf (tripping), 11:09; GER, Schubert (high-sticking), 15:43.

Third Period - Scoring: 8, GER Bakos (Ullmann, Seidenberg), 4:55 (pp); 9, USA Parise (Martin, Kane), 11:04 (pp); 10, USA Brown (Parise), 18:24 (en). Penalties: USA, Leopold (slashing), 4:09; GER, Osterloh (roughing), 8:11; GER, Osterloh (contact to the head), 8:11; GER, Osterloh (misconduct), 8:11; USA, Backes (roughing), 8:11; GER, Schubert (cross-checking), 9:57; GER, Seidenberg (delaying the game), 15:31; Kessel (hooking), 17:20; USA, Greene (hooking) 18:43.
 

Power Play: USA 5-10, GER 10-28
Penalties: USA 2-8, GER 2-4
Officials: Referees - Vyacheslav Bulanov, Alexander Poliakov; Linesmen - Sylvan Losier, Fredrik Ulriksson
Attendance: 7,352

MAY 6, 2008 -- HALIFAX, Nova Scotia - Despite coming back from a 3-0 deficit, the U.S. Men's National Team fell to Canada, 5-4, here today in its final preliminary-round game of the 72nd annual International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship. The U.S. finished in second place in Group B at the end of the preliminary round with a 2-0-0-1 record.

"It was a heckuva hockey game," said John Tortorella, head coach of Team USA. "We were down 2-0 after the first period and I thought it was maybe our best period of the tournament. I thought both teams played hard. It's disappointing to come out on the losing side, but it's a real positive to be able to play a high level game like this early in the tournament. And that's meant with no disrespect to our first two opponents."

Despite outshooting Canada, 13-6, Team USA found itself down 2-0 after the first 20 minutes. Brent Burns tallied Canada's first goal after firing a wrist shot from the middle point that beat netminder Tim Thomas (Flint, Mich./Boston Bruins/University of Vermont) on the blocker side. Dany Heatley doubled Canada's lead after collecting his own rebound and sliding the puck under Thomas with just 11 seconds remaining in the first.

After Jonathon Toews gave Canada a 3-0 lead just 18 seconds into the middle frame, the U.S. answered back with two quick goals. Just 34 seconds later, Jason Pominville (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Sabres) fed Zach Parise (Minneapolis, Minn./New Jersey Devils/University of North Dakota) who shoveled it past netminder Cam Ward. At the 3:09 mark, Patrick O'Sullivan (Winston-Salem, N.C./L.A. Kings) notched his second goal of the tournament. Tom Gilbert (Minneapolis, Minn./Edmonton Oilers/University of Wisconsin) sprung Drew Stafford (Milwaukee, Wis./Buffalo Sabres/University of North Dakota) with a long pass up the middle, then Stafford fed O'Sullivan who fired the puck past Ward on the blocker side. Thomas left the game after the second period with an injury and was replaced by Craig Anderson (Park Ridge, Ill./Florida Panthers).

Canada's Derek Roy opened the scoring of a hotly-contested third period at the 3:29 mark to give his team a 4-2 lead. Team USA answered back with a power-play tally just 1:49 later to pull back within one goal. Dustin Brown (Ithaca, N.Y./L.A. Kings) tapped the puck home after receiving a pass across the crease from O'Sullivan. Parise also drew an assist on the play. While on another man advantage just 1:36 later, Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./Chicago Blackhawks) sent a cross-ice pass to Pominville who fired the puck past Ward from the left side of the net to tie the game at four. With time ticking down in regulation, Canada took an odd-man break down the ice and Ryan Getzlaf fed Heatley who one-timed a shot past the outstretched glove of Anderson at the 19:13 mark. The U.S. had one last gasp in the final :30 after pulling Anderson in favor of an extra attacker and on a power play, but was unable to get the equalizer.

Thomas and Anderson combined for 24 saves. Team USA out shot Canada, 33-29.

The U.S. Men's National Team will return to action on Thursday (May 8) against a yet to be determined opponent in its first game of the qualification round.
 

NOTES: Dustin Brown (3-2--5) and Patrick Kane (2-3--5) lead Team USA with five points apiece ... All 56 games from the 2008 IIHF Men's World Championship will be broadcast live on WCSN.com . The 2008 U.S. Men's National Team is under the direction of Jim Johannson, USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations, and a four-member advisory group, including NHL general managers Brian Burke (Anaheim), David Poile (Nashville), Ray Shero (Pittsburgh) and Don Waddell (Atlanta). Tony Rossi, vice president of USA Hockey and its international council chair, oversees all aspects of international competition for USA Hockey.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

First Period - Scoring: 1, CAN Burns (Staal, St. Louis), 8:26; 2, CAN Heatley (Nash, Getzlaf), 19:49. Penalties: CAN, Burns (elbowing), 2:02; CAN, Getzlaf (hooking), 4:09; CAN, Chimera (high-sticking), 10:51.

Second Period - Scoring: 3, CAN Toews (Doan, Kunitz), :18; 4, USA Parise (Pominville, Brown), :52; 5, USA O'Sullivan (Stafford, Gilbert), 3:09. Penalties: None.

