HALIFAX – Team USA held on to beat Germany 6-4 on a late period power play goal by Zach Parise in the third.

 

Team USA wasted no time in jumping all over Germany with three first period goals before Germany clawed their way back, tying the score and chasing Craig Anderson from the game.

 

Germany, to its credit, also did not lie down for the Americans, which they could have done after losing a critical game to Norway last night here at the Halifax Metro Centre.

 

"They didn't quit and we really didn't expect them to," said recent Team USA addition Brandon Dubinsky. "We had to bear down a couple of times and found a way to get it done and that is the most important thing.

 

The Americans pounced on their first opportunity when Paul Martin fed a pass to Zach Parise between the faceoff circles. Parise snapped a laser of a shot past Dmitri Patzold, making his first start since Germany’s opening game against Finland.

 

Parise’s goal came :26 into the contest. Paul Martin picked up the assist, his fifth of the tournament. Both are enjoying fine tournament performances for Team USA. Jason Pominville also received an assist.

 

Patrick O’Sullivan extended his points scoring streak at these World Championships to four when he drove to the net with Sebastien Osterloh marking him closely. O’Sullivan sent a backhander on goal that beat Patzold.

 

James Wisniewski got in on the action when he broke from his point position to slot where he scored using a nifty backhand off a pass from Drew Stafford.

 

With the score 3-0, German head coach Uwe Krupp called a timeout to settle his team down. The Americans scored those three goals on their first five shots of the game.

 

Germany roared right back after that to score two in the period.

 

Michael Hackert scored on a wraparound with Anderson out of position. On Hackert’s wrap, the puck hit off O’Sullivan, who was covering the exposed side, and into the net.

 

Christopher Schmidt’s one-timer made it 3-2, beating Anderson far side.

Germany scored both goals on only four shots taken in the period. The Americans outshot the Germans 13-4 in the first.

 

Both teams traded chances and goals in the second. Jason Pominville scored a power play goal while the Americans enjoyed a two-man advantage. Patrick Kane wove his way through the German zone and took a slapshot that was saved but a big rebound to Patzold’s right side where Pominville was positioned and ready to score. The goal came at 6:52 into the period.

 

A great second effort by Florian Busch produced a score and a 4-3 game where it stayed until the third.

 

Michael Bakos brought the Germans level with the Americans at 4:55 of the third with a slap shot from the point.

 

Seeing enough and the score tied 4-4, USA head coach John Tortorella pulled Anderson in favor of Robert Esche. Anderson gave up four goals on 10 shots.

 

Things got a little testy when Osterloh hit O’Sullivan along the boards in Germany’s end and was called for a checking to the head penalty. David Backes joined the fray and the first real scrum of the game developed.

 

With Osterloh in the box, Christoph Schubert was also called for a cross checking penalty giving the Americans a :14 second two man advantage.

 

"We gave ourselves a chance to come back but took these penalties and whether they are the right calls or not, we're sitting in the box and that did not help us at all," said German forward John Tripp.

 

Team USA called a timeout to regroup and it paid off. With :53 remaining in Schubert’s penalty, Parise’s second goal of the game gave the USA the lead where it stayed.

 

An empty netter by Dustin Brown closed out the scoring on the night.

 

Team USA next takes on Finland on Sunday while the Germans meet Canada on Saturday.

 

JOHN SANFUL