Team USA overcomes an up and down game, defeats Sweden in overtime

It was Sebastian Collberg vs Alex Galchenyuk today in the World Junior tune up game between the United States and Sweden, and although Collberg was the only one of the two to get on the score sheet, Galchenyuk would have the last laugh when the Americans won in overtime.

Collberg set up the opening goal for Sweden in the first period of the back and forth game, and looked dangerous on every shift. At one point when the Americans got into penalty trouble, Collberg seemed to be on the ice for 5 straight minutes, making plays and trying to get Sweden on the board.

Galchenyuk for his part, had a really nice first period, followed by a dominant second period. Although he didn't get on the score sheet, it was very clear that he was the USA's most talented forward.

The Americans scratched many of their top players today, using this game and their game against Finland on Saturday as evaluations for their last round of cuts, to be made on Saturday after the game. Those scratches included their starting goaltender John Gibson, so the two guys gunning for the backup position each played half the game.

The USA wasn't quite as undisciplined as Canada, but it was still a clear problem for the team, giving Sweden two 5-on-3 powerplays that they didn't capitalize on.

Hopefully we get to see Galchenyuk again on Saturday against Finland, and we'll most certainly see Collberg come up against Canada when they play Sweden on the same day.