SUNDSVALL, Sweden - Josh Norris (Oxford, Mich.) scored a goal with under two minutes remaining in the third period to fuel the U.S. National Under-18 Team's 5-3 victory against Russia at the 2017 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament on Saturday afternoon at the Sundsvall Energi Arena. 

The U.S. gained the early lead when Evan Barratt (Bristol, Pa.) deflected a point shot from Max Gildon (Plano, Texas). Nate Knoepke (Farmington, Minn.) also picked up an assist on the play after making a cross-ice pass along the blue line to set up Gildon.

Neither team could muster another goal in the first period so the U.S. took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission. 

After Russia tied the game a little over five minutes into the second period, defenseman Phil Kemp (Greenwich, Conn.) tied the game by firing a puck high and short side past Russian goaltender Petr Kochetkov.

Russia added a power play goal three minutes later to tie the game before adding a goal as time expired to take the 3-2 lead into the third period.

Joey Cassetti (Pleasanton, Calif.) evened the game a little over three minutes into the third period when he redirected a blue line shot from David Farrance (Victor, N.Y.). Sean Dhooghe (Aurora, Ill.) also picked up an assist on the game-tying goal.

Both teams traded power play opportunities down the stretch but neither team could capitalize.

Team USA finally broke the tie at the 18:20 mark of the period when Brady Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.) sent a no-look backhands pass from behind the net to a circling Norris, who shot it low short side past Kochetkov. Jacob Tortora (Victor, N.Y.) also assisted on the play after winding the puck around the boards to Tkachuk. 

Tkachuk iced the game for the U18s when he took a spin-around shot by the right faceoff dot to bury an empty net goal with 29 seconds left on the clock. Barratt and Quinn Hughes (Orlando, Fla.) recorded assists on the final tally of the game.

U.S. goaltender Dylan St. Cyr (Northville, Mich.) finished the game with 22 saves on 25 shots. Kochetkov made 33 saves in the loss.

With the victory, the U.S. sits atop the tournament standings with nine points and a record of 3-0-0.

The U18s have now won its last five international contests and will face tournament host, Sweden, tomorrow at 6 a.m. ET to conclude their participation in the 2017 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament. Live stats and Live video will be available for the final matchup.

NOTES: Team USA went 0-2 on the power play and 3-4 on the penalty kill …  The U18s outshot Russia 38-25 ... Hughes Grant Mismash (Edina, Minn.) and are tied for the tournament lead in points (5) … Follow @USAHockeyNTDP on Twitter for tournament updates and join the conversation on social media by using the hashtags #5NationsU18.