The U.S. took a 1-0 lead at the 13:02 mark of the first period when Avery Hayes (Westland, Mich.) fired a two-on-one feed from Gaffney past Slovakian goaltender Simon Latkoczy to open the scoring.

After Slovakia evened the score with under six minutes remaining in the first period, Team USA retook the lead with 2:39 to play after Noah Ellis' (Urbandale, Iowa) feed to the back post found Ryan Beck (Linden, Mich.), who was able to bury the puck past Latkoczy to make it a 2-1 game.

Despite outshooting Slovakia, 14-5, over the middle frame, the U.S. entered the second intermission with the score knotted, 2-2, after a late Slovakian tally with 30 seconds to play in the stanza.

The third period opened with both teams searching for an all-important third goal.

With 7:52 to play in regulation, Slovakia took a 3-2 lead off the stick of Martin Chromiak before Team USA’s Ben Schoen (Maumee, Ohio) answered with a powerplay tally 1:10 later. The play started at the top-left circle where Cross Hanas (Highland Village, Texas) dished the puck down low to a parked Blake Biondi (Hermantown, Minn.) who turned and fed Schoen at the far post for a one-timer goal.

In the extra frame, Gaffney put away his own rebound on the powerplay with 1:32 remaining in the stanza to complete Team USA’s comeback and secure a 4-3 win over the host nation.

Louden Hogg (Edina, Minn.) saved 14 of the 17 shots he faced in goal for the United States.

For the complete game statistics, click here.

NOTES: Ryan Beck was named the U.S. Player of the Game … The U.S. outshot Slovakia 44-17 … The U.S. were 2-for-7 on the power play while holding Slovakia scoreless in six power play attempts … Follow Team USA throughout the tournament by clicking here.

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