LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- Center Auston Matthews had a goal and two assists to help the United States close out its National Junior Evaluation Camp with a 6-1 exhibition victory against Finland at Lake Placid Olympic Center's 1980 Herb Brooks Arena on Saturday.
Matthews, who is widely considered the frontrunner to be the top pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead 53 seconds into the game when he beat Finnish prospect Jesse Puljujarvi in the neutral zone before curling two defenders at the right hash and scoring off his backhand.
"That was fantastic and beautiful," U.S. coach Ron Wilson said. "He beat a couple of guys and held on and flipped it high over goalie's glove. It was a perfect start to the game.
"I thought [goaltender] Brandon Halverson kept is simple too. I'm not a big believer in over-handling the puck, and he had a few issues with that, but not too many and generally he did a good job."