LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Adam Erne (New Haven, Conn.) scored the decisive tally in a seven-round shootout to give Team USA a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Finland at the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp. Erne also posted a goal and an assist in regulation, both coming in the third period when the U.S. overcame a 3-1 deficit to force overtime.
"(Goaltender) Anthony Stolarz played very well," said Don Lucia, head coach of the 2014 U.S. National Junior Team. "Obviously, he was very good in the shootout. We just needed anybody to step up tonight from an offensive standpoint. It's the first time this week we have been productive on special teams and you have to have that."
After Finland opened the scoring at 9:43 of the first period, Team USA evened the game four minutes later. Ian McCoshen's (Hudson, Wis./Boston College) shot from the right point ricocheted off a Finnish player and between the goaltender's legs. Zach Stepan (Hastings, Minn./Minnesota State Univ.-Mankato) and Tommy DiPauli (Woodbridge, Ill./Univ. of Notre Dame) collected the assists.
In the second stanza, the Finns took the lead back with a power-play goal at 6:29 and padded their advantage to 3-1 at 13:17.
Over a span of 1:05 in the third period, USA posted a pair of power-play goals to draw even at 3-3. First, Mike Brodzinski (Ham Lake, Minn./Univ. of Minnesota) took a pass from Erne, cruised through the Finland zone and banked the puck into the net. Then, Erne capitalized from the low slot after a pass from Connor Carrick (Orland Park, Ill.).
Anthony Stolarz (Edison, N.J.) made 34 saves. In the shootout, he denied six of seven Finland shooters. Finland's Joonas Korpisalo had 31 stops.
Following a practice day, USA wraps up play at the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp against Canada on Saturday (Aug. 10) at 1 p.m. ET.