Home USA US U18 Team Edges Finland, 3-2 At U18 Five Nations Tournament

US U18 Team Edges Finland, 3-2 At U18 Five Nations Tournament

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RAUMA, Finland – Nick Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla.) netted two goals as the U.S. National Under-18 Team edged Finland, 3-2, here today at the 2016 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament. With the victory, Team USA improved to 1-0-1-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in the event.

In a scoreless opening stanza, U.S. goaltender Joseph Woll (St. Louis, Mo.) turned aside the only two Finnish shots he faced, while Finland’s Leevi Laakso kept all seven U.S. tries out of the net.

Will Lockwood (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) broke the scoreless tie off a successful penalty shot attempt at 7:38 of the middle frame. Woll helped protect USA’s one-goal lead going into the final stanza, stopping 14-of-14 Finnish shots in the period.

Finland tied the game, 1-1, just 2:30 into the final frame. The U.S. reclaimed the lead just over six minutes later when Pastujov potted his first goal of the game. Lockwood recorded an assist on the play. Finland’s power-play marker at 12:07 evened the game once more, but with two minutes remaining on the clock, Pastujov put the puck past Laakso for the go-ahead, game-winning goal. Patrick Khodorenko (Walnut Creek, Calif.) assisted on the tally.

Woll made another 14 saves in the third period, totaling 30 in the win for the U.S., while Laakso turned aside 15 shots in the loss for Finland.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team wraps up Five Nations competition tomorrow (Feb. 14) against the Czech Republic. Puck drop is slated for 10 a.m. ET. Follow @USAHockeyScores for updates.

NOTES: The United States was outshot by Finland, 32-18 … The U.S. went 0-2 on the power play while Finland went 1-6 … The United States roster is made up entirely of members of the 2015-16 U.S. National Under-18 Team, part of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. A complete roster can be found here … The U.S. is competing against teams from the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden in the round-robin tournament … The tournament website can be found here … Follow @USAHockeyNTDP and @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for tournament updates and join the conversation on social media by using the #5NationsU18 tag.

Team USA Schedule | 2016 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament
Feb. 11-14 | Rauma, Finland

Date Game Time (ET) / Result
Mon., Feb. 8 Finland* W, 3-2
Thurs., Feb. 11 Russia L, 0-3
Fri., Feb. 12 Sweden L, 2-3 (OT/SO)
Sat., Feb. 13 Finland W, 3-2
Sun., Feb. 14 Czech Republic 10:00 a.m.
*Pre-tournament game