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USA Finishes Fast to Edge Czech Republic in Five Nations

By Trasher, 08/18/10, 2:10PM CDT

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USA wins its first contest at Five Nations tourney

Wisconsin's Zach Stepan notched two assists and Tim Davison played steady on defense in Team USA's 5-3 victory over the Czech Republic in Five Nations tournament action on Wednesday.

The first period was scoreless until Czech Martin Matejcek scored on a 5-on-3 power play to give the Europeans a lead they would hold through the period. USA outshot Czech 8-5 in the stanza.
 
Second period was all USA, as they would score three times in the period.
 
Troy Donnay scored at the 1:01 mark when he banged home a rebound. Stepan and Riley Barber received assists on the play.
 
Just under four minutes later, USA took a 2-1 lead when Miles Koules buried a breakaway attempt between the wickets of the Czech goalie Marek Langhamer. Ryan Fitzgerald got the helper with a nice stretch pass.
 
The Czechs would even the score at 8:54 when Karel Plasil scored from the left point through traffic while on the power play.
 
USA went ahead at the 14:10 mark with a rebound goal from Nicholas Schilkey, assisted by Sheldon Dries and Jack Rowe.
 
USA held a huge shot advantage in the period, 22-5.
 
Czech tied the game early in the third when Matej Psota scored from the backdoor on a 5-on-3 advantage to make it 3-3 at 1:43.
 
Fitzgerald grabbed a great transition pass from Stepan and re-directed the puck while crashing the net to make it 4-3 at the 6:21 mark. Stepan and Koules got assists on the play.
 
Then, at 9:14, Sam Piazza walked down the slot and beat the goalie on the stick side for the final tally. Fitzgerald was credited with the helper on the score. USA once again held the shot edge, 14-8.
 
USA goalie Brandon Hope was credited with 25 saves, while his Czech counterpart Langhamer stopped 39 shots.
 
Next up for USA is Slovakia on Friday at 8:30am CST.