TAMPERE, Finland – The U.S. got goals from four different players and Alex Galchenyuk (Milwaukee, Wis.) tallied two assists as the U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Norway, 4-2, here today in its final preliminary round game at the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship.

Team USA won five of its seven preliminary round games and finished fourth in Group B. It will face Switzerland, which won Group A, in the tournament quarterfinals Thursday (May 26) in Helsinki. Game time is set for 8:20 p.m. (1:20 p.m. ET) and the contest can be seen live on NHL Network.

“We did what we needed to today,” said David Quinn, head coach of the 2022 U.S. Men’s National Team. “The tournament starts for real on Thursday and our guys know what’s at stake.”

Team USA opened the scoring 3:45 into the opening stanza as Ryan Hartman (Hilton Head, S.C.), playing in just his second game after arriving in Finland on Sunday, netted his first of the tournament. Alex Galchenyuk (Milwaukee, Wis.) picked up a loose puck and went between his legs to feed Hartman who put it into an open net.

HIGHLIGHTS

It was an all Minnesota Wild first period as Hartman’s Wild teammate, Matt Boldy (Millis, Mass.), also playing in just his second game, cut through the middle of the ice toward the wing and sent a strong shot that beat Norway netminder Henrik Haukeland. Galchenyuk tallied his second helper of the day on Boldy’s goal. Norway nearly cut the U.S. lead to one with 2:08 left in the period, but U.S. netminder Jeremy Swayman (Anchorage, Alaska) came up with a big save to keep it 2-0 after 20 minutes of play.

Norway scored on a breakaway after a turnover just 2:43 into the second period to get on the board. Galchenyuk nearly answered as he skated around Norway’s defense but was denied by a Haukeland stretch save. Ben Meyers (Delano, Minn.) gave the U.S. its two-goal lead back at 8:05. After he gained the zone, Meyers sent a quick pass to Luke Hughes (Canton, Mich.) who sent it right back to Meyers in front of the net for the goal.

Norway cut the U.S. lead to 3-2 just 1:59 into the third period and had a power play chance in the stanza, but would ultimately get no closer. The Norwegians pulled their netminder with 2:00 to go, but Sean Farrell (Hopkinton, Mass.) scored into an empty net with :40 left to seal the victory.

POSTGAME COMMENTS

Swayman played the first period in goal for the U.S. and did not allow a goal on nine shots. Mann played the final two periods and had 12 saves on 14 shots.

NOTES: Matt Boldy (Millis, Mass.) was named U.S. Player of the Game … The U.S. outshot Norway, 37-23 … Both teams went 0-for-2 on the power play… For more information about the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship, click here.

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