Russia 3-Sweden 1

Goalie Maxim Zhukov stopped 43 of 44 shots and kept his team in the game as Russia found its footing late in the game.

In the end, the Russians scored early, midway through, and late in the third to defeat Sweden, 3-1, in an entertaining game in Spisska Nova Ves.

Erik Brannstrom got the Swedes on the board at 9:05 of the first on a power play, and that lead held up until early in the third. 

Shots through two periods were 31-16 for the Swedes, but Zhukov was unbeatable. And then, at 2:13 of the final period, Kirill Maximov tied the game for Russia.

Nine minutes later, Svechnikov put Russia ahead, and he scored his second of the game, into an empty net, with two seconds remaining to complete the scoring.

Svechnikov also took a late slashing penalty with three minutes remaining to give the Swedes a great chance to tie, but the Russian penalty killers were perfect.

United States 7-Belarus 0

The first period might have been scoreless, but the United States scored five in the second and skated to an easy 7-0 win over Belarus.

Belarus did not incur a single penalty all game, becoming the first team in U18 tournament history to go penalty free for 60 minutes.

Oliver Wahlstrom had two goals for the winners while Grant Mismash and Michael Pastujov had a goal and an assist. Joel Farabee chipped in with two assists.

The Americans had a slow start, incurring the only three penalties of the opening period and failing to score, but by the second they got their legs and their momentum. 

Pastujov opened the scoring early in the second and two other goals followed soon after. Sean Dhooghe got a short-handed marker later and Wahlstrom capped a five-goal period with his second.

Shots favoured the Americans, 51-17, and only the fine play of goalie Andrei Grishenko prevented the score from being worse.

Belarus turns around and plays the Czechs tomorrow while the Americans have a day off before facing the Russians on Saturday night in what should be a thrilling game.