Third Period - Scoring: 6, CAN Roy (Kunitz, Doan), 3:29; 7, USA Brown (O'Sullivan, Parise), 5:18 (pp). 8, USA Pominville (Kane, Kessel), 6:54 (pp); 9, CAN Heatley (Nash, Getzlaf), 59:13. Penalties: USA, Gleason (slashing), 1:24; CAN, Toews (high-sticking), 4:24; CAN, Heatley (roughing), 5:33; USA, Backes (holding), 13:09; CAN, Toews (roughing), 18:31; USA, Stempniak (roughing), 18:31; CAN, Roy (delay of game), 59:36; CAN, Hamhuis (roughing), 60:00; USA, Ballard (roughing), 60:00.
 

Power Play: USA 6-12, CAN 10-20
Penalties: USA 2-8, CAN 0-4
Officials: Referees - Vyacheslav Bulanov, Christer Larking; Linesmen - Frantisek Kalivoda, Yuriy Oskirko
Attendance: 9,192

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia - Behind three goals from Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis./Boston Bruins/University of Minnesota), the U.S. Men's National Team gained a 5-1 victory here tonight over Slovenia in the second preliminary round game for both teams at the 72nd annual International Ice Hockey World Championship.

"I thought we played a solid second and third period after a slow start in the first period," said U.S. Head Coach John Tortorella. "I like our team an awful lot. We still have some things to work on, but we've gotten the job done so far."

Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./Chicago Blackhawks) staked Team USA to a 1-0 advantage at 11:12 of the opening period. After Zach Parise (Minneapolis, Minn./New Jersey Devils/University of North Dakota) forced a Slovenia turnover in the slot, Dustin Brown (Ithaca, N.Y./L.A. Kings) fed Kane between the circles to account for the fifth straight power-play goal for Team USA in the tournament.

The U.S. took a 2-0 lead 6:48 into the second period when Kessel beat Slovenia netminder Robert Kristan from the side of the left circle with a wrist shot to the blocker side. James Wisniewski (Canton, Mich./Chicago Blackhawks) and Jason Pominville (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Sabres) drew assists on the power-play goal. Kessel scored his second power-play marker of the game at 12:41 when he fired a low wrist shot home from the bottom of the left circle. Peter Mueller (Bloomington, Minn./Phoenix Coyotes) fed Kessel while Paul Martin (Minneapolis, Minn./New Jersey Devils/University of Minnesota) started the play. Anze Kopitar beat U.S. netminder Tim Thomas (Flint, Mich./Boston Bruins/University of Vermont) from the side of the left circle at 16:36 to account for the lone Slovenia goal of the evening. It is the only goal Thomas has given up in the tournament.

Team USA finished the scoring with a pair of third-period goals. Captain Jeff Halpern (Potomac, Md./Tampa Bay Lightning/Princeton University) made a nice move to the center slot before feeding David Booth (Detroit, Mich./Florida Panthers/Michigan State University) for a tap-in at the side of the net at 5:05. Kessel put home his third goal of the night at 9:24 when he converted a pass across the goal mouth from Patrick O'Sullivan (Winston-Salem, N.C./L.A. Kings).

Thomas finished with 11 saves, while Team USA outshot Slovenia 37-12.

The U.S. Men's National Team will practice tomorrow before facing Canada on Tuesday (May 6) at 4:30 p.m. AT.
 

NOTES: The U.S., with its win tonight, clinched a spot in the qualification round of the IIHF World Championship, regardless of the outcome of Tuesday's (May 6) final preliminary-round game against Canada. The top three teams in each of the four-team groups advance to the qualification round ... Dustin Brown was the last U.S. player prior to Phil Kessel tonight to score three or more goals in IIHF World Championship play. Brown racked up all three of Team USA's goals in its 3-1 win over Norway in preliminary round play at the 2006 IIHF World Championship ... Team USA has won its first two games of the IIHF World Championship in each of the last four years ... All 56 games from the 2008 IIHF Men's World Championship will be broadcast live on WCSN.com . The 2008 U.S. Men's National Team is under the direction of Jim Johannson, USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations, and a four-member advisory group, including NHL general managers Brian Burke (Anaheim), David Poile (Nashville), Ray Shero (Pittsburgh) and Don Waddell (Atlanta). Tony Rossi, vice president of USA Hockey and its international council chair, oversees all aspects of international competition for USA Hockey.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

First Period - Scoring: 1, USA Kane (Brown), 11:12 (pp). Penalties: USA, Halpern (high-sticking), 2:02; USA, Greene (holding), 7:11; SLO, Dervaric (interference), 10:46; SLO, Hebar (delaying the game), 14:35; USA, Ballard (checking to the head), 18:18; USA, Ballard (misconduct), 18:18; SLO, Varl (holding), 19:47.

Second Period - Scoring: 2, USA Kessel (Wisniewski, Pominville), 6:48 (pp); 3, USA Kessel (Mueller, Martin), 12:41 (pp); 4, SLO Kopitar (Razingar, Kranjc), 16:36. Penalties: SLO, Varl (hooking), 5:17; SLO, Vidmar (hooking), 12:10.

