U.S. Has Medaled In Every Major International Hockey Tournament in 2013

STOCKHOLM – Alex Galchenyuk (Milwaukee, Wis./Montreal Canadiens) and goaltender John Gibson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Anaheim Ducks) were the heroes in the U.S. Men’s National Team’s 3-2 shootout victory over Finland here today in the bronze-medal game of the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship. In the shootout, Galchenyuk scored on back-to-back attempts, including the game-winner, while Gibson stopped three of four Finns. In 70 minutes of action, Gibson made 36 saves to deliver Team USA's first medal since 2004 (bronze).

Team USA had a hard-working first shift of the game, resulting in a Craig Smith (Madison, Wis./Nashville Predators/Univ. of Wisconsin) rebound goal just :58 in. David Moss’ (Livonia, Mich./Phoenix Coyotes/Univ. of Michigan) shot was deflected in the right circle, Paul Stastny (St. Louis, Mo./Colorado Avalanche/Univ. of Denver) kept the puck moving across the front of the net and Smith swept it around the goaltender’s right leg.

Stastny one-timed a Smith feed past goalie Antti Raanta at 15:58 to make it 2-0. On the power play, Jacob Trouba (Rochester, Mich./Winnipeg Jets/Univ. of Michigan) moved the puck from the left point to the left circle, where Smith drew a defender and dished to Stastny in the slot.

Team USA maintained its two-goal lead in the second period as neither team found the scoresheet in the frame.

Lauri Korpikoski deflected a point shot into the net at 8:56 of the third period, trimming USA’s lead to 2-1.

Ninety seconds later, Gibson made a critical save by dropping his right pad to deny Juhamatta Aaltonen on a breakaway.

Nevertheless, Finland knotted the game at 2-2 when Korpikoski scored again at 12:18, this time on a goalmouth feed from Mikael Granlund.

A scoreless 10-minute overtime period sent the game to a three-round shootout.

Shooting first, Team USA missed on its first two opportunities, while Finland scored on its second attempt.

In the third and final round, Galchenyuk made a quick deke and scored high on the blocker side to extend the game. Gibson forced an extra round of shots when Korpikoski aimed wide.

The shooting order switched for the fourth round. Finland missed and Galchenyuk used the same move as before to beat the goalie and clinch the bronze medal.