BRNO, Czech Republic - Jared Rutledge (Chicago, Ill.) made 17 saves to earn the shutout and J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill./0-2) and Matthew Lane (Rochester, N.Y./1-1) each recorded two points, as the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team bested Denmark, 4-0, here tonight at Kajot Arena in its third game at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Under-18 Championship. With the victory, Team USA improved to 3-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) and is yet to surrender a goal in the tournament.

"This was a hard fought matchup," said Danton Cole, head coach of the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team. "We must continue to play on both ends of the ice to maintain our success."

Team USA scored first on a Lane tally at 1:53 in the opening frame. Brady Skjei (Lakeville, Minn.) and Compher assisted on the goal. The U.S. put 12 shots on net in the period, while holding Denmark to eight.

Seth Jones (Plano, Texas) doubled the U.S. lead 45 seconds into the second stanza when he launched a slapshot from just inside the blue line. The power-play tally was assisted by Nicolas Kerdiles (Irvine, Calif.) and Jacob Trouba (Rochester, Mich.). A rebound goal by Frankie Vatrano (East Longmeadow, Mass.) put Team USA up, 3-0, at 6:07. Compher and Lane collected assists on the score.

Quentin Shore (Denver, Colo.) added a goal at 14:28 of the third period to seal the U.S. victory. Connor Carrick (Orland Park, Ill.) registered the lone assist on the marker. The U.S. held Denmark to just two shots in the final frame and Rutledge turned both aside, making 17 total saves in the win. Denmark's George Sorensen stopped 53 shots in the loss.

The U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team wraps up preliminary-round action on Tuesday (April 17) against Canada at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. EDT), at Kajot Arena.

NOTES: Nicolas Kerdiles was named Team USA's Player of the Game ... Team USA outshot Denmark, 57-17 ... The U.S. went 1-for-4 on the power play, while Denmark went 0-for-2 ... Team USA has shutout its opponents in the first three games of the tournament, outscoring its opposition, 13-0 ... The U.S. enters the tournament having captured a record eight consecutive medals, including back-to-back gold medals in 2005-06, three straight gold medals from 2009-11, two silver medals (2004, 2007) and one bronze medal (2008). Team USA’s six gold medals are the most of any country in IIHF Men's World Under-18 Championship history (event began in 1999). Team USA earned its first gold medal in 2002 … The U.S. is in Group A with Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Finland. Group B consists of Germany, Latvia, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland ... The U.S. Mens National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams train with The Hockey IntelliGym, a revolutionary software program that trains hockey sense. To learn more, visit USAHockeyIntelliGym.com.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period
DEN 0-0-0--0
USA 1-2-1--4

First Period – Scoring: 1, USA, Lane (Skjei, Compher), 1:53. Penalties: DEN, Povlsen (elbowing), 9:57; USA, Trouba (interference), 17:37; DEN, Lindhoj (boarding), 20:00.

Second Period – Scoring: 2, USA, Jones (Kerdiles, Trouba), 0:45, (pp); 3, USA, Vatrano (Compher, Lane), 6:07. Penalties: None.

Third Period – Scoring: 4, USA, Shore (Carrick), 14:28. Penalties: USA, Hartman (checking-to-head), 5:50; USA, Hartman (misconduct), 5:50; DEN, Lauridsen (holding), 9:41; DEN, Eller (high-sticking), 12:09.

Shots by Period
DEN 8-7-2--17
USA 12-26-19--57

Goaltenders (Shots/Save)
USA, Rutledge, 60:00, 17/17
DEN, Sorensen, 60:00, 57/53

Power Play
DEN 0-2; USA 1-4

Penalties
DEN 4-8; USA 3-14