Russia 5, United States 3:Vasiliy Ponomarev, a Carolina Hurricanes forward prospect, scored two goals for Russia in a preliminary-round game in Group B.
Yegor Chinakhov (Columbus Blue Jackets), Zakhar Bardakov (2021 draft eligible) and Ilya Safonov (2021 draft eligible) also scored for Russia. Iaroslav Askarov (Nashville Predators) made 23 saves.
"When we talk about the games against Canada, against the U.S., we always talk about the puck possession," Russia coach Igor Larionov said. "As long as you keep the puck away from them, you can eliminate their game. We tried to take the space and time away from them and tried to forecheck and be more aggressive and more determined. ... We respect Team USA, the way they play. They have a lot of skilled players and all they need is some time and space and freedom to create something and then you're going to be in trouble, so that's what we told the boys before the game."
Cameron York (Philadelphia Flyers) had a goal and an assist, and John Farinacci (Arizona Coyotes) and Trevor Zegras (Anaheim Ducks) scored for the United States. Dustin Wolf (Calgary Flames) made 11 saves in relief of starter Spencer Knight (Florida Panthers), who was pulled at 12:15 of the second period after allowing four goals on 12 shots.
Ponomarev made it 1-0 at 8:07 of the first period when he tipped a shot by Artemi Kniazev (San Jose Sharks) past Knight.
York tied it with a goal at 14:01 of the first.
Russia went ahead 2-1 on Bardakov's breakaway goal at 3:12 of the second period, and made it 3-1 at 11:08 of the when Ponomarev jumped on a United States defensive-zone turnover and scored.
Safonov made it 4-1 when Knight skated out to play a dump-in but it went to the Russia forward and he scored before Knight could get back in goal.
Farinacci scored on the rebound of a shot by Drew Helleson (Colorado Avalanche) at 9:57 of the third to make it 4-2, and Zegras' power-play goal with 2:18 left in the third period made it 4-3.
"We had a couple shifts or a couple moments where were weren't playing our best and playing our game," Farinacci said. "But we had a good comeback, we came back during the third and I think that's what we've got to stick to as this tournament goes on."
Chinakhov scored an empty-net goal with 21 seconds remaining to make it 5-3.
Finland 5, Germany 3:Aku Raty (Arizona Coyotes) and Henri Nikkanen (Winnipeg Jets) had a goal and an assist each to lead Finland in a Group A game.
Anton Lundell (Florida Panthers), Mikael Pyyhtia (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Topi Niemela (Toronto Maple Leafs) also scored for Finland. Kari Piiroinen (2021 draft eligible) made 19 saves.
Tim Stuetzle, selected No. 3 by the Ottawa Senators in the 2020 NHL Draft, had a goal and an assist and Samuel Dube (2021 draft eligible) and Florian Elias (2021 draft eligible) scored for Germany, which played with nine forwards and five defensemen because of coronavirus issues. Arno Tiefensee (2021 draft eligible) made 45 saves.
"For sure it's a tough situation, but in the end we can't change it," Stuetzle said. "We need to see the positive things and I think we played a great game today and I'm really proud of the guys."
Finland led 3-0 after Pyyhtia's goal 1:39 into the second period, but Dube scored on the power play, and Stuetzle scored off a 2-on-1 rush with John-Jason Peterka (Buffalo Sabres) to make it a one-goal game at 10:35 of the second.
But 1:08 later Niemela scored to put Finland ahead 4-2, and Nikkanen scored on the power play to make it 5-2 at 13:51.
Finland coach Antti Pennanen said the two quick goals by Germany was what his team needed.
"I think so, because I think we were a little bit sloppy and maybe impatient with the puck, so we needed that," he said. "After that we were way better."
Elias scored off the rebound of Stuetzle shot at 8:13 of the third to make it 5-3.
Slovakia 1, Switzerland 0:Simon Latkoczy (2021 draft eligible) made 28 saves and Roman Faith (2021 draft eligible) scored at 14:17 of the third period for Slovakia in the first game in Group A.
Faith put Slovakia ahead when he got into the slot and scored when a centering pass by Simon Nemec (2022 draft eligible) from the right corner went off Switzerland goalie Thibault Fatton (2021 draft eligible) to Faith.
"We had a few chances during the game, but we were waiting for the bigger chances and playing good defense mostly," Faith said. "When I came on to the ice for that shift, I skated hard to the net hoping for the rebound and it came to me."
Latkoczy's biggest save came with 3:16 remaining in the third period, when he pushed across his crease to his right to get a glove on a shot by Switzerland defenseman Inaki Baragano (2021 draft eligible) from below the left face-off circle.
Switzerland had two power plays in the final 4:35 but couldn't convert.
Patton made 31 saves.