Third Period - 5, USA Booth (Halpern, Stafford), 5:05; 6, USA Kessel (O'Sullivan, Burish), 9:24. Penalties: USA, Stempniak (slashing), 9:24; SLO, Rodman (roughing), 18:23; USA, Backes (roughing), 18:23.
 

MAY 2, 2008 -- HALIFAX, Nova Scotia - The U.S. Men's National Team, behind 24 saves from Tim Thomas (Flint, Mich./Boston Bruins/University of Vermont) and four power play goals, earned a 4-0 victory over Latvia here tonight in the opening game for both teams at the 72nd annual International Ice Hockey World Championship.

"I give our guys a lot of credit," said U.S. Head Coach John Tortorella, the all-time winningest American-born coach in National Hockey League history. "Latvia is a very tough team to play against and I like the way we grinded it out."

Team USA had a 1-0 lead after the opening period. The goal came on the first of three U.S. power play opportunities in the stanza as Dustin Brown (Ithaca, N.Y./L.A. Kings) put home the rebound of a Paul Martin (Minneapolis, Minn./New Jersey Devils/University of Minnesota) shot from the center point. Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./Chicago Blackhawks) was also credited with an assist on the play.

The U.S. scored the only goal of the second period when Kane put a wrist shot from the side of the right circle into the upper corner of the net at 8:44 with Team USA on the power play. Martin drew an assist on the play. Lee Stempniak (West Seneca, N.Y./St. Louis Blues/Dartmouth College) was hauled down going in alone on a break at 11:34 and a penalty shot was awarded. Stempniak, who led Team USA in points at the 2007 IIHF World Championship, was stopped, however. Thomas was solid in goal and made a handful of point blank saves, including on Herberts Vasiljevs shot from the bottom of the left circle with :26 left in the period.

Zach Parise (Faribault, Minn./New Jersey Devils/University of North Dakota) staked Team USA to a 3-0 lead 7:09 into the third period when he put home the rebound of his own shot at the right side of the net. Kane made a nice move to the slot before feeding Parise. Patrick O'Sullivan (Winston-Salem, N.C./L.A. Kings) finished the scoring with a power play goal at 11:05 when he banged in his own rebound. Peter Mueller (Bloomington, Minn./Phoenix Coyotes) and Martin gained assists.

Team USA will practice tomorrow before facing Slovenia on Sunday (May 4) at 8:15 p.m.
 

NOTES: Team USA wore replica jerseys from the 1960 gold-medal winning U.S. Olympic Ice Hockey Team tonight. It will be their lone appearance in the jersey in the tournament ... Dustin Brown (Ithaca, N.Y./L.A. Kings), who scored Team USA's first goal of the game and one that proved to be the game-winner, had three goals in Team USA's first game of the 2006 IIHF World Championship, a 3-1 win over Norway ... Team USA had the first 13 shots on goal in the third period. Latvia's first shot on goal in the period came with 10 minutes gone in the stanza ... The U.S. outshot Latvia in the game by a 49-24 count ... Team USA has won its first game of the IIHF World Championship in each of the last four years ... All 56 games from the 2008 IIHF Men's World Championship will be broadcast live on WCSN.com . The 2008 U.S. Men's National Team is under the direction of Jim Johannson, USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations, and a four-member advisory group, including NHL general managers Brian Burke (Anaheim), David Poile (Nashville), Ray Shero (Pittsburgh) and Don Waddell (Atlanta). Tony Rossi, vice president of USA Hockey and its international council chair, oversees all aspects of international competition for USA Hockey.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

First Period - Scoring: 1, USA Brown (Martin, Kane), 7:21 (pp). Penalties: USA, Ballard (tripping), 2:05; LAT, J. Redlihs (tripping), 6:55; LAT, Saviels (interference), 8:57; LAT, M. Redlihs (slashing), 12:01; USA, Stempniak (hooking), 13:02; USA, Gleason (roughing), 15:55.

Second Period - Scoring: 2, USA Kane (Martin), 8:44 (pp). Penalties: USA, Backes (charging), 1:20; LAT, Jerofejevs (tripping), 7:42; LAT, Saviels (holding-penalty shot), 11:34; USA, Backes (roughing), 18:44; LAT, Rekis (tripping), 18:44; USA, Wisniewski (cross-checking), 19:58.

Third Period - 3, USA Parise (Kane, Brown), 7:09 (pp); 4, USA O'Sullivan (Martin, Mueller), 11:05 (pp). Penalties: LAT, Jerofejevs (interference), 1:23; LAT, M. Redlihs (hooking), 1:41; LAT, K. Redlihs (interference), 6:04; USA, Burish (cross-checking), 8:07; LAT, Ivanans (cross-checking), 8:07; LAT, Darzins (slashing), 9:56; USA, Halpern (high-sticking), 14:21; LAT, Lavins (tripping), 18:35; LAT, Sirokovs (roughing), 19:58; USA, Stafford (roughing), 19:58; LAT, M. Redlihs (charging), 20:00.