Zach Parise's power-play goal with 8:57 remaining snapped a tie and gave the US a 6-4 victory over Germany in a qualifying-round game at the hockey world championships on Thursday.
Earlier in Halifax, Rick Nash scored the tiebreaking goal with 3:58 left to lift Canada to a 2-1 victory over upset-minded Norway.
The Americans appeared to have the game in hand when they scored three times in the opening 2:52, but Germany chipped away at the lead.
PHOTO: EPA
Germany got even at 4 early in the third, but Parise of the New Jersey Devils put a shot over goalie Dimitrij Patzold for his second of the game. Dustin Brown sealed the victory with an empty-netter with 1:36 remaining.
“We kind of let them hang around,” said Parise, who had two goals and an assist. “We let them off the hook a little bit, but I don’t think it’s much of a concern.”
The US bounced back from a loss to Canada on Tuesday and grabbed a 3-0 lead on its first four shots.
Parise opened the scoring 26 seconds in, Patrick O’Sullivan made it 2-0 at 2:10, and James Wisniewski pushed the lead to three 42 seconds later.
Norway entered as an underdog against the unbeaten Canadians and nearly pulled off a stunner. Nash foiled the plan with a strong effort that produced the winner.
Norway was already the surprise team of the tournament after its overtime loss to Finland and an upset win over Germany. Mads Hansen scored Norway’s lone goal on a short-handed breakaway against Columbus’ Pascal Leclaire in the second period.
“We can’t outplay Team Canada,” Hansen said. “We’ve got to destroy them. We’ve got to be on them all the time and then we’ve got to hope for a break.”
In the other game at Quebec City, the Czech Republic handed Switzerland its first loss of the tournament, 5-0.
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