Only :25 seconds was needed though for Team USA to answer as Casey Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.) found himself on the stat sheet for the second-straight game of the tournament. Parker Trottier (Edina, Minn.) forced a turnover in the defensive zone and poked the puck to Sammy Nelson (Maple Grove, Minn.). Nelson made a quick pass to Mutryn who sped into the zone alone and fired it past Finland’s starting goaltender Oskari Ahmajärvi.
It appeared the U.S. would head into the locker room with a one-goal deficit, but Mikey Berchild (Minnetonka, Minn.) tallied his first of the tournament at 19:15. A dump-in was mishandled by Ahmajärvi as Trottier retrieved the puck from behind the net and found Berchild in the slot with an open net. Berchild lit the lamp to make the game even at two apiece after the first 20.
Finland scored on the power play near the midway point of the middle frame, at 13:40, to take a one-goal lead into the third.
Team USA gave it its all, as it recorded its most shots during the third period, but didn’t find twine. One final push was given with its net empty, but Finland scored to account for the 4-2 final.
Brady Knowling (Chicago, Ill.) started in net and stopped 13 shots.
The U18s play its third game of the the Five Nations Tournament tomorrow (Nov. 8) against Czechia inside Lassalyckans Ishall in Ulricehamn, Sweden. Puck drop is set for 8:00 a.m. ET and will be streamed live on SvenskHockey.TV.
Following the tournament, the U18s return back to USA Hockey Arena Friday, Nov. 14 as it’ll host the Chicago Steel for ‘Carnival Weekend’. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET and tickets are available at USAHockeyNTDP.com/tix or by calling the box office at 734-453-8400.