The strong play the United States displayed in the first period stayed intact through the second as the U.S. scored three times and forced the play for most of the second to lead 6-0 after 40 minutes of action against Germany.

After scoring 19 seconds into the first period, the U.S. needed just 15 seconds to get its first goal in the second, as Alex Galchenyuk forced a turnover behind the German net and flipped the puck in front to Riley Barber to make it 4-0.

Shayne Gostisbehere's power-play one-timer from the right side made it 5-0 at 6:33, and then Ryan Hartman, a top 2013 NHL Draft prospect, scored on the rebound of a Blake Pietila shot off a 2-on-0 rush to make it 6-0 at 7:55. Cole Bardreau started the play going the other way in the neutral zone as Germany got caught on a line change. He spotted Pietila who broke in alone on Germany goalie Marvin Cupper and fired a shot from the left side. Cupper slid over to make the save, but the puck bounced right onto Hartman's stick on the right side, and he buried his chance.

United States coach Phil Housley couldn't ask for much more from his team in the first period of its World Junior Championship opener against Germany.

The U.S. scored three times in the first 10 minutes, took just one penalty and kept Germany without a shot for more than 13 minutes.

Sean Kuraly opened the scoring just 19 seconds into the game, and Jacob Trouba made it 2-0 at 8:30 with a shot from the point through traffic.

Alex Galchenyuk scored the prettiest goal of the game, and maybe of the tournament so far. The Montreal Canadiens prospect pulled the puck off the wall on the left side in the Germany end, curled back to the blue line, and when no German skaters tried to stop him, skated into the slot and fired a shot that beat Germany goalie Marvin Cupper over his glove at 9:54.

Here's the lineup the United States will go with against Germany for its opening game at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship:

John Gaudreau - J.T. Miller - Rocco Grimaldi

Alex Galchenyuk - Sean Kuraly - Riley Barber

Blake Pietila - Cole Bardreau - Ryan Hartman

Mario Lucia - Vincent Trocheck - Tyler Biggs

Jimmy Vesey

Canada captain Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and four assists as Canada opened the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship with a 9-3 win against Germany on Wednesday.

Nugent-Hopkins and linemates Mark Scheifele and Jonathan Huberdeau dominated the game, combining for 10 points. Huberdeau had a goal and two assists, and Scheifele scored twice, including a shorthanded goal.

"We knew all three of those players are at an NHL level when it comes to their ability and mindset," Canada coach Steve Spott told TSN. "It's one of those things you hope it works out because Mark is playing out of his natural position [on the wing]. Ultimately I thought all three guys would be on the same page mentally because they're all so smart. Mark has adjusted well to the wing. Hopefully they can keep that going."

Christmas Day marked the deadline for teams to submit their rosters for the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship, and there were a few surprising names left off the submissions.

Canada listed 12 forwards, leaving top 2013 NHL Draft prospect Jonathan Drouin off the roster for now. Drouin sustained what TSN reported to be a charley horse during practice, leaving his status in doubt for the tournament. The team already is thin up front due to the three-game suspension of Boone Jenner.

With a maximum roster of 23 (20 skaters, three goalies), Canada can add Drouin or a replacement. Getting that player all the way to Ufa, Russia, however, will take time, so it's likely Canada will have to play at least one game with 11 forwards if Drouin is unavailable for Wednesday's opener against Germany, or move a defenseman to forward.

Left off the United States roster were defensemen Matthew Grzelcyk and Patrick Sieloff, as the team listed six blueliners. Among that group was Connor Murphy, who sustained a neck injury when he was hit by a puck during an exhibition game last week. However, with 19 total skaters submitted -- one below the maximum -- they can add one player.

Boone Jenner received a three-game suspension from the International Ice Hockey Federation for a charging incident last week.

Jenner, a Columbus Blue Jackets prospect, is supposed to play a key third-line checking center role for Canada. He was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct penalty for charging after a late hit on Swedish defenceman Jesper Pettersson in the second period of an exhibition game Dec. 22 in Helsinki.

Pettersson was diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder and fractured wrist and will miss the World Junior Championship.

The IIHF based its decision on a video review of the hit, which it ruled was late and delivered with no intention to play the puck, and with Pettersson being in a vulnerable position.

Jenner will have to sit out Canada's first three games of the WJC: Dec. 26 against Germany, Dec. 28 against Slovakia, and Dec. 30 against the United States.

Contact Adam Kimelman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @NHLAdamK

Jonathan Huberdeau and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored in the shootout as Canada beat Sweden 2-1 in its final tune-up prior to the start of the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship.

It was far from an artistic beauty -- Canada trailed early and gave Sweden eight power plays -- but their surplus of talent provided the difference.

Top 2013 NHL Draft prospect Elias Lindholm set up fellow draft candidate Alexander Wennberg, who opened the scoring for Sweden with a power-play goal at 9:39 of the first period.

Sweden had multiple chances to increase its lead as Canada made repeated trips to the penalty box, including nearly seven straight minutes shorthanded midway through the period as Dougie Hamilton was sent off for roughing at 5:10, Huberdeau was whistled for slashing at 7:18, and Boone Jenner was given a major and gross misconduct for charging at 12:13. The IIHF will review the penalty and could assess supplemental discipline on Jenner.

Alexander Barkov showed why he's considered one of the top players available for the 2013 NHL Draft, scoring a goal and adding two assists in the third period as Finland topped the United States 5-1 on Saturday in the final exhibition game for both teams heading into the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Finland scored three power-play goals in the third period to blow open what had been a one-goal game for the first two periods.

Alexander Barkov

Blake Pietila scored the lone goal for the United States. Goalie John Gibson, the likely starter when the U.S. team opens the WJC on Dec. 27 against Germany, made 25 saves.

The United States arrived in Finland for its two exhibition games with 26 players, and will make final cuts Sunday to get down to the final 23-player roster.

Finland led 1-0 after two periods on Robert Leino's goal at 15:47 of the first, but didn't need much time in the third to increase their advantage.

With two seconds left on a Seth Jones penalty assessed in the final minute of the second, Finland got a power-play goal from Markus Granlund 1:06 into the third. Just 1:13 later Barkov made it 3-0 when he scored from right in front of the U.S. goal.

Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere scored at 1:38 of overtime to give the United States a 3-2 victory in its exhibition game against Sweden.

Connor Murphy and Ryan Hartman also scored for the United States as it prepares to improve on last year's seventh-place finish when it arrives in Ufa, Russia for the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship. The U.S. team opens tournament play Dec. 27 against Germany.

Emil Molin and Rickard Rakell scored for Sweden.

The U.S. and Sweden each had a goal in the second period of their exhibition game, and after 40 minutes the game is tied 2-2.

Ryan Hartman, a top prospect for the 2013 NHL Draft, had the U.S. goal. Mario Lucia stole the puck behind the Sweden net and flipped a nice backhand pass through the slot to Hartman, who one-timed the puck past goalie Niklas Lundstrom 3:48 into the period.

The U.S. lead held up until the final seconds of the period. With Connor Murphy off for high-sticking, Sweden worked the puck in the U.S. end on the power play. Rickard Rakell took a pass and skated into the right faceoff circle. His shot from the dot beat U.S. goalie Jon Gillies under his blocker with 34 seconds left in the period to tie the game 2-2.