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Palmieri Scores Twice as U.S. Improves to 1-1-0-0
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Kyle Palmieri (Montvale, N.J./Syracuse Crunch) scored two first-period goals and added an assist, as the U.S. National Junior Team topped Slovakia, 6-1, in its second preliminary-round game of the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship. Team USA improved to 1-1-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) and currently sits in first place in Group A.
"I was happy with our power play tonight getting three goals," said Keith Allain, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. "We hope to continue to improve as the tournament goes on so that we're at our best at the end."
Team USA jumped out to a 1-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. Chris Kreider (Boxford, Mass./Boston College) chipped the puck through the neutral zone to spring Charlie Coyle (East Weymouth, Mass./Boston Univ.) on a two-on-one rush. Coyle fed Palmieri in the crease for a tip-in goal.
Three minutes later, Palmieri notched his second of the night with Team USA on the power play. After a long shot by Jon Merrill (Brighton, Mich./Univ. of Michigan) flew wide, Palmieri collected the rebound off of the boards and fired a shot from a sharp angle past Slovakia goalie Dominik Riecicky.
The U.S. used a pair of second-period power-play goals by Coyle and Chris Brown (Flower Mound, Texas/Univ. of Michigan) to increase its lead to 4-0 midway through the frame. Following a Slovakia goal at 12:26 of the second, Drew Shore (Denver, Colo./Univ. of Denver) restored Team USA's four-goal advantage when he gloved down a loose puck at his own blue line, skated by two Slovakia defensemen and lifted a backhand shot past Riecicky.
Emerson Etem (Long Beach, Calif./Medicine Hat Tigers) gave the U.S. a 6-1 lead heading into the final period with a wrist shot that slipped out of Riecicky's glove, chasing the Slovakian goaltender.
U.S. goalie Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich./Windsor Spitfires) shut the door in the third period, stopping seven shots in the frame and finishing the night with 17 saves. Meanwhile, Slovakia goalies Riecicky and Juraj Holly combined for 51 saves in a losing effort.
Team USA will play its third preliminary-round game of the IIHF World Junior Championship on Thursday (Dec. 30) against Germany.
