LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- United States coach Don Lucia stressed improvement on the penalty kill with his players Monday morning, but after one period against Sweden, the USA Blue squad obviously needs more work.
Sweden got a pair of power-play goals from Sebastian Collberg to take a 2-0 lead after one period.
The United States got off to a strong start as the line of Adam Erne, Dominic Toninato and Riley Barber dominated play in the Sweden end and created some good scoring chances on the game's first shift. Any momentum was lost at 1:26 when USA Blue defenseman Connor Carrick was called for holding. Just 12 seconds later, Alexander Wennberg made a great backhand pass through the high slot to Collberg, who ripped a shot past USA Blue goalie Thatcher Demko at 1:38.
Collberg made it 2-0 from almost the same spot. With Justin Bailey in the box for elbowing, Gustav Possler drew two USA Blue penalty killers to the slot and slid the puck to the left circle to Collberg, whose one-timer beat Demko at 11:12.
Sweden will have 24 seconds on the power play to start the second after Barber was called for high-sticking at 18:23.
Back with more after the second period.
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