KRAVARE, Czech Republic — Jack Roslovic (Columbus, Ohio) scored twice and added one assist, and goaltender Luke Opilka (St. Louis, Mo.) made 24 saves as the U.S. National Under-18 Team used the shootout to knock off Sweden, 5-4, in its opening game of the 2015 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament here today.
Goals by Roslovic and Caleb Jones (Frisco, Texas) in the first period helped the U.S. build a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. Roslovic started the scoring by tapping home a power-play goal from the edge of the crease 9:24 into the contest. With the United States set up in the offensive zone, Matthew Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.) swatted a loose puck out to Joe Masonius (Spring Lake, N.J.) at the blue line. Masonius settled the pass and quickly fired it towards the net, where it hit a leg in front and popped to the right of the net for Roslovic to slam into the yawning cage. Then, at 12:05, Jones pinched in from the left point and sent a shot through Swedish goaltender Daniel Marmenlind to make it 2-0 USA. Tkachuk and Roslovic earned assists on the play.
The Swedes rallied and scored an early second-period power-play goal to cut the U.S. lead to 2-1, but Brendan Warren (Carleton, Mich.) responded to allow Team USA to retake a two-goal lead. After Tage Thompson (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) left a pass for Luke Kunin (Chesterfield, Mo.) just inside the blue line, Kunin wheeled around the outside and fed Warren on the backdoor. Warren one-timed the puck into the corner of the net. Team Sweden connected for two late goals in the frame to even the score at 3-3 at the second intermission.
Roslovic notched his second of the game from almost the identical spot as his first-period marker just 4:04 into the third stanza. With Team USA on the power play, Charlie McAvoy (Long Beach, N.Y.) chipped the puck towards the goal. It hit a man in front, trickled to the right and right to Roslovic, who turned and shot it off the Team Sweden goaltender to give the U.S. a 4-3 edge. Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz.) also assisted on the goal. The Swedes managed to tie the game with a goal in the final two minutes of regulation, forcing overtime.
Neither team scored in the five-minute extra session, but Tkachuk and Matthews found the back of the net in the shootout and Opilka stopped both Sweden attempts to clinch the victory for Team USA.
The U.S. National Under-18 Team continues play in the 2015 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament Friday (Feb. 6) when it takes on Russia. Puck-drop is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET.
Notes: Roslovic was named the U.S. player of the game … Team USA outshot Sweden, 37-28 … The U.S. went two-for-eight with the man-advantage, while Team Sweden connected on two of its six power-play tries … Tournament information, including schedules, news, scores and stats, can be found at the official website of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, USANTDP.com. Additionally, the NTDP will provide live updates from all U.S. games in both tournaments via Twitter (@usantdp). Join the conversation on social media by using hashtags #U18FiveNations, #U17FiveNations and #NTDP … The U.S. is the defending champion at the U18 Five Nations Tournament and has won the event seven times (1999, 2005, 2007-09, 2011, 2014).
2015 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament
Feb. 4-8 | Kravare and Poruba, Czech Republic
Date Opponent Time (ET)
Wed., Feb. 4 Sweden W, 5-4 (SO)
Fri., Feb. 6 Russia 12:00 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 7 Finland 10:00 a.m.
Sun., Feb. 8 Czech Republic 12:00 p.m.
