Monday, December 29, 2003
Second straight blanking for U.S.
Associated Press
HAMEENLINNA, Finland -- Michigan's Alvaro Montoya made 18
saves for his second straight shutout in the United States' 5-0
victory over Slovakia on Sunday in the world junior championships.
David Booth, Zach Parise, Brady Murray, Ryan Kesler and Stephen
Werner scored for the Americans, who opened the tournament Friday
with an 8-0 victory over Austria.
"Our game plan was to wear them down and I think we did just
that," U.S. coach Mike Eaves said. "It was a hard-fought,
physical battle and I think we played with great energy.
"I think our early success speaks to the fact that we are
playing well both with and without the puck. We need to continue to
do that in order to climb up this mountain."
The United States will continue Group A play Tuesday against
Sweden, a 5-3 loser Sunday to defending champion Russia.
In Group B games in Helsinki, Canada routed Switzerland 7-2, and
Finland beat the Czech Republic 3-2.
Ryan Getzlaf and Anthony Stewart each scored two goals for the
Canadians, and 16-year-old Sidney Crosby became the youngest player
ever to score for the Canadian junior team.
