U.S. Men's Select Team Bests Switzerland, 3-2,in Shootout at Deutschland Cup
Hedlund Forces Overtime; Leggio Turns Aside 32
MUNICH, Germany - Andy Hedlund's (Osseo, Minn.) third-period goal sent the game into overtime, and Team USA garnered shootout tallies from three players to lead the U.S. Men's Select Team to a 3-2 victory over Switzerland here tonight at the 2009 Deutschland Cup.
"We played another strong game and came out hard," said Peter Laviolette, head coach of the 2009 U.S. Men's Select Team. "We showed good resiliency in the third period and the play of David Leggio (Buffalo, N.Y.) in net was the difference for us tonight."
The U.S. took a 1-0 lead early in the first period with a goal from Kyle Klubertanz (Sun Prairie, Wis.) at 2:46. While on the power play, Noah Clarke (La Verne, Calif.) sent a pass to Chris Collins (Fairport, N.Y.), who slid a cross-ice pass to Klubertanz. The defenseman fired a shot past Swiss goaltender Ronny Rueger low to the glove side.
Team USA took the 1-0 lead into the third period before Hnat Domenichelli scored on a breakaway at 2:27 to tie the game, 1-1. Switzerland gained a 2-1 advantage 1:59 later when Ryan Gardner knocked in a Thibault Monnet rebound.
At 15:20 of the final stanza, Mike Radja (Yorkville, Ill.) sent a pass from behind the net to Hedlund at the right faceoff circle, who fired a onetimer through traffic and past Rueger to send the game into overtime. Joe Motzko (Bemidji, Minn.) also collected an assist on the play.
After a scoreless overtime period, the U.S. outscored Switzerland, 3-1, in the shootout round. Jeff Hamilton (Englewood, Ohio) and Chris Collins (Fairport, N.Y.) both scored high glove before Motzko sealed the 3-2 victory with a goal over Rueger's blocker.
Leggio, who stopped one of two Swiss skaters in the shootout round, turned aside 32 shots in the game.
The U.S. (0-2-0-0) plays Slovakia Sunday (Nov. 8) in its final game of the 2009 Deutschland Cup at 11 a.m. EST.
NOTES: David Leggio was named U.S. Player of the Game ... For Team USA's roster, click here ... The Deutschland Cup has been held every year since 1990 and will feature Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland and the United States ... The U.S. won the tournament in 2003 and 2004, garnered a second-place finish in 2007 and finished third in 2005 ... Peter Laviolette, who served as Team USA's head coach at the 2003 Deutschland Cup, is the head coach of the 2009 U.S. Men's Select Team, with Paul Fenton, assistant general manager of the National Hockey League's Nashville Predators, and Greg Poss, long-time professional head coach in Europe, serving as assistant coaches.
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