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USA Sweeps Friday, Defeating Finland and Russia

By USA Hockey, 07/30/21, 1:15PM EDT

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USA Blue to take on Sweden at 4pmET

USA White 5, Finland 4 (OT)

After Matt Knies tied the game in the waning seconds of the third period, Logan Cooley scored early in overtime to lift Team USA White to a 5-4 victory over Finland.

A minute into a Finnish power play, Knies and Matt Coronato forced back-to-back turnovers leading to clean breakaways, but Joel Blomqvist was up to the challenge. Despite the USA White’s offensive push and outshooting its opponent, 7-4, Finland took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

Finland doubled up its lead early in the second, but the U.S. would respond with two goals of their own. Sanderson and Mazur put USA White on the board with goals 59 seconds apart. Finland countered the offensive fleury with a tally of their own, a one-timer on the power play. Scott Morrow pushed up the ice minutes later, dishing off to Dylan Peterson who immediately fed it cross-ice to an open Berg who ripped off a quick shot for his first of the Showcase. The teams found themselves tied again, at three apiece.

Finland took a 4-3 lead with six minutes remaining in the final period, thanks to a shot from the outside that deflected off traffic in front of the net. But USA White wouldn't be denied as with its netminder in the final minute of the game, Knies wound up his shot with 9.2 seconds remaining, scoring the tying goal.

Cooley took care of business 2:35 into the extra period, streaking down the far wing on a partial three-on-one breakaway. He looked off the goaltender for a pass, and tucked in his shot for the win.

Aidan Campbell started in net for USA White, stopping 13 of 17 shots.

USA Blue 3, Sweden 1

USA Blue completed the sweep on the day, defeating Sweden, 3-1. Red Savage, playing in his debut game of the Showcase, led offensively with a goal and shorthanded assist, while goaltender Drew Commesso was steady in net stopping 26 of 27 shots.

Mackie Samoskevich skated into the slot early in the first, pulling the puck around the defenseman and fired a low shot that beat Swedish netminder Carl Lindbom. Savage followed up the effort by hammering home a one-time shot in the slot courtesy of a Declan McDonnell pass, putting USA Blue up 2-0.

The middle frame featured back-and-forth action, as both teams exchanged chances, but there was no scoring. 

USA Blue extended its lead while shorthanded six minutes into the third as Savage pushed up ice on a two-on-one breakaway. After faking his shot, Landon Slaggert snuck in behind the defense and hammered home the shorthanded goal. Sweden found the back of the net 9:17 into the third, after U.S. netminder Commesso frustrated Sweden for the majority of the night, stopping the first 23 shots he faced.

Action will conclude tomorrow (Saturday) at USA Hockey Arena, as USA White will square off against Sweden at 1 p.m. ET and USA Blue will play against Finland at 4 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live on HockeyTV.com. Fans can purchase tickets here.

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