Jake McCabe wasn't added to the United States roster for the 2013 World Junior Championship for his offensive skill, but the defenseman scored a pair of goals to give the Americans a 2-0 lead after one period in their semifinal against Canada.
United States coach Phil Housley has wanted all his defensemen to be active in the offensive zone, and McCabe did just that, pinching into the high slot for a pair of scoring chances.
Midway through the first Riley Barber had a pair of opportunities from right in front of the net, but Canada goalie Malcolm Subban stopped both. The puck came back to Barber a third time, and he spotted McCabe alone in the high slot. McCabe fired a shot through a ton of traffic that went past Subban at 7:18 of the period.
Late in the first, Rocco Grimaldi rushed the puck into the Canada end and dropped a pass for McCabe. The American captain, from nearly the same spot he scored his first goal, ripped a shot past Subban's glove with 3:58 left in the period to make it 2-0.
Canada's best chance when JC Lipon got open with the puck down low but American goalie John Gibson stuck out the pad to deny him with 6:16 left.
The United States outshot Canada 12-8 in the period.
Back with more after the second period.
Contact Adam Kimelman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @NHLAdamK
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