The men’s team, fresh off a big opening night win against host Switzerland, faced a tough challenge against a strong Finnish team. Nic Levesque opened the scoring less than three minutes into the game after a great passing play. The Finns quickly responded, but Mike Malloy put the U.S. back in the lead with a precise shot, assisted by Eddie Urban. Jordan Albright then scored two goals, both set up by his new linemate, Connor Callahan.
Despite the Finns’ efforts to stay close, additional goals by Jojo Melillo, Drew Albright, and Jonny Ruiz seemed to put the game out of reach. The Finns mounted a late comeback with two extra-attacker goals, but it was not enough. Special teams played a crucial role, with the USA scoring two power-play goals compared to Finland’s one. The U.S. team’s effective special teams and strong offensive performance were key to their victory.
