Three Wolverines Notch Points in USA Win Over Swiss
12/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The University of Michigan's trio of forwards on Team USA all recorded points as the Americans survived a furious third period to beat Switzerland 6-4 on Monday (Dec. 27) at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship at Ralph Engelstad Arena. T.J. Hensick (Howell. Mich.) and Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) earned their first goals of the tournament, while Mike Brown (Northbrook, Ill.) had an assist. Goalie Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) made 31 saves as the U.S. upped its record to 2-0-0 in preliminary round play.
In net, Montoya cruised through the first two periods of play by stopping 21 shots and allowing no goals as the U.S. had a 2-0 lead. However, in the third period he was beaten twice in 19 seconds as the Swiss tied the game. With the U.S. up 5-2, Montoya allowed two more goals, this time 36 seconds apart. In all, there were eight total goals scored in the first 7:06 of the final stanza.
Team USA opened the scoring at 9:36 of the first period when Ryan Callahan (Guelph Storm) took credit for the goal as the puck slid over the goal line underneath a Swiss defender. Brown deserved much of the credit for the tally by charging to the Switzerland goal from the left wing while holding off the check of a defenseman. Brown mustered a shot in the crease, and after a few hacks at the rebound the puck wound up in the Swiss net.
In the middle frame Porter gave Team USA a 2-0 advantage at the 8:18 mark. Phil Kessel (U.S. NTDP Under-18) made a quick inside move on his defender just inside the blue line on the right wing to create a two-on-one opportunity. Porter skated directly to the left post and tapped Kessel's goalmouth feed past the sprawling Swiss goalie.
The Americans quickly relinquished their lead to begin the third period. Forty-five seconds in Yvan Benoit was left alone in front to score on a rebound after Montoya made three rapid-fire saves from the right side. Just 19 seconds later, Switzerland tied the game on a one-timer by a wide-open Victor Stancescu in the low left slot.
Team USA responded with three straight goals at 1:34, 2:25 and 4:07. Drew Stafford (North Dakota) pushed the U.S. back ahead with a power-play tally. Hensick then made it 4-2 when he stole the puck from a Swiss player while backchecking in the neutral zone. Hensick then wheeled around, beat a defenseman wide right and fired a wrister just inside the left post. Robbie Schremp (London Knights) completed the three-goal spurt.
Team Switzerland came right back with goals at 4:44 and 5:20. The first goal came from the left circle when a Swiss player took a turnaround shot that beat Montoya to the right post through traffic. Seconds later, the score became 5-4 when Montoya permitted a shot from the left side to squeak between his pads.
Patrick O'Sullivan put Team USA back up by two goals, 6-4, and ended the scoring at 7:06. Montoya recovered from the flurry of Swiss goals and made multiple key saves late in the game en route to finishing off the win.
Team USA plays its third of four preliminary round games on Dec. 29 against Belarus at Ralph Engelstad Arena. The game, which begins at 7:30 p.m. CST, will be televised tape-delayed by ESPN2 starting at 8:30 p.m. CST.
Tournament Statistics (Through 12/27/04)
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | Pen-PIM | +/- |
| Mike Brown | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1-2 | +1 |
| T.J. Hensick | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Matt Hunwick | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0-0 | -1 |
| Kevin Porter | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Player | GP | GS | Minutes | W-L-T | GA | GAA | Saves | SV% | SO |
| Al Montoya | 2 | 2 | 120:00 | 2-0-0 | 8 | 4.00 | 61 | .884 | 0 |
2005 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
