Team USA controlled the first 20 and doubled the Lancers shot total but couldn’t push one across the goal line. Danny Nelson (Maple Grove, Minn.) had a great look with under 2:00 to go in the first during a man advantage, but the Lancers starting netminder Michael Hrabal denied the opportunity. Shortly after, with 0:30 left on the clock, Gabe Perreault (Hinsdale, Ill.) looked to break the stalemate with a shot from the slot but was blocked aside to keep things even at zero after one.

Perreault had another good look on net 7:34 in, followed by a Smith breakaway opportunity but both were swallowed up by Hrabal. After 23 U.S. shots, Salvatore Guzzo (Old Tappan, N.J.) finally broke the ice for the first goal of the game 10:14 into the frame. The Lancers attempted to clear the puck out of its defensive zone, but Guzzo caught the puck out of the air at the blue line and onto his blade. A quick shot in the slot beat Hrabal blocker side to put Team USA up one.

On the power play, Team USA put itself up by a pair off the tape of Oliver Moore (Mounds View, Minn.). Nelson was battling on the boards in the offensive zone and muscled his way to keep possession of the puck. Alex Weiermair (Los Angeles, Calif.) came to his aid and picked up the puck on the wing and streaked towards the net. A cross-ice feed found a waiting Moore on the doorstep to tap the puck in with 0:27 to go.