Ostrava, Czech Republic (SportsNetwork.com) – Matt Hendricks totaled two goals
and one assist, as Team USA opened up its World Championship schedule on
Friday with a solid 5-1 decision over Finland in Group B action.
Dan Sexton and Steve Moses added a goal and helper each, with Nick Bonino
posting the other marker for the Americans, who received 29 saves from Connor
Hellebuyck.
Jyrki Jokipakka recorded the lone score for the Finns, while Pekka Rinne was
left in for all five goals on 27 shots.
In Prague, Team Canada began its own slate with a dominant 6-1 victory over
Latvia in Group A play.
Jason Spezza picked up two goals and one assist, Nathan MacKinnon totaled a
goal and two assists, Sidney Crosby tallied on a late penalty shot, while Matt
Duchene and Tyler Toffoli also scored. Mike Smith won with 16 saves.
Kaspars Daugavins posted the lone marker for Latvia, while Ervins Mustukovs
and Edgars Masalskis allowed six goals on a combined 42 shots in defeat.
Later in the day, Russia topped Norway by a 6-2 count in Ostrava, thanks to a
goal and two assists from Danis Zaripov, along with a goal and assist each
from Viktor Tikhonov and Vadim Shipachyov.
Artemi Panarin, Artem Anisimov and Maxim Chudinov added tallies while Sergei
Bobrovsky stopped 17 pucks for the victors.
Patrick Thoresen scored twice while Mathis Olimb assisted on both for the
Norwegians, with Lars Volden on the hook for all six goals on 36 shots.
Back in Prague, the Czech Republic poured in four third-period goals in front
of a raucous partisan crowd to pull even with Team Sweden, but ended up
losing, 6-5, in a shootout.
Martin Zatovich scored with 3:07 left in the third to give the hosts the lead,
but Mattias Sjogren tied the contest at 19:07 and Oliver Ekman-Larsson was
credited with the shootout winner.
