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Grahame's goaltending helps US to beat Slovakia

Lee Stempniak, right No. 12, fights for the puck with Slovakia's Richard Stehlik, left No. 75, during their qualifying round Group F match at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Mytischi, Russia, on Thursday. PHOTO: EPA

Brandon Bochenski and Phil Kessel each scored a goal and an assist on Thursday to lift the US to a 4-2 win over Slovakia in Group F at the ice hockey world championship.

Tuomo Ruutu scored the winning goal in the third period to help Finland beat Switzerland 2-0 in Group E in Moscow.

Slovakia applied pressure on the US early in the opening period, out-shooting the Americans 18-7. The US forwards also made three trips to the penalty box.

But strong goaltending by John Grahame, who made 29 saves, prevented the Slovaks from converting.

"Fortunately for us John Grahame probably had his best game of the tournament so far," US coach Mike Sullivan said. "He made some critical saves that allowed us to get in the game."

The US scored first at 8:17 when Andrew Hutchinson's slapshot from inside the blue line beat Slovakia goaltender Karol Krizan. Even a man down, the Americans went up 2-0 when David Backes stole the puck and skated down to backhand in high past Krizan at 12:27.

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Slovakia answered that score 41 seconds later when Marek Uram made a perfect pass to Zdeno Chara, who flicked it past Grahame at point-blank range.

Kessel's shot rebounded onto Thomas Harant's skate before dribbling between Krizan's legs at 4:52 into the second period to put the US ahead 3-1. Bochenski further padded the American team's lead, backhanding in his own rebound on the power play during a goalmouth scramble at 12:37.

After serving two minutes for high-sticking, Marian Gaborik returned to the ice for eight seconds before making a breakaway and beating Grahame one-on-one.

"It helped that we had a day off and they came in tired," Bochenski said. "We knew we had to get in their face and play high energy from the start and the first two periods we did that."

best players

Slovakia would have been favored over the US, which traditionally struggles to enlist its best players in a tournament that gets little attention from Americans back home.

"Maybe we don't have as many of the high-end skilled players but from our first line to our fourth line we have good players, all NHL players," Bochenski said.

The US faces Germany today, while the Slovaks take on the Czechs.

With Severin Blindenbacher in the penalty box for interference, Ruutu picked up a rebound from a shot from the point by Petteri Nummelin and tapped the puck between the pads of Switzerland goalie Jonas Hiller at 11:37 of the third period.

Finland captain Ville Peltonen added an empty-net goal in the final minute.

After Wednesday's 6-0 loss to Sweden, Switzerland coach Ralph Krueger elected to go with Hiller in goal instead of David Aebischer. Hiller robbed Petri Kantiola with a spectacular glove save early in the third period and kept his team in the game, stopping 29 shots.

"I was surprised at how well they played," Nummelin said. "We had a lot of chances on the power play and finally we scored in the third. We got the three points and sometimes it doesn't matter how you win."

Finland goalie Kari Lehtonen made 18 saves.

Finland next plays Italy today, while Switzerland will take on Denmark.
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