RIGA, Latvia – The 2006 U.S. Men's National Team couldn’t solve Finland netminder Antero Niittymaki in a 4-0 loss tonight at Arena Riga in the first Qualification Round game for both teams at the 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship.

The United States, which has two games remaining in the round, can assure itself a spot in the Quarterfinal Round with a win over host Latvia tomorrow night.

“My compliments to the Finnish team,” said U.S. Head Coach Mike Eaves (Madison, Wis.). “They were strong on the puck and won more battles than we did. We had our moments tonight, but, when we did, Mr. Nittymaki was there.”

Finland’s Mikko Koivu staked Finland to a 1-0 lead after the opening period. Mikko Luoma fired a shot from the right point and off the far post, from which the rebound went right back to Koivu, who put it home at 11:13. Team USA’s Yan Stastny (Quebec City, Quebec/Providence Bruins/University of Notre Dame) had a chance to give his team an early lead on a penalty shot just 2:21 into the game, but was foiled by Niittymaki. Ryan Malone (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Penguins/St. Cloud State University) also had a couple of scoring chances in the period as well, but couldn’t convert. United States netminderCraig Anderson (Park Ridge, Ill./Chicago Blackhawks) was solid in the period, stopping 14 shots, including a save on Petteri Nummelin’s wraparound attempt midway through the opening stanza.

The Finns gained a 2-0 advantage 6:01 into the second period when Sean Bergenheim took a pass from Jarkko Ruutu and went from the right faceoff circle in alone to beat Anderson between the legs. Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis./University of Minnesota), the U.S. Player of the Game, had a good chance in the slot midway through the period, before Nummelin fired one home on a five-on-three power play goal at 12:44 to give Finland a 3-0 advantage. Stastny had a shorthanded break with 6:00 left in the period, but Niittymaki was up to the challenge once again.

Malone and Kessel each had scoring opportunities in the third, but Finland’s Lasse Kukkonen scored the only goal of the period at 14:27 to account for the 4-0 final.

Anderson made 29 saves in the loss, while Niittymaki had 24 stops in the victory.

Team USA will play host Latvia tomorrow in its second Qualification Round game. Opening faceoff is set for 8:15 p.m. local time (1:15 p.m. EDT) at Arena Riga.

NOTES: R.J. Umberger (Pittsburgh, Pa./Philadelphia Flyers/The Ohio State University) will be on a flight back to the United States tomorrow. Umberger played in one game before suffering an injury … Team USA will add Patrick O’Sullivan (Winston Salem, N.C./Houston Aeros) to its roster tomorrow and he is expected to play in tomorrow night’s game against Latvia. O’Sullivan played his first year with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League in 2005-06 and led all rookies in the AHL with 93 points (47-46) in 78 regular season games. The 21-year-old has played for Team USA in the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and also was a member of Team USA at the 2002 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. He will be playing in his first IIHF World Championship … Team USA failed on its six power play attempts, while the United States held Finland to just one power play goal in six chances.

GAME SUMMARY

USA 0-0-0 -- 0
Finland 1-2-1 -- 4

First Period – Scoring: 1, FIN, Koivu (Luoma, Jokinen), 11:13. Penalties: FIN, Mantyla (hooking), 4:05; USA, Meyer (holding), 8:58; USA, Gill (roughing), 11:13; FIN, T. Ruutu (roughing), 11:13; USA, Suter (roughing); USA, Alberts (elbowing), 17:21.

Second Period – Scoring: 2, FIN, Bergenheim (J. Ruutu, Hahl), 6:01; 3, FIN, Nummelin (Koivu), 12:44 (pp). Penalties: USA, Alberts (elbowing), 2:46; FIN, Santala (slashing), 6:12; USA, Meyer (roughing), 11:53; USA, Alberts (tripping), 12:09; FIN, Berg (tripping), 13:58; FIN, Kukkonen (interference), 15:10.
 
Third Period – Scoring: 4, FIN, Kukkonen (Hahl), 14:27. Penalties: FIN, J. Ruutu (holding), 5:08; FIN, Bergenheim (interference), 10:38.

Shots By Period         1      2      3      Total
USA                     6     10      8        24
FIN                    15      9      9        33

Goaltending (SH-SV)     1      2      3      Total
USA, Anderson, 60:00  15-14   9-7    9-8     33-29
FIN, Niittymaki, 60:00 6-6   10-10   8-8     24-24

Power Play: USA 0-6, FIN 1-6
Penalties: USA 7-14, FIN 7-14
Officials: Referee-Milan Minar; Linesmen-Yurly Oskirko, Tobias Wehrli
Attendance: 7,379