Four two periods, it appeared things wouldn't break right for the United States despite controlling the majority of the pace and puck possession Monday. After 40 minutes, Norway was on the brink of an upset with a two-goal lead, but after a furious rally in the third period, the Americans finally broke through with four goals to take a 4-2 comeback victory in group play at the IIHF World Championships in Kosice, Slovakia.
Team USA finally got on the board when Chris Kreider found Nick Palmieri on the right side of the net early in the third period. A score by Jack Skille 2:43 later tied the game, getting the U.S. off the hook of what would have potentially been a significant upset.
"In the third we started to move a little better. We were more in sync and we started to create more," American defenceman Jack Johnson told the IIHF's official website. "Earlier [in the game] we weren't playing with enough confidence and making plays. But I thought we took over the game in the third."
The U.S. took the lead with Palmieri's second goal of the game at 13:44 of the third and a power-play goal by Craig Smith put the game away for good with 86 seconds remaining. The U.S. now has six points after winning two games, while Norway, with an overtime victory and a loss to its credit, has just two points.
Norway had broken a scoreless tie 8:09 into the first period on a goal by Ken Andre Olimb, who jammed the puck past netminder Ty Conklin. Norway took a 2-0 lead on a shorthanded goal by Anders Bastiansen 73 seconds later.
Czech Republic 6, Denmark 0
The Czech Republic sealed a berth in the Qualifying Round of the World Championships by beating up Denmark 6-0 Monday in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Michael Frolik and Milan Michalek spearheaded the Czech effort with two goals each, while Tomas Plekanec and Petr Prucha also scored. Ondrej Pavelec made 24 saves for his first shutout in a World Championship game.
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