[scg_html_wjc2014] Stefan Matteau, Ryan Hartman and Nic Kerdiles (Wisconsin) scored first-period goals, but the U.S. National Junior Team couldn’t find the back of the net for the remaining 40 minutes against Russia and suffered a 5-3 defeat in the quarterfinal round of the World Junior Championship Thursday in Malmo, Sweden.
With the loss, the U.S. will not medal and is eliminated from the tournament.
The United States led 3-2 after the first period, but allowed two power-play goals in the second period and an empty-netter in the final minute of the third period.
“The game changed in that five-minute segment [in the second period],” said Team USA coach Don Lucia (Minnesota) in a news release. “We went from being on the power play, up 3-2, to the consecutive five-on-three Russian power plays where they made two great shots. That’s where the game changed.”
Russia responded with a pair of five-on-three power-play tallies in a 1:01 span midway through the second period to take a 4-3 edge into the final stanza.
United States goaltender Jon Gillies (Providence) finished with 20 saves and defenseman Connor Carrick was named the U.S. player of the game.
