Team USA opened the scoring 3:45 into the opening stanza as Ryan Hartman (Hilton Head, S.C.), who is playing in just his second game after arriving in Finland on Sunday, netted his first of the tournament after a loose puck was picked up by Alex Galchenyuk (Milwaukee, Wis.) and went between his legs to Hartman with an open net.
It was an all Minnesota Wild first period as Hartman’s Wild teammate, Matt Boldy (Millis, Mass.) cut through the middle of the ice towards the wing and sent a strong shot that that beat Norway netminder Henrik Haukeland. Galchenyuk tallied his second helper of the day on Boldy’s goal. Norway nearly cut the U.S. lead to one with 2:08 left to play, but U.S. netminder Jeremy Swayman (Anchorage, Alaska) came up with a big save to keep it 2-0 after 20 minutes of play.
Norway scored on a breakaway after a turnover just 2:43 into the second period to get on the board. Galchenyuk nearly answered as he skated around Norway’s defense but was denied by a Haukeland stretch save. Ben Meyers (Delano, Minn.) gave the U.S. its two-goal lead back at 8:05. After Meyers gained the zone, he sent a quick pass to Luke Hughes (Canton, Mich.) who sent it right back to Meyers in front of the net for the goal.
Norway came out quick in the third and found the back of the net nearly 2:00 into the frame. Norway put the pressure on in the third with a power play opportunity and a few chances, but Strauss Mann (Greenwich, Conn.) turned them aside. John Hayden (Greenwich, Conn.) almost found the back of the net to extend the U.S. lead off a turnover but was denied by Haukeland.
Norway looked for the game-tying goal with 2:00 to go, but Mann turned it towards the boards. Norway followed by pulling its goalie for an extra skater but Sean Farrell (Hopkinson, Mass.) took advantage of the empty net to make it 4-2.
Swayman played the first period in goal for the U.S. and did not allow a goal on nine shots. Mann played the final two periods and had 12 saves on 14 shots.
The U.S. is set to face Switzerland in the quarterfinals this Thursday with puck drop TBD. The game can be seen live on NHL Network.
NOTES: Matt Boldy (Millis, Mass.) was named U.S. Player of the Game … The U.S. outshot Norway, 37-23 … Both teams went 0-for-2 on the power play… For more information about the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship, click here.
