MONTREAL — The U.S. National Junior Team outshot Russia by a 41-25 count in the quarterfinals of the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, but finished on the short end of a 3-2 decision.

“We told our guys that they should walk out with their heads held high,” said Mark Osiecki, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. “Our guys put in the effort, but in the end, we fell just a bit short today.”

The U.S. was whistled for two penalties in the opening two minutes of the game and the Russians capitalized at 2:31 on a five-on-three power play to claim the early lead. Then just :09 after the fourth of five straight penalties in the period against the U.S. expired, the Russians cashed in again and had a 2-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes.

Team USA rallied with its own five-on-three power play goal at 12:43 of the second period when Anthony DeAngelo (Philadelphia, Pa./Sarnia Sting) ripped a shot from middle point, beating Russian goaltender Igor Shestyorkin on the blocker side. The second stanza ended with Russia holding a 2-1 lead.

Russia got its eighth power play just 1:02 into the third period and Sergei Tolchinski’s shot deflected off Brandon Carlo’s (Colorado Springs, Colo./Tri-City Americans) stick in front at 1:27 to make it 3-1. The U.S., which outshot Russia by a 20-5 count in the third period, got back in the game at 8:56 when Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./University of Michigan) snapped a shot from the left point that found its way to the back of the net to make it 3-2. The U.S. had chances to equal the game down the stretch, including on a power play and with netminder Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif./Boston College) pulled in the final 1:25, but fell short.

Demko finished with 22 saves in the contest.

Notes: Will Butcher, Hudson Fasching and Dylan Larkin were named the top players of the tournament for the United States … John Hayden was named U.S. Player of the Game … The U.S. killed six-of-eight Russian power plays in the game and was one-for-five on the power play … Team USA finishes the tournament 2-1-0-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L).