Huge 3rd period sends USA To WJC Final against Canada

The Americans will get a chance at revenge and a gold medal after a huge 3rd period helped them pull away from a tough Sweden team and get to a date with Canada for a shot at ending Canada's 5 year Gold Medal Streak in the World Junior Championship. The game tomorrow night will start at 8:00 PM EST/7:00 PM CST on the NHL Network and on www.fasthockey.com.

As for the Bronze Medal Game, it will be Sweden playing this year's big surprise in Switzerland where after a slow start, have really come on with important wins over Slovakia and Latvia to get them into the QF's before pulling off arguably the biggest upset this year against Russia back on Saturday night.

Just like the first game back on New Years Eve, the Final should be even better and I'm making a call right now that it will be close and the USA will win the WJC and end Canada's WJC Gold Medal Streak. However, they need to work on the PP where a huge 5 minute power play early int he 3rd period went basically no where and could have been a big game changer early on in the 3rd.

Press Release from the USA Hockey. www.usahockey.com

Jerry D'Amigo scored twice including a 3rd period shorthanded goal, as the U.S. Junior National team beat Sweden 5-2, in the semifinals of the 2010 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. The USA will face Canada for the Gold Medal game on January 5 at 7:00 PM CST (8:00 PM EST) at the Credit Union Center in Saskatoon.

"We've gotten better every game of the tournament," said Den Blais, head coach of the U.S.A. National Junior Team. "We worked really hard tonight, and we put ourselves right in the position we wanted to be.

Team USA scored the lone goal of the 1st period less then 2 minutes into the game. Kyle Palmieri fed Tyler Johnson in the slot, who sent a shot high past Sweden goalie Jacob Markstrom.

Sweden took a 2-1 lead in the 2nd period thanks to a pair of goals by Anton Lander. But D'Amigo tied the game with 5 minutes remaining in the frame by chipping the puck off the boards to himself in the neutral zone. racing towards the net and beating Markston between the pads 5 hole to tie it at 2-2.

Team USA regained the lead with 12 minutes into the 3rd period with John Carlson long slap shot trickled past Markstrom and over the goal line. Then, while killing a penalty, the U.S. and D'Amigo struck again. Team USA's player of the game took a pass from captain Derek Stepan on a two on one break and shot a wrister over Markstrom's shoulder.

AJ Jenks tallied a last minute empty net goal to put the game out of reach. Mike Lee earned his 4th victory of the tournament, stopping 27 saves in the win. Swedish Goalie Markstrom stopped 29 saves in the loss.

Team USA's gold Medal game against Canada can be seen live in the U.S. on the NHL Network and live streaming on www.fasthockey.com

NOTES: The U.S. is returning to the gold medal game of the World Junior Championships for the 3rd time. Team USA is 1-1 in previous gold medal games. The U.S. won it's only gold Medal in 2004 against Canada. Team USA is only the third team ever to emerge from the Quarterfinal Round to emerge in the World Junior Championship Gold Medal Game. Derek Stepan leads all skaters with 12 points including 9 assists. The 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship runs December 26-January 5 in Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. For Team USA full schedule results, click on www.usahockey.com/world_junior_championships_2010/default.aspx?NAV=AF_04&ID=263322 The NHL Network and www.fasthockey.com will air every USA game live from Saskatoon. Canada defeated Switzerland, 6-1, in the other semifinal game. For Complete Results and stats from the entire tournament, log on to www.iihf.com For Full Coverage of the 2010 U.S.A. Junior National Team, including photos, videos and features. log on to www.usahockey.com


Game Summary

USA 5 Sweden 2 (1-0, 1-2, 3-0)

1st Period: 1, USA, Johnson (Palmieri), 1:24

2nd Period: 2, SWE, Landler (Rodin, Andersson) 4:17; 3, SWE Landler (Rodin, Silfverberg), 12:17; 4, USA D'Amigo (Carlson, Gardiner) 15:06

3rd Period: 5, USA Carlson (Morin) 12:34; 6, USA D'Amigo (Stepan) 15:32 (SH); 7, USA, Jenks (Morin) 19:05 (EN)


Shots by Period

USA 11, 15, 8 34
SWE 8,11,10 29


Goaltenders

USA, Lee 8-8, 11-9, 10-10 29-27

SWE, Markstrom 11-10, 15-14, 7-5 33-29


Power Play: USA 0/5 SWE 0/3
Penalties: USA 4-8, SWE 6-35
Attendance: 12.